Nicholls State University Football: A Legacy of the Colonels
The Nicholls Colonels football program represents Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. As a member of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), the team competes in the Southland Conference. Since its inaugural season in 1972, the program has built a history marked by hard-fought rivalries, dedicated coaches, and memorable moments.
Program Origins and Identity
Nicholls State University adopted the "Colonels" nickname in 1972, coinciding with its elevation to NCAA Division I-A status. The name pays homage to two prominent Louisiana figures, Colonel William Caffery and Colonel Alfred Mouton, both leaders during the American Civil War. The Nicholls Colonels football team first took to the field in 1972.
Home Field Advantage: Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium
The Colonels play their home games at Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium, a 10,500-seat multi-purpose stadium in Thibodaux. The stadium is named after former state representative John L. Guidry, who played a crucial role in establishing Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, which would later become Nicholls State University.
The stadium boasts a three-level press box on the west side, complete with a photo deck on the roof. The third level houses the president's suite and a 30-seat club level. The second level accommodates game management staff, television and radio personnel, coaches' booths, and a working press area. The Colonels Club Room is located on the ground level.
In 2019, Nicholls announced plans for a new $6.5 million, 20,000-square-foot football operations center to be constructed in the south end zone, along with an expansion and renovation of the Frank L. Barker Athletic Building. The playing field has GeoGreen artificial turf.
Read also: A History of Nicholls Football
Facilities Supporting the Program
The Frank L. Barker Athletic Building, also known as Barker Hall, is located adjacent to Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium. The Leonard C. Chabert Strength and Conditioning Facility provides the team with multi-purpose power stations, weight machines, dumbbell stations, elliptical machines, and stationary bikes. The Nicholls Colonels football practice fields consist of three natural grass fields located across Acadia Drive from the stadium, Barker Hall, and the Chabert Strength and Conditioning Facility. Two of these fields are oriented in a north-south configuration, similar to Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium.
Rivalries Defining the Colonels
Several key rivalries have shaped the Nicholls Colonels football experience:
Southeastern Louisiana University
Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana are located just 94 miles apart, making them the closest football-playing schools in the Southland Conference. Their annual game determines the winner of the River Bell Trophy, which features a river bell, the teams' athletic logos, and a record of past winners. The rivalry began in 1972 and continued until 1985 when Southeastern Louisiana dropped its football program, later revived.
Northwestern State University
The annual game against Northwestern State is another significant rivalry. The winner is awarded the NSU Trophy. Both universities are located in Louisiana and are members of the Southland Conference.
Texas State University
In 1998, a scheduled game against Texas State was postponed due to heavy rains and flooding in San Marcos, Texas. The athletic directors and coaches from both schools jokingly dubbed the annual contest the "Battle for the Paddle," suggesting that fans would need boats to reach the game. Texas State won the rescheduled game on November 28, 1998, by a score of 28-27, claiming the first "Battle for the Paddle."
Read also: Navigating Knowledge at Nicholls
Recent Highlights
Recent seasons have brought both challenges and successes for the Colonels. In a recent game, Stephen F. Austin defeated Nicholls 28-12, with Sam Vidlak throwing for 262 yards and four touchdowns. However, Nicholls has also shown resilience, with a recent victory over McNeese 24-19, fueled by Pat McQuaide's go-ahead and fourth-quarter touchdown passes. Collin Guggenheim's performance, rushing for 129 yards and surpassing 3,000 career yards, contributed to a 20-0 victory over Northwestern State. In another contest, Incarnate Word defeated Nicholls 55-10 in a Southland Conference opener, with Zach Calzada throwing five touchdown passes.
Nicholls Colonels Football Seasons
The following is a summary of seasons completed by the Nicholls Colonels football team:
| First Season | 1972 | |
| All-time record | 231-317-4 (.422) | |
| Playoff appearances | 7 | |
| Playoff record | 3-7 (Div. I-AA/FCS) | |
| Conference | Southland Conference | |
| Home stadium | Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium |
Year-by-Year Record
This is a list of seasons completed by the Nicholls Colonels football team of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), representing Nicholls State University in the Southland Conference.
Opponents
The Nicholls Colonels have faced a variety of opponents throughout their history. Here is a summary of their record against some of them:
- Abilene Christian University: 1-2
- Air Force: 0-0
- Alcorn State University: 0-0
- Appalachian State University: 0-0
- Arkansas State University: 0-0
- Arkansas Tech University: 0-0
- Assumption University: 0-0
- Austin Peay State University: 3-1
- Azusa Pacific University: 0-0
- Bacone College (Okla.): 0-0
- Bethel University (Tenn.): 0-0
- Cameron University: 1-2
- Cheyney University of Pennsylvania: 0-0
- Delta State University: 3-5-1
- Duquesne University: 0-0
- East Texas A&M University: 2-0
- Eastern Washington University: 1-1
- Evangel University (Mo.): 0-0
- Florida A&M University: 0-0
- Florida Atlantic University: 1-1
- Furman University: 0-0
- Georgia Southern University: 0-3
- Grambling State University: 0-0
- Harding University: 0-0
- Henderson State University: 0-0
- Hofstra University: 0-0
- Houston Christian University: 9-2
- Illinois State University: 1-2
- Indiana University: 0-0
- Jackson State University: 1-1
- Jacksonville State University: 6-10
- Kansas State University: 0-0
- Lamar University: 7-8
- Langston University (Okla.): 0-0
- Lincoln University of Missouri: 0-0
- Louisiana State University: 0-0
- Louisiana Tech: 0-0
- McNeese State University: 17-32
- Mississippi College: 4-5
- Mississippi Valley State: 2-0
- Missouri State University: 5-0-1
- North Dakota State University: 0-3
- Northern Arizona University: 1-1
- Northwestern State University: 22-29
- Oregon State University: 0-0
- Ouachita Baptist University: 0-0
- Portland State University: 0-0
- Prairie View A&M University: 2-0
- Rice University: 0-0
- Sacramento State: 0-2
- Sam Houston: 11-23-1
- Samford University: 7-5
- San Diego State University: 0-0
- Slippery Rock University: 0-0
- South Dakota State University: 0-0
- Southeast Missouri State University: 1-2
- Southeastern Louisiana University: 17-18
- Southern Arkansas University: 0-0
- Southern Illinois University: 1-2
- Southern University: 14-6
- St. Cloud State University: 0-0
- Stephen F. Austin: 0-0
Leadership
- Athletic Director: Jonathan Terrell
- Head Coach: Tommy Rybacki
Read also: History of Nicholls Football
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