>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR A SPECIAL EDITION OF KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK, I'M JACOB AERE, WE WILL TAKE AN EXTENDED LOOK AT SOME LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS THAT PRODUCED AN ASTOUNDING NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES DESPITE OBSTACLES BEFORE THAT, THE LARGE TURNOUT FOR THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

BOTH ARE BEING COUNTED IN SAN DIEGO AS OF THIS MORNING, THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS REPORTED CLOSE TO 1.3 BILLION BALLOTS PROJECTED TO BE RETURNED AND THE COUNTY HAS JUST OVER 2 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS.

MANY PEOPLE WAITED UNTIL TUESDAY TO GO TO VOTING CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTY, CASTING THEIR BALLOTS IN PERSON FOR WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE A HUGE NIGHT FOR DEMOCRATS, LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.

>> Reporter: IT WAS A BUSY AND CONSEQUENTIAL ELECTION NIGHT BY MANY MEASURES, SAN DIEGO COUNTY REGISTRAR BOATER, SEAN BRAUM SAID HE AND HIS TEAM ARE COUNTING BALLOTS LATE INTO THE NIGHT AND EARLY INTO THE MORNING.

WE DID RELEASE RESULTS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE TIMELY IN DOING THAT, WE RELEASED AT 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 AND 1:00 AND WHEN THE TEAM WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE OFFICE, IT WAS CLOSER TO ABOUT 3:30.

>> Reporter: THE WEBSITE SHOWED WAIT TIMES ACROSS VOTING CENTERS EXCEEDED ONE OR EVEN TWO HOURS IN THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING ON ELECTION DAY.

MANY OF THOSE LONGER WEIGHTS TENDED TO BE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

HE SAID ABOUT 90,000 PEOPLE WENT TO VOTING CENTERS ON ELECTION DAY AND ABOUT 13,000 OF THOSE PEOPLE REGISTERED AND VOTED AT THE SAME TIME.

>> WE DID HAVE A COUPLE LOCATIONS THAT WERE TWO HOURS AFTER 8:00 THAT WERE STILL VOTING.

>> Reporter: THEY SENT BALLOTS TO MORE THAN 2 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

AS OF TODAY THE WEBSITE SAYS OVER 765,000 BALLOTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED WITH A PROJECTED 540,000 STILL OUTSTANDING.

THE NUMBER COMES OUT TO JUST OVER A 64% VOTER TURNOUT.

THAT WOULD PUT IT AMONG THE HIGHEST MIDTERM TURNOUT RATES IN RECENT COUNTY HISTORY ALONG WITH 1982, 2010 AND 2018.

>> DURING THE MIDTERM ELECTION WE DID SEE UPTAKE BY MAIL BUT SPECIFICALLY BOTH NUMBERS IN PERSON VOTING, WE DID SEE MORE PEOPLE TURNOUT.

>> Reporter: THE REGISTRAR IS LOOKING AT VOTING DATA TO PLAN AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO LONGER LINES AND WAIT TIMES.

THAT COULD INCLUDE INCREASED STAFFING, VOTING EQUIPMENT OR ADDITIONAL SITES AND CERTAIN COMMUNITIES.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOUNG VOTERS TURNED TOWARDS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND THE STATE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

FINAL TURNOUT NUMBERS WON'T COME FOR A WHILE BUT PBS REPORTER, COREY SUZUKI SAID LONG LINES AT THE POLLS ON SAN DIEGO COLLEGE CAMPUSES COULD BE ASSIGNABLE LOCAL SURGE IN THE YOUTH VOTE.

>> KENDRA HAD BEEN WAITING OVER ONE HOUR TO CAST A BALLOT, SHE IS 19 AND HER FIRST YEAR AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY, SHE GOT TO THE POLLING PLACE AT WHAT SHE GOT THOUGHT WAS A REASONABLE HOUR.

THE SKY WAS GETTING DARK AND HER FRIENDS WERE STILL IN LINE, DESPITE THE WEIGHT, SHE WAS FEELING ENERGIZED.

>> IT WAS DEFINITELY LONGER THAN WE EXPECTED BUT I APPRECIATE THIS MANY PEOPLE WANTING TO COME VOTE, SO I DON'T MIND IT TOO MUCH.

IT SHOWS THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING INTERESTED.

>> Reporter: SARAH JACOBSEN IS A DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE AND ONE OF THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, SHE SAID VOTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE FEELING TIRED OF FEELING LIKE WASHINGTON WASN'T WORKING FOR THEM.

AND THEY WANTED TO TAKE ACTION.

>> MY GENERATION SUFFER THE COST, IT IS TIME TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.

>> Reporter: LOCALLY, YOUNGER VOTERS SHOWED FRUSTRATION TO GAS PRICES AND OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.

A SOPHOMORE AT SDSU SAID HE WAS PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT AS THE YOUNGER GENERATION TO COME OUT AND DO THEIR PART TO VOTE.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY IT IS JUST ONE VOTE, BUT ONE THING CAN CHANGE A LOT.

>> Reporter: IT CAN BE WEEKS BEFORE WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TURNOUT WILL LOOK LIKE, THE SAN DIEGO REGISTRAR OF VOTERS IS STILL CASTING BALLOTS AND HAS UNTIL NOVEMBER 23rd.

>> WE ARE UPDATING THE RESULTS ON THE KPBS VOTER APP, IT IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH AND YOU CAN FIND A LINK ON OUR HOME PAGE OR GO TO KPBS .ORG.

>>> ONE THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES CAME OUT OF SACRAMENTO WITH REVERBERATIONS IN SAN DIEGO.

GAVIN NEWSOM ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO COMMUTE ALL CALIFORNIA DEATH SENTENCES TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.

WHILE THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION PRAISED THE MOVE, SAN DIEGO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, SUMMER STEFAN HAD A DEVASTATING BLOW TO VICTIMS, MORE THAN 38 DEATH ROW VICTIMS WERE TRIED IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

AND SAN DIEGO POLICE CHIEF, SCOTT WALL IS PLEDGING MORE FREQUENT REPORTS TO THE SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL WHEN OFFICERS ARE CALLED TO A SCENE INVOLVING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS, THE PLEDGE CAME AFTER CITY COUNCILMEMBERS RIVERA CALLED FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY FROM SD PD.

ACROSS GENERATIONS, HIGH SCHOOLS AND SOUTH EASTERN SAN DIEGO HAVE PRODUCED A STATISTICS NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES, STUDENTS WHO MADE IT TO THE END OF -- IN A FILE, MBA, AND THE OLYMPICS.

WE DOVE INTO THAT REMARKABLE LEGACY THAT WEEK, AND WE NOW BRING YOU THIS STORY IN ITS ENTIRETY.

>> Reporter: IN THE 20th CENTURY, THE SPORTS SUPERSTAR HAS BECOME THE AMERICAN HERO.

>> I'M SITTING ON THE COUCH AT WALLY HENRY'S HOUSE, HE IS THE LINCOLN HIGH ALUM AND FORMER EAGLES WIDE RECEIVER AND KICK RETURNER AND WE ARE WATCHING AN OLD TV SPECIAL ABOUT HIM.

>> FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN PARTICULAR, THEY HAVE BEEN BRUTALIZED BY 200 YEARS OF INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM AND THE DENIAL OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION, THE ATHLETE WAS THE MOST VISIBLE IMAGE OF SUCCESS AND MANHOOD.

>> Reporter: WE ARE SURROUNDED BY PHOTOS OF HIS LIFE, SOME FROM HIS 1950s AND 60s CHILDHOOD IN LOGAN HEIGHTS.

>> SPORTS WAS SEEN AS A WAY OUT OF THE .

>> Reporter: AT THAT TIME, SPORTS MADE COLLEGE POSSIBLE FOR KIDS LIKE WALLY.

>> WE WERE ALL TRYING TO GET OUT OF SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO, WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING OF OUR LIVES.

OUR PARENTS DIDN'T HAVE THE KIND OF MONEY TO SEND US TO COLLEGE SO THE ONLY WAY WE COULD GET TO COLLEGE IS TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP.

>> Reporter: COLLEGE WAS THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE VIETNAM DRAFT.

THE WALLY ON THE SCREEN IS YOUNGER, SPORTING A TRAINING T- SHIRT AND IMPRESSIVE AFRO.

>> I HAD A DIFFERENT HAIRSTYLE BACK THEN.

SUPER FLY LOOK.

>> Reporter: SURROUNDED BY NFL GIANTS, WALLY WAS SMALL, FIVE FOOT EIGHT AND 170 POUNDS.

>> THIS LITTLE GUY, THEY SAID HE CAN'T DO NOTHING AND THEY SEE ME KNOCKING DOWN PEOPLE.

I'M DOING EXTRA.

>> Reporter: AND ONE INCREDIBLE PUNT RETURN, WE WATCHED HIM BURST FROM THE MALAY, DODGED PLAYERS TWICE HIS SIZE AND ZIPPED ALL THE WAY DOWN THE FIELD FOR A TOUCHDOWN.

JUST MAKING THE NFL IS AN EXTRAORDINARY FEAT.

EACH YEAR OUT OF OVER 1 MILLION HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS, ONLY A FEW HUNDRED DO.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION.

IT IS LIKE GETTING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

BUT WALLY IS VERY MATTER-OF- FACT ABOUT IT.

>> DEEP DOWN INSIDE, I KNEW THIS WAS JUST ANOTHER TEST FOR ME THAT I HAD TO OVERCOME AND I WILL AND I DID.

>> Reporter: HE CREDITS THAT MENTALITY ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN LOGAN HEIGHTS.

>> HAVING CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF TO DO WHAT YOU CAN DO AND NOT BE A --, YOU CAN'T FOOL YOURSELF AND PEOPLE WOULD SAY YOU HAVE A BIG HEAD OR YOU ARE COCKY, WELL SO BE IT.

IF YOU THINK YOU ARE THE BEST AND YOU ACT THE BEST AND YOU ARE THE BEST, YOU ARE THE BEST.

>> Reporter: HE SAID THE COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHEASTERN SAN DIEGO WERE CLOSE-KNIT.

>> EVERYBODY KEPT UP WITH EVERYBODY, IT WAS MORE LIKE THE VILLAGE RAISING THE KIDS, YOU KNOW.

PARENTS WORKED HARD, YOU KNOW, AND ACTUALLY, WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW, YOU WERE TOO YOUNG TO REALIZE YOU WERE POOR.

>> Reporter: BY THE LATE 60s, THE AREA WAS MOSTLY BLACK AND LATINO AND LOW INCOME AND IT WASN'T ALWAYS THAT WAY.

WHEN LINCOLN HIGH OPENED IN 1955, IT SERVED MOSTLY WHITE STUDENTS BUT SAN DIEGO DEMOGRAPHICS WERE CHANGING, REDLINING AND FREEWAY CONSTRUCTION FUNNELED RACIAL MINORITIES INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHITE FAMILIES OUT.

WILLIE JONES IS THE CLASS OF 65, HE SAYS HE WITNESSED THIS.

>> IT WAS A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE SCHOOL IN 64.

BY THE TIME I GRADUATED, YOU COULD COUNT THE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STUDENTS WITH A COUPLE OF HANDS.

>> Reporter: ALUMNI SAY THE VISUAL OF A LOT OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN ONE AREA DREW OVER POLICING AND STEREOTYPES.

>> THE NEWS MEDIA WAS BOMBARDED, YOU KNOW, SOCIETY, YOU KNOW LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO WAS A ROUGH PLACE TO LIVE.

>> Reporter: EVEN MANY BLACK FAMILIES LIKE WALLY'S AFFORDED LINCOLN, EVEREST HIS MOM SENT HIM TO SAN DIEGO HIGH AT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WAS UNFOLDING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND LINCOLN GAVE BLACK STUDENTS A CHANCE TO EXPLORE THEIR IDENTITY AND OFFERED AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES AND HIRED THE DISTRICT'S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

>> IT WAS AN AWAKENING TIME.

>> Reporter: FUTURE OLYMPIAN, JACKIE THOMPSON RAN FOR THE SCHOOL, SHE SAID MOST SCHOOLS, STUDENTS WEREN'T ALLOWED TO WEAR AFRO'S, IT WAS DIFFERENT AT LINCOLN.

>> WE WERE PROUD OF WHO WE WERE.

WHO WE ARE.

YOU KNOW, FINALLY, SOMEBODY COULD SAY I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD.

>> Reporter: THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT SPARKED THIS DECISION FOR ATHLETES.

>> LOOK, WE ALL WENT TO LINCOLN, WE CAN DOMINATE THE CITY, YOU KNOW, AND SHOW THEM, THIS BLACK POWER, WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT IN A POSITIVE WAY.

FOUR INSTEAD OF RUNNING FROM THE STIGMA, THEY RETURNED AND PROVED THEM WRONG.

>> LET'S CHANGE THE IDEA OF WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT US, PERIOD.

>> Reporter: MORE THAN 70 ATHLETES FROM SOUTHEASTERN HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE GONE PRO.

BY 1970, LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL WAS MOSTLY BLACK, OVER POLICE AND STEREOTYPES, EVEN MANY BLACK FAMILIES SENT THEIR KIDS SOMEWHERE ELSE BUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WAS UNFOLDING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND STUDENT ATHLETES FROM SOUTHEASTERN SAN DIEGO DECIDED THEY DIDN'T WANT TO RUN FROM THE STIGMA.

THEY WANTED TO PROVE IT WRONG.

>> WE WANT TO SHOW OTHER SAN DIEGANS AT LINCOLN IS NOT ALL WHAT THEY MAKE US UP TO BE IN THE NEWS.

>> Reporter: THAT IS WALLY HENRY, FORMER EAGLES WIDE RECEIVER AND KICK RETURNER, HE SAID HE'S ONE OF A GROUP OF ATHLETES WHO DECIDED TO TRANSFER HOME TO LINCOLN.

THAT SAME YEAR, EARL STARTED COACHING THE FOOTBALL TEAM, HE WAS A SAN DIEGO CHARGERS HALL OF FAMER.

AND HE BROUGHT IN OTHER X PROS TO HELP, A LOT OF TALENT PACKED INTO ONE SCHOOL.

>> PRACTICES WERE LIKE, FIRST OF ALL, VERY INTENSE BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTED TO PLAY, YOU KNOW, YOU WANTED TO BE ABLE TO BRAG THAT YOU ARE A STARTER.

PRACTICES WOULD BE LONG AND HOT.

>> Reporter: THEY WERE A SMALL TEAM IN THE BIG LEAGUE, MANY HAD TO PLAY BOTH OFFENSE AND DEFENSE AGAINST TEAMS THAT COULD AFFORD TO SWITCH OUT PLAYERS.

>> WE WOULD LOSE GAMES AT THE END BECAUSE WE JUST RAN OUT OF GAS.

>> Reporter: HE SAID THEY PLAYED WITH A CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER.

>> WE ALWAYS HAD A CHIP ON HER SHOULDER, PEOPLE SAY IT AND IT'S JUST NATURAL IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO, WE HAD TO BE THE TEAM.

>> THEY MADE CALLS THAT FELT UNFAIR AGAINST THE MINORITY TEAMS.

>> BASKETBALL COMES DOWN TO THE FINAL SHOT AND YOU MAKE IT AND YOU GO IN THE GAME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS A FOUL OR TRAVELING, SOMETHING RIDICULOUS, SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU SO ANGRY YOU WANT TO FIGHT.

>> Reporter: SOME OF THE CALLS MADE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY WERE PUNISHING THEM FOR THEIR DIFFERENCES.

>> THERE WAS AN INTERCEPTION PER SE HOLDING OR SOMETHING AND YOU DO A LITTLE DANCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND YOU SEE A YELLOW FLAG.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT, THAT IS HOW WE PLAY.

>> LINCOLN DID NOT HAVE LIGHTS FOR THE FIELD SO THEY CAN PLAY THE NIGHT HOME GAMES AT HOME, THEY HAD TO TRAVEL AND PLAY ON ANY TURF.

BUT THE COMMUNITY SHOWED UP ANYWAY.

>> EVERYBODY WOULD STILL BE OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE TIGHT TO THE GAMES.

>> Reporter: THE SAN DIEGO GROUPS WOULD SHOW UP TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS GOT HOME SAFELY FROM THE SCHOOLS NORTH OF LINCOLN.

>> YOU HAD TO BE STRONG, YOU KNOW, AND PEOPLE HAD TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE N-WORD AND ALL THE OTHERS WORDS THAT COME WITH IT AND STILL KEEP GOING AND KEEP YOUR HEAD, KEEP YOUR COOL AND TRY TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE GOAL.

>> Reporter: WALLY SAYS ADVERSITY DIDN'T STOP HIM.

>> FOR LINCOLN, WELL, WE ARE USED TO THIS, WE ARE STILL GOING TO DOMINATE.

>> Reporter: HE THINKS THAT ADVERSITY CREATED A MENTALITY THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THEIR GREATEST STRENGTH.

>> WE EXPECTED THAT TO HAPPEN AND WE ARE JUST GOING TO FIGHT THROUGH IT AND DOMINATE AND KEEP IT MOVING.

>> Reporter: JACKIE THOMPSON, CLASS OF 72, SHE RAN FOR THE U.S.

AT THE OLYMPICS THAT YEAR.

>> THE OPENING CEREMONY, GOING INTO THAT STADIUM, WE WERE ALL DRESSED UP IN OUR RED AND WHITE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE WHITE SKIRTS WITH OUR RED JACKET BLAZERS CARRYING THE FLAG INTO THE STADIUM AND IT WAS JUST, OH, MY GOD, ALL THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES MARCHING IN, IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.

AND ONCE WE GOT IN THERE, THEY HAD THESE CAGES ALL AROUND THE STADIUM.

THESE WHITE DOVES.

ONCE EVERYBODY GOT IN, THEY RELEASED THE DOVES AND THEY WERE FLYING IN THE AIR AND IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE GOOD LUCK, IF THEY POOP ON YOU.

IT WAS JUSTSOMETHING TO SEE, YOU KNOW?

>> DID THAT HAPPEN TO YOU, FOR GOOD LUCK?

>> YES, IT DID.

>> Reporter: SHE SAID SHE FELT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF REPRESENTING SOUTHEASTERN SAN DIEGO.

>> WE ALWAYS WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WE HAD A SHRINE.

>> LINCOLN'S TRACK IS NO DEDICATED TO HER.

MOST U.S.

HIGH SCHOOLS NEVER PRODUCE A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE BUT LINCOLN AND MORRIS HIGH SCHOOL, JUST FIVE MILES DOWN THE ROAD HAVE PRODUCED NUMBERS THAT STUN, AT LEAST 68 NFL, MLB AND NBA PLAYERS BETWEEN THEM, MORE IN OTHER PRO LEAGUES, AT LEAST THREE OLYMPIANS.

THEY WON SUPER BOWLS AND MVP AWARDS, HEISMAN TROPHIES AND GOLD MEDALS.

THEY CROSSED DECADES, GENERATIONS, COACHES AND TEAMS.

>> WE JOKE ABOUT IT A LOT BUT IT MUST BE AN AWARD BECAUSE IT IS TRUE, WE HAVE EXCEPTIONAL ATHLETES.

IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO.

>> Reporter: DOZENS AND DOZENS OF PRO ATHLETES HAVE COME OUT OF SOUTHEASTERN SAN DIEGO, CHANCES ARE MOST PASS-THROUGH BERRIES ATHLETIC SUPPLY.

THE GEAR ON THE SHELVES HAS EVOLVED OVER THE LAST 74 YEARS, SAFER HELMETS AND LIGHTER BASEBALL BATS BUT YOU CAN STILL FIND THE CO-OWNER THERE, HE HAS BEEN HELPING HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES FOR LINCOLN AND MORRIS QUIETLY FOR MANY DECADES.

>> HE WOULD SELL SOMETHING TO A FOOTBALL PLAYER, HE WOULD GIVE IT TO THEM BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD IT.

HE JUST WANTED TO HELP.

>> Reporter: HE IS REFERRING TO DOT ROBINSON, THE DISTRICT'S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR.

>> YOU HAD A FEMALE THAT WAS IN CHARGE OF THE MEN AND THE MEN DIDN'T TAKE IT TOO WELL.

YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTOOD THAT BUT I STILL FORGED AHEAD.

>> Reporter: SHE MADE SURE THE BUDGET STRETCHED EVENLY ACROSS ALL GENDERS, DESPITE INADEQUATE FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT.

ONE PLAYER FOUND A SCREW COMING THROUGH HIS FOOTBALL HELMET.

WHEN I ASKED WHAT THIS COMMUNITY'S SECRET ATHLETIC SAUCE IS, SHE DOESN'T HAVE A SAY.

>> LOVE FOR THE KIDS, NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE TO CARE ABOUT KIDS OF THE SCHOOL, IN ORDER FOR THE KIDS TO SUCCEED OR EVEN ATTEMPT TO SUCCEED.

>> Reporter: CARE IS GIVING THE KIDS A RIDE HOME AFTER PRACTICES, NOTICE WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE EATEN OR IF THEY NEED HELP AT SCHOOL.

>> I WOULD ASK THE PARENTS, CAN KEEP YOUR KID FOR A WHILE, I WILL TAKE CARE OF THEM AND HERE'S MY PHONE NUMBER.

>> Reporter: SHE SAID SHE WAS FAR FROM THE ONLY ONE.

SHE SAYS THAT IS CRUCIAL IN AN AREA WITH SOME OF THE LOWEST HOUSEHOLD INCOMES IN THE COUNTRY.

>> IF YOU HAD TO CALL THEM, IF YOU WERE TRAVELING ACROSS THE CITY, TO GO TO LET'S SAY CLERMONT, THEN YOU NEEDED TRANSPORTATION.

YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO GET A BUS BECAUSE THAT IS MONEY.

SO, YOU BUILD A NETWORK WITH THE PARENTS.

AND THEN THOSE PARENTS HELP BUILD ANOTHER NETWORK WITH PEOPLE THEY KNOW.

>> Reporter: LINCOLN AND MORRIS COULD HURTLE HIGHER OBSTACLES WITH HELP FROM THE COMMUNITY.

>> I COULD CALL THEM AND SAY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A KID THAT NEEDS CLEATS.

I DON'T GET PAID SUCH AND SUCH A DAY AND BEFORE I COULD GET IT OUT, HE SAID SEND THEM DOWN.

HE SAID, SEND THEM DOWN.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE KIND OF COMMUNITY THAT WE HAD.

IT EXTENDED BEYOND THE PHYSICAL BUILDING.

>> Reporter: ROBINSON SAID THE ATHLETES MADE WHOLE COMMUNITY PROUD, SHE STILL GIVES RIDES TO NEIGHBORS WHO WANT TO GO TO THE GAMES.

SHE HAS NEVER CHANGED HER PHONE NUMBER, JUST IN CASE AN OLD STUDENT CALLS.

DOT, JOHN AND MANY OTHER ALUMNI SHOWED UP TO THIS YEAR'S HOMECOMING GAME, DECADES OF COMMUNITY PRIDE SHOWN IN FULL FORCE.

UP IN THE BLEACHERS, WALLY HENRY SAT ALONE.

FORMER LINCOLN FOOTBALL STAR, CLASS OF 73, HE PLAYED WIDE RECEIVER AND KICK RETURNER FOR THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES.

SOME ALUMS SAY ALL THE SUPERSTAR ATHLETES FROM SOUTHEASTERN SAN DIEGO ARE LARGELY FORGOTTEN, AS KIDS, THEY OVERCAME ENORMOUS ODDS.

NOW THEY ARE GHOSTS IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.

>> YOU CAN'T MOVE FORWARD UNLESS YOU FULLY EMBRACE YOUR PAST.

>> Reporter: HAROLD IS BROTHER TO MARCUS AND DAMON ALLEN, BOTH LINCOLN ALUM, BOTH WIDELY SEEN AS TWO OF THE GREATEST TO EVER PLAY THE GAME OF FOOTBALL.

HAROLD DOESN'T SEE THE POWER IN SOUTHEASTERN SAN DIEGO'S HISTORY, BEING CELEBRATED ENOUGH.

>> WHEN I LOOK BACK NOW I'M SEEING, HOW DO WE BELIEVE THE HYPE THAT WE ARE NOT GOOD PEOPLE OR WE WERE FALLING PREY TO IT.

HE IS ON A MISSION TO CHANGE THAT.

>> NOW, 50 YEARS LATER, AND TRYING TO HIDE THAT, SO LET'S CELEBRATE US, WE DON'T NEED ANYBODY ELSE.

>> Reporter: HE STARTED HOLDING CEREMONIES HONORING ALUMNI, EDUCATING THE CURRENT PLAYERS ON THE LEGACY THEY ARE NOW CONTINUING, WHETHER TODAY'S ATHLETES KNOW IT OR NOT, THEY HAVE MANY OF THE SAME CHALLENGES AND STRENGTHS AS ALUM FROM HALF A CENTURY AGO.

>> AS MUCH AS WE WENT THROUGH, WE WERE JUST PLAYING WITH A CHIP ON OUR SHOULDERS.

>> Reporter: LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL WAS BULLDOZED IN 2003 AND REPLACED WITH A BRAND-NEW CAMPUS.

THEY LOST A LOT OF ATHLETES DURING THE CLOSURE, COACHES HAD TO REBUILD LEGENDARY LINCOLN TEAMS FROM SPARSE ROSTERS.

THE SCHOOL HIRED DAVID TO COACH FOOTBALL, FORMER CINCINNATI BENGALS WIDE RECEIVER AND MORRIS HIGH SCHOOL ALUM.

DESPITE THE NEW CAMPUS, HE FACED BUDGET CHALLENGES.

>> WE ARE TALKING $400-$500 PER HELMET WITH A $300 FOR A GOOD PAIR OF SHOULDER PADS AND UNIFORMS AND WE CAN'T KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING OUT THERE, WE LOSE A BUNCH OF KIDS TO THE PRICES.

>> Reporter: AT THE TIME OF RECORDING, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HASN'T ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT ATHLETIC FUNDING.

THE COACH ESTIMATES HIS TEAM GETS 12,000 FROM THE DISTRICT EACH YEAR INCLUDING TRAVEL.

HE HAS TO FUND RAISE THE REST, IN AN AREA WITH SOME OF THE LOWEST HOUSEHOLD INCOMES IN THE COUNTY.

BY 2024, THE NEED WAS EVEN CLEARER.

>> THERE WERE AREAS ON THE FIELD WHERE WE COULD PULL BACK THE TURF, YOU COULD PULL UP THE TURF AND SEE UNDER, WITH THE CONCRETE.

>> Reporter: HE TRIED TO MARK EVERY AREA WITH A RED FLAG, HE CONVINCED THE SCHOOL TO FIX IT, LEAVING LINCOLN WITH NO FIELD OF THEIR OWN THAT SEASON.

THEY LEFT SCHOOL EARLY, STAYED UP LATE, SQUEEZED ODD HOURS OF PRACTICE INTO WHATEVER FIELD TIME WAS AVAILABLE.

>> WE LOST SO MANY HOURS OF PRACTICE TIME.

>> Reporter: SOMETIMES BUSES WERE TOO SMALL OR THEY CAME LATE.

>> YOU WOULD SEE US SITTING OUTSIDE WITH WATER BOTTLES AND ALL THE EXTRA THINGS TRYING TO GET OVER TO PRACTICE.

>> Reporter: HE SAID THE FIELDS WEREN'T ALWAYS WELL-EQUIPPED.

>> THEY DIDN'T HAVE FOOTBALL LINES, FOOTBALL MARKINGS, FOOTBALL EQUIPMENT OR EVEN GOALPOSTS.

AND EVEN IN THE WEIGHT ROOM AT THE TIME, WE DIDN'T GET THE SLED WORK OR ANYTHING.

>> Reporter: THE PLAYERS HAD SO MANY VALID REASONS TO SKIP PRACTICE BUT THEY DIDN'T TAKE THEM, PLAYERS LIKE JESUS THE BEAST JIMENEZ, CENTER AND GUARD.

>> IT WAS SO CRAZY, ALL THOSE TIMES, ALL OF US WERE JUST TIRED BUT, EVERYBODY ON THE TEAM REALLY WANTED IT, THEY WANTED TO SHOW EVERYBODY THEY WERE WRONG.

>> Reporter: WIDE RECEIVER AND QUARTERBACK, DARIAN SAID IT IS SOMETHING THAT ECHOES ACROSS THE DECADES.

>> AS MUCH AS WE WENT THROUGH, WE WERE JUST PLAYING WITH A CHIP ON HER SHOULDER BECAUSE WE KNOW NOBODY ELSE WAS DOING THIS SO WE HAD TO DO THAT AND GO OUT THERE AND WIN EVERY GAME.

>> Reporter: IT PAID OFF, DESPITE ALL THESE CHALLENGES, THE TEAM WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP THAT YEAR AND WON.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO, JUST DO IT.

I MEAN, REALLY, TO HAVE NONE OF THIS STUFF AVAILABLE TO YOU, YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH THIS MEANS.

>> Reporter: HE SAID THE TEAM STILL DOESN'T HAVE A SECONDARY UTILITY FIELD TO PRACTICE ON LIKE MOST SCHOOLS BUT TRAVELING FARTHER TO PLAY HARDER SCHOOLS WITHOUT A BIGGER TRAVEL BUDGET AND LIKE ALUMNI ACROSS THE DECADES, THEY STILL FACE RACISM.

>> A WHEREVER WE PLAY YOUTH FOOTBALL, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET HERE, THEY ARE ACTUALLY PLAYING ON THE FIELD OUTSIDE AND AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR, WE WERE ALWAYS TOLD, MAKE SURE YOU DON'T RETALIATE, I MEAN, SOMETHING AS DISGUSTING AS BEING SPIT ON.

IT IS HEARTBREAKING TO TELL THE KIDS 40 YEARS LATER, I'M TELLING THEM THE SAME THING.

>> Reporter: EVEN THIS YEAR.

>> WE HAD AN INCIDENT THIS YEAR ALREADY WHERE THE COACH WAS OUT OF LINE WITH SOME OF HIS COMMENTS.

THOSE ARE KIDS.

AND HE WAS SAYING YOU WILL DEFINITELY BE WORKING AT McDONALD'S IN THREE YEARS OR YOU WILL DEFINITELY DO THIS OR THAT.

>> THEY JUST THINK THIS IS LIKE THE HOOD, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE GREAT KIDS HERE WHO TAKE VERY GOOD RESPONSE ABILITY.

>> Reporter: JESUS AGREES.

>> I DON'T THINK IT IS AT ALL, I THINK EVERYBODY AROUND HERE KNOWS EACH OTHER AND IT IS LIKE A BIG FAMILY.

>> Reporter: COACH SAYS THAT STIGMA IS STILL CAUSING CHALLENGES FOR THE SCHOOL AND THE FOOTBALL TEAM, LIKE THE TEAMS OF THE 60s AND 70s, THEY HOLD HIGH EXPECTATIONS REGARDLESS.

AND, THAT CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER, TURNS ADVERSITY INTO POWER.

>> JUST WATCH HOW WE COME OUT OF THIS.

SO WE BUILD UP THE MOTTO, THEY HATE TO WATCH US WIN BUT THEY HAVE TO WATCH US WIN.

>> Reporter: GENERATIONS OF ALUMNI CHEER THEM ON AT THIS YEAR'S HOMECOMING GAME, MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY OF SHARED STRUGGLE AND POWER FILLED THE STANDS.

AND THEY WATCHED TODAY'S STUDENTS WIN.

43-15.

>> IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STRUGGLE BUT IT IS OUR STRUGGLE AND IT IS OUR SCHOOL.

>> WHAT A FANTASTIC STORY, YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE SERIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS .ORG, THAT IS ALSO WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES IN OUR LOCAL PODCAST.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED KPBS THIS WEEK, JOIN US FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION AT 5:00 AND 6:30 ON KPBS TELEVISION AND STREAMING AT KPBS .ORG.

I'M JACOB AERE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.