The Hall of Fame Case for Al Lucas
In the pantheon of Trojan legends, few stand on level with Al Lucas. A Georgia native, Lucas played for Troy from 1996-1999.
His standout play from the defensive line made “Big Luke” a threat to offenses throughout FCS and is the basis for his enshrinement in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Lucas was recruited highly by Troy and was given a full scholarship to play FCS football for the Trojans. It was clear that Troy was invested in the lineman and he intended on repaying their faith.
Once Lucas got on campus, he and the Trojans were rolling. Troy went 36-14 in Big Luke’s time wearing cardinal, including two 10+ win seasons. This included two Southland Conference Championships and three FCS playoff berths.
For his part, Lucas earned Troy’s first back-to-back All-American honors with his stellar play in 1998 and 1999. The first since Bob Hall in 1994-95. Those same years, #76 earned All-Southland Conference First Team honors. But his biggest achievement was solely in 1999.
Though Troy has had an illustrious history, individual honors on a national level have never really been received by Trojans. However, Big Luke was too much of a force for history to hold him back. During his 1999 campaign, he waged war on opposing offenses, racking up impressive stats. Lucas accumulated 126 tackles on the season, with twenty for loss. He had 15 quarterback hurries, four sacks, and two forced fumbles to go along with the tackles. This earned him the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in FCS. This is still the most major award any Trojan has received.
After graduating in early 2000, Lucas went undrafted in the NFL, but like many Trojans, landed an undrafted free agent spot with Carolina. He spent two seasons with the Panthers, before joining the Arena Football League’s Tampa Bay Storm. He would win All-Rookie honors and an ArenaBowl title that year.
He used his success to sign a lucrative three year deal with the Los Angeles Avengers. He continued his tear through the AFL in 2004, racking up impressive numbers from his defensive line position.
Sadly, on April 10, 2005, Al Lucas’ life was cut short. He tragically passed away due to a spinal cord injury received during a routine tackle. His passing was felt, both in Troy and in the AFL.
The Los Angeles Avengers retired Big Luke’s #76 and the AFL renamed its Hero Award to the Al Lucas Award. The Maxwell Football Club renamed its AFL Player of the Year in his honor as well. There was even a scholarship fund set up in his name to do one of the things he loved most: giving back to the children of Central Georgia. (You can donate to it here, if you feel led.)
As for Troy, Lucas was posthumously enshrined in the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. The players lounge in the new North End Zone Facility was also recently renamed in his honor, becoming the Al Lucas Players Lounge.
The most lasting tribute Troy paid to Lucas though came in the Veterans Memorial Stadium he loved so much. The University honored Lucas by wearing the same uniforms Big Luke played in during his successful time in Troy: black helmets (this time with the Troy shield logo), black jerseys, and silver pants. It was the first time Troy was in black since Lucas’ last season at Troy. The memorial game was held against FIU on October 20, 2005 and was treated like a blackout game, with blackout shirts sold in the bookstore. (I thankfully still have mine.) Troy won the game, 18-13. (We actually covered this partly back in November’s Military Appreciation article.)
Al “Big Luke” Lucas was a force on the field and from all accounts a better person off of it. His play, however, speaks volumes and deserves to see him forever enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame right in the heart of his Georgia home.