THIBODAUX - After completing its first four practices of fall camp in helmets and shells, the Nicholls State University football team suited up in full pads for the first time on Tuesday morning at John L. Guidry Stadium.

“We want them to get used to wearing all the gear and work through the heat,” Nicholls head football coach Charlie Stubbs said. “The other thing too is that there are a couple blocks we wanted to work on where we could cut, so having the pads on allows us to do some of those things.”

The Colonels are set to be in full pads over the next three days, with the exception of the second session of Thursday's two-a-days, which will be shells only. On Saturday morning, Nicholls is slated for its first live-action scrimmage of the fall.

“We need to teach technique first,” said Coach Stubbs. “Then of course we'll be working that way all week so that on Saturday we can go full-live with everyone except the quarterbacks.”

Following Saturday morning's scrimmage, the Nicholls football program will host Tilloui's Maniacs, which is a free youth clinic for children ages 7-12. The clinic is scheduled to last one hour and will begin approximately at 10:30 a.m., after the conclusion of the Colonels' scrimmage.