Veteran actor John Amos visits Lincoln’s historic campus

Veteran actor John Amos visits Lincoln's historic campus

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA. (September 24, 2008) - Award-winning and critically acclaimed actor John Amos made a surprise trip to Lincoln University's historic campus for a series of interviews with athletics personnel that will be aired next week on the Urban Radio Network. 

Amos is best known for his role as the stern father and husband, James Evans Sr., in the sitcom Good Times and for starring in movies such as Roots, Coming to America and Let's Do It Again. Amos also made appearances on television shows The Cosby Show, West Wing and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. A career spanning four decades, Amos has received both a Primetime Emmy Award and the NAACP Image Award.

"Mr. Amos means a lot to the African-American community," Lincoln head football coach Olabaniji Abanishe said. "It's always amazing to meet a man who has been such a big influence to so many people. I was impressed that most of our student-athletes knew him from Roots and Good Times. Whenever you have a positive role model like that on campus, it brightens up everybody's day." 

As Amos traveled around Lincoln's bucolic campus in a white golf cart, he was immediately recognized by startled students, who began reciting some of the lines to the movie Coming to America. Others snapped photos with their high-tech camera phones, asked for autographs, stopped in their tracks and did double takes. The student-athletes were excited to have Amos on campus.

Amos spent time interviewing members of the Lincoln University football coaching staff, athletics administrators, student-athletes and president Dr. Ivory V. Nelson. In addition, Amos also received a brief compliance lesson from Natasha Wilson, Lincoln's Director of Compliance, Senior Woman Administrator and Assistant Athletics Director. 

"President Nelson is exemplary of the spirit here at Lincoln," Amos said. "He is personable, gracious and really open. He made time for me and I really appreciated that. I enjoyed my time here today. It is such a family atmosphere."

One of the lighter moments occurred in the bowling alley, outside of Abanishe's commodious office when Amos held Abanishe's 14-month old daughter Olakayne up in the air to the heavens. It was reminiscent of the scene from Roots when Kunta Kinte held up little Toby. 

Although Amos is no stranger to campus, he saw the recent story on the Lincoln football team and marching band in last Tuesday's edition of the New York Times. Interestingly, the Lincoln story received the most hits on the New York Times' website. Amos performed his critically-acclaimed one-man stage play "Halley's Comet" on campus several years ago and it was well received.

"For a long time, I've always wanted to play football," Amos said. "I have a passionate interest in football and their story really caught my interest. Lincoln has always held a special place in my heart. I wish I was young enough to go out for the football team because after being cut 13 times, this might be one team I could make. Then again, coach may cut me as well to make it an even 14."  

Amos was a Golden Gloves boxing champion. In 1967, he had a tryout with the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs (he was released in training camp, though he did play semi-pro football for the Wheeling Ironmen in West Virginia.). Amos is also a veteran of the 50th Armored Division of the New Jersey National Guard and Honorary Master Chief of the U.S. Coast Guard.

In addition to the New York Times, the Lions have been the subject of feature stories in several national and local publications such as Sports Illustrated, USA Today, ESPN.com, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, West Chester Daily Local and the Washington Informer. Lincoln has also been featured on Comcast Sportsnet and WPVI-TV (6ABC). Lincoln Director of Athletics Dianthia Ford-Kee believes the exposure will have positive effects on the University's glistening future.

"It means Lincoln that is going to be the school of choice for many based on the visibility that the football program has brought to the University," Ford-Kee said. "I kept saying to myself that can't be him, standing in my office and shaking my hand." 

Lincoln (1-3 overall) will host Livingstone College (0-4, 0-1 CIAA this week in football at Avon Grove High School beginning at 1:00 p.m. The game can be heard live at www.brandywineradio.com with Ryan Messick calling all of the action beginning with the pre-game show at 12:45 p.m.