Nicholls State Colonels football

The Nicholls State Colonels football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Nicholls State University located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Southland Conference. Nicholls State's first football team was fielded in 1972. The team plays its home games at the 12,800 seat John L. Guidry Stadium in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The Colonels are coached by Charlie Stubbs.

Head coaching history

 * 1996 I-AA National Coach of the Year, Eddie Robinson Award Recipient

Division I-AA/Division I FCS Playoffs

 * 19861st Round - Boone, NCNicholls State 28, Appalachian State 26 2nd Round - Statesboro, GAGeorgia Southern 55, Nicholls State 31


 * 19961st Round - Missoula, MTMontana 48, Nicholls State 3


 * 20051st Round - Greenville, SCFurman 14, Nicholls State 12

Conference championships

 * 1975 Gulf South Conference Champions (Division II)Head Coach: Bill ClementsOverall Record (8-2)Conference Record (7-2)


 * 1984 Gulf Star Conference Champions (Division I-AA)Head Coach: Sonny JacksonOverall Record (6-5)Gulf Star Conference Record (4-1)


 * 2005 Southland Conference Champions (Division I-AA)Head Coach: Jay ThomasOverall Record (6-5)Southland Conference Record (5-1)

Year-by-year results
Nicholls State Colonels Football Year-by-Year Results

John L. Guidry Stadium


Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium is a 12,800-seat multi-purpose stadium in Thibodaux, Louisiana. It is home to the Nicholls State University Colonels football team of the Southland Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision. The stadium is named in honor of former state representative John L. Guidry. The playing surface is named Manning Field after the Manning family because Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Archie Manning hold the Manning Passing Academy football camp at the facility. The current playing surface is Astroturf 3D Grass. The stadium was officially dedicated on September 16, 1972.

The stadium features a three-level press box on the west side. The second level houses an area for game management staff, radio and coaches’ booths and a working press area. The president’s suite and a 30-seat club level is located on the third level. A photo deck is located on the roof. On the ground level is the Colonels Club Room. In 2012, the west entrance of the stadium was renovated which included a new entrance into the Colonel Club area and a new ever-present illuminated Nicholls “N”.

The Frank L. Barker Athletic Building is located adjacent to John L. Guidry Stadium. It houses the Nicholls State Colonels football coaches’ offices, locker rooms, meeting rooms, athletic training rooms and athletic staff. The Nicholls State Athletics Hall of Fame is also located in the building.

The Nicholls State Colonels strength and conditioning facility is located inside Leonard C. Chabert Hall. It includes the Colonels weight room and a 50-yard artificial turf field is located adjacent to the building.

Current rivalries

 * Southeastern Louisiana - River Bell Classic

Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana are located 94 miles apart and no two football-playing schools in the Southland Conference are as close as the two schools. The winner of the annual football game is awarded the River Bell Trophy. The trophy features a river bell, the teams athletic logos and details the yearly victors. The game played between the rivals began in 1972 and was played annually until 1985 when Southeastern Louisiana dropped its football program. It resumed 20 years later in 2005 when football was reinstated by the university.


 * Northwestern State - NSU Challenge

The Nicholls State - Northwestern State football rivalry is played annually with the winner being awarded the NSU Trophy. Both universities are located in Louisiana and are members of the Southland Conference. The first game in the series was played in 1973.

Defunct rivalries

 * Texas State - Battle for the Paddle

In fall 1998, the Colonels were scheduled to take on the Texas State Bobcats. Prior to the game, heavy rains flooded San Marcos, Texas and the field at Texas State. Athletic directors and coaches from both schools decided to postpone the game and coined the annual contest the "Battle for the Paddle," joking that fans and athletes needed to use a boat and paddle to get to the game. The game was eventually played on November 28, 1998 with Texas State prevailing 28-27 to win the first "Battle for the Paddle". A wooden oar or paddle named the "Paddle Trophy" was awarded to the winner of the contest. The rivalry ended in 2011.