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In the era of compact discs, cowboy boots and Incahoots, country singer Jed Lance was an opening act for Tim McGraw.

Same microphone, same stage, he was so close, yet so far away.

Lance knew that making it took a lot of talent and hard work, a little luck and surely some help from upstairs.

But he never got to take that next step.

So Jed Stugart dropped his stage name, hung up his boots and returned to his roots — football. The former college linebacker worked his way up from an NAIA coaching staff to a NCAA Division II head coaching post, at Lindenwood University.

And after two nine-win seasons and two conference titles, he’s taking that next step.

“Now that you stand here and we’re Division I — which I think is every coach’s dream, to someday coach at the highest level — you start to realize there was a plan in place for me,” Stugart said. “And it all makes sense.”

They’re making some history down Find Your Roar Drive on Lindenwood’s campus in St. Charles. This season is the Lions’ first in NCAA Division I — Stugart’s team now plays in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Lions’ first home game is Sept. 17, against Keiser University. The first D-I home game is Oct. 1, against a possible conference rival for years to come — Southeast Missouri State University.

It’s all rather exciting. Lindenwood earned this D-I opportunity because everyone — from the school president and football coach to the quarterback and kicker — had a little “Jed Lance” in them. Everybody dreamed big and grinded hard at their jobs, like a country singer working the clubs and rodeo circuit throughout the year.

When Stugart took over for the 2017 season, Lindenwood had averaged 2.7 wins the previous four years. During the malaise of 2013-16, one might’ve wondered if Lindenwood’s next step would be down a division.

And now, Lindenwood has leveled up. The Lions are D-I and everything that comes with it — from exposure to enhancements on campus to enrollment growth.

“I want it to be an elevation and a promotion of the whole campus,” said defensive back Lloyd Lockett, a senior from across Missouri in Platte City. “More interaction with students, student involvement with tailgating and the student section. It’s a boost to the whole entire campus.

“The D-I switch affects all the athletes, of course, but for students and the campus and the faculty, it just opens up for more opportunities for our entire program and school.”

At Wednesday morning’s practice in Hunter Stadium, with preposterously puffy clouds above in the blue sky, the football team prepared for the known — another season with many of the same faces — as well as the unknown — a season in the Ohio Valley Conference. Linemen grunted and grappled, while linebackers loomed and looked to pounce. A coach screamed about a running back’s prowess: “Freight train coming!” After an ensuing defensive stop, a cacophony of defensive players screamed different octaves of “Ohhhhh!”

Dr. John Porter, the Lindenwood president, greeted Stugart on the field in a necktie, while Stugart had a whistle around his neck. Behind them sat a grassy hill where the huge new videoboard will soon go. This whole D-I thing is happening in real time, yet it’s still a work in progress. They’re forever fundraising. And forever recruiting. Because the D-I announcement occurred in February, Stugart’s staff didn’t get to recruit D-I talent during the 2021 season.

But they’ll proudly tell you they already had a bunch of D-I talent on their D-II team. And under center is the renowned quarterback Cade Brister, who was one of Stugart’s first high school recruits during the 2016-17 school year. The coach and QB clicked. And for Brister, after a redshirt season, a four-win season, a nine-win season, a COVID-canceled season and another nine-win season, he’s back under center for one more run.

“It’s exciting with the amount of weapons we have this year on offense,” said Brister, who played high school ball at Fort Zumwalt North. “And Robert Giaimo in the backfield makes things really explosive. So running the offense has been just a ton of fun.”

Later during Wednesday’s practice, running back Donovan Marshall stood on crutches near an end zone, providing delightful commentary during a deep pass drill.

Money, Taylor! … Let’s goooo! … Yes sir, Kobe! Too easy!

The last line was in reference to receiver Kobe Smith, who sliced past a cornerback to catch a pass. Smith’s presence here is a testament to the program’s recent past — and the possibilities of the program’s promising future.

A native of Compton, California, Smith played at San Diego State — and caught 58 passes in 2019 for 691 yards and four scores. But the next two years, he lost some of his luster and battled injuries.

“And then, he endured a car accident that was pretty serious,” Stugart said. “And he’s overcome all that. So he’s completely healthy and feels like he’s got another chance. I think he’s going to take full advantage of it. It’s a great story.

“We were able to get him out here and show him this place — and show him our vision. ... He came in and bought in. Sometimes, kids that come from Division I might have some sort of an entitlement or maybe an attitude, but Kobe earned everybody’s respect so fast. And as you can see, he’s out here making a bunch of plays.”