#FIRSTFIVE• The Nicholls Colonels (0-3, 0-1 SLC) and head coach
Tim Rebowe will make their home debut in a Homecoming matchup against in-state rival and nationally-ranked McNeese State (3-0, 2-0 SLC) on Saturday at 2:37 p.m. on Cox Sports TV. Nicholls is 29-14 in its home openers and has a 12-3 record since 2000. In Southland home openers, the Colonels have a 9-16 record.
• The Colonels are coming off a 48-0 loss at FBS Colorado, which was the team's final non-conference game of the season. Nicholls was held to just 166 yards on offense, eight first downs and had three turnovers. The loss was the second consecutive shutout against an FBS program and it pushed the Colonels' losing streak to 21 games.
• The Cowboys have dominated the all-time sereis against Nicholls, posting a 28-11 advantage in the series, helped by its current six-game winning streak. Not only has McNeese won the last six games, but the Cowboys have won 14 of the last 16 meetings. Oddly, the Colonels have had better success on the road against McNeese as Nicholls is just 4-14 against the Cowboys in John L. Guidry Stadium.
• The Colonels played a total of 20 freshmen through their first three contests. Making starts as rookies have been WR
Jarrell Rogers, OLs
Chandler Arceneaux and
Kevin Pierce, DEs Tank Johnson and
Devin Simoneaux, DBs
Tyler Green,
Corey Abraham and
Ahmani Martin and long-snapper
Wesley Barnett.
• The Colonels are coming off their third winless campaign in program history. The team went 0-11 in 1995, but put together one of the best turnarounds in FCS history, going 8-4 in the next season which included an appearance in the FCS Playoffs. Coincidentally, Coach Rebowe was part of the staff in '96 that led the Colonels to the remarkable improvement after going winless in the prior season.
BY THE NUMBERS
3 - Since joining the Southland, three Colonel head coaches have won their home Southland debut - Phil Greco (15-10, ULM, '91); Daryl Daye (45-42, Jacksonville St., '99) and Jay Thomas (40-14, Northwestern St., '04)
4 - In 2014, RB
Michael Henry rushed for over 100 yards in four conference games. His career outing came at Northwestern State where he rushed for 146 yards
6 - McNeese State has won six straight against the Colonels. The winning streak matches the longest for the Cowboys in the series' history (1999-2004)
21 - Nicholls will be looking to put an end to its current losing streak, which sits at a program-worst 21 games
7 - Of the current 21-game losing skid, only seven of the losses have came at home.
9.7 - Sophomore linebacker
Hezekiah White has been one of the league's top tacklers after three games, ranking third in the Southland with 9.7 tackles per game
398 - Michael Henry needs 398 yards to crack the Colonels' all-time rushing list. He sits outside the top 10 with 1,348 yards
ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY... • Nicholls has an even 2-2 record on Oct. 3 and a 2-0 record at home, but has lost the last two matchups.
| 1981 | U.S. Merchant Marine | W | 45-3 | Home |
| 1987 | Alcorn St. | W | 14-3 | Home |
| 1992 | Texas St. | L | 13-38 | Away |
| 1998 | Samford | L | 16-17 | Away |
SCOUTING MCNEESE STATE• McNeese State comes into Thibodaux with a national ranking in both FCS Polls. In the STATS Poll, the Cowboys are 23rd in the nation. In the Coaches Poll, McNeese sits at No. 15.
• The Cowboys are one of two Southland schools to not play an FBS team so far this season. McNeese was scheduled to play top-ranked LSU to open the season, but the game was canceled due to bad weather.
• McNeese is coming off a 37-0 victory over Mississippi College. They opened the season with Southland wins over UIW (43-6) and SFA (28-14).
• The Cowboys post one of the FCS' stingiest defenses, allowing just 6.7 points (1st in FCS), 249 yards total offense (2nd) and 90 yards rushing (9th).
• McNeese is averaging 248.7 yards rushing per contest, which ranks 13th in the FCS. Leading the way has been Kansas State transfer quarterback Daniel Sams with 85.7 yards per contest.
LAGNIAPPESNO HEZ-ITATIONSophomore
Hezekiah White has emerged as one of the Colonels' top defenders, leading the team in tackles with 29 after three games. After collecting nine stops in the first two games, White racked up a career-high 11 at Colorado. He also added a fumble recovery against the Buffaloes.
HENRY NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR CAMPBELL TROPHY (STORY)Senior running back
Michael Henry was recently named as a semifinalist for the 2015 William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame (NFF). The Campbell Trophy is awarded to the nation's absolute best football scholar-athlete. Henry is one of 135 semifinalists, which includes all levels of college football, as well as just one of 23 recipients from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
SOUTHLAND WEEKLY COACHES' CALL
