NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY COLONELS (0-0) @ No. 18 Georgia Bulldogs (1-0)
Athens, Ga. (Sanford Stadium)
Saturday, Sept. 10 | 11 a.m. CT
Nicholls Game Notes | Georgia Game Notes
Television: SEC Network
Video Stream: SECN
Audio: 100.3 FM KLRZ
Live Stats

#FIRSTFIVE
• With the opening weekend off, the Colonels will start their 2016 campaign at SEC power and No. 18 Georgia this Saturday (Sept. 10) at 11 a.m. central at Sanford Stadium. The first-ever meeting between the programs will be televised on the SEC Network, and Voice of the Colonels Bryant Johnson, along with long-time veteran Seth Thomas, will have the call on the radio on ESPN New Orleans 100.3 FM.

• Nicholls begins Year 2 under Tim Rebowe, who is the Colonels' 10th head coach in program history. A native of nearby Norco, La., Rebowe came to Nicholls after being an assistant at Louisiana-Lafayette for 11 seasons where he helped lead the Ragin' Cajuns to a four-game bowl winning streak. This is the second tour at Nicholls for Rebowe as he was an assistant coach for the Colonels from 1995-2000.

• Heading into their 45th season, the Colonels hold a 20-24 record all-time in season openers. On the road, they post a 6-18 record and are currently on a seven-game losing streak. The last road win came in 2007 when Nicholls defeated FBS Rice, 16-14. Last season's loss at ULM was the fourth consecutive defeat in season openers, all coming against FBS programs (South Alabama, '12; Oregon, '13, Air Force, '14).

• The Colonels return a wealth of experience from last season, fielding a total of 49 letterwinners and 18 starters. Most of the veterans are on the defensive side of the ball, as senior All-Southland safety B.T. Sanders highlights a group of 28 returners on defense. On offense, C.J. Bates leads a group of talented receivers after he finished with 395 yards receiving with three touchdowns last season.

• After playing three FBS teams each season for three straight years, Nicholls will take on two for the second consecutive campaign.  Following back-to-back trips to the Pacific Northwest to face Oregon State and Oregon in 2012 and 2013, the Colonels played in Colorado two straight years with matchups against Air Force and Colorado. Nicholls has three wins all-time against FBS programs, with its last coming in 2013 at Western Michigan.


BY THE NUMBERS

3 - After not winning a game in 2014, Nicholls won three last season in Tim Rebowe's first year. Not that moral victories count,  but the Colonels put themselves into position to win a total of six games

7 - QB Tuskani Figaro is not only 10th on the program's all-time rushing list, but he currently has seven 100-yard rushing efforts, which is one short of tying the program mark held by Hall of Famer QB Josh Son (2000-03)

12 - Nicholls recorded just two sacks in 2014, but followed up with a total of 12 last season. Geoffrey Hebert led the way with 4.5 sacks, while Hezekiah White had the second-most for returners with 1.5

17th - After struggling on defense the last few seasons, Nicholls made vast improvements in 2015, mainly in the passing game. The Colonels ended the season ranked 17th in the FCS in passing yards allowed at 178.2

29 - The matchup against Georgia will be game No. 29 against FBS programs for Nicholls since 2000.  The Colonels have three wins all-time vs. the FBS, with its last coming against Western Michigan (2013)

92, 746 - The matchup against Georgia will be game No. 29 against FBS programs for Nicholls since 2000.  The Colonels have three wins all-time vs. the FBS, with its last coming against Western Michigan (2013)


ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY ...

•  Nicholls has a 3-3 record on Sept. 10. The Colonels are 0-2 against FBS schools on this date, falling in their last two games against Indiana and Western Michigan. In 2005, the Colonels nearly upset Indiana to start the season after their opener against Utah State was canceled due to Hurricane Katrina. Nicholls rushed for 408 yards in the game, but IU scored a touchdown with 47 seconds remaining in the contest to pull off a 35-31 victory.

1977    Mississippi College - W - 6-0 - A
1983    Troy State - L - 25-33 - A
1988    Samford - W - 43-17 - A
1994    Livingston - W - 77-7 - H
2005    Indiana - L - 31-35 - A
2011    Western Michigan - L - 7-38 - A


SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

•  The No. 18 Georgia Bulldogs began the Kirby Smart era with an impressive 33-24 win over No. 22 North Carolina on Saturday in Atlanta.

• Georgia is led by one of the best running backs in the country, Nick Chubb. After suffering a season-ending injury in 2015, Chubb did not miss a beat in his return as he racked up 222 yards and two TDs in the opener against UNC.

• UGA competes in the Southeastern Conference and has the third most SEC titles (12), trailing Alabama (25) and Tennessee (13). The Bulldogs' last title came in 2005.

• Georgia has played one game against a Southland Conference foe, defeating Northwestern State, 45-7, in 2002. Against teams from Louisiana, UGA has a 34-26-2 all-time record, with the majority of the games coming against LSU and Tulane.

LSU  -- 13-16-1
Tulane --  14-10-1
ULM -- 4-0
Northwestern St. -- 1-0
Southern -- 1-0
UL-Lafayette -- 1-0


LAST OUTING
Nov. 19, 2015
Nicholls 27, Southeastern La. 24

HAMMOND, La. – Senior Francisco Condado kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired to complete a dominant second half by the Nicholls State University football team as the Colonels claimed the River Bell trophy for the first time since 2010 with a 27-24 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday night at Strawberry Stadium. (RECAP)


NICHOLLS-UGA CONNECTIONS
Nicholls does not have a single player from Georgia, and the Bulldogs have just one from Louisiana. However, the one player, sophomore receiver Michael Chigbu (New Orleans), starred at Holy Cross High School along with the Colonels' junior defensive back Joel Dullary and sophomore linebacker Adrian Richardson.

POLL POSITION
For the second straight season, the Colonels will look to exceed the league's expectations as the coaches and SIDs voted Nicholls to finish in 10th out of 11 teams. After winning two of their final three games, the Colonels finished the year in a tie for 8th in the Southland Conference standings.

BIG TIME SANDERS
Senior defensive back B.T. Sanders has been one of the Colonels' best players over the past few seasons and his performance has not gone unnoticed. After the 2015 campaign, he landed on the All-Southland Second Team after finishing second on the team in tackles (75) and added three forced fumbles and a sack. He was also named to Second Team All-Louisiana, joining FBS players from LSU, UL-Lafayette and Tulane.


SOUTHLAND WEEKLY CONFERENCE CALL (COACH REBOWE STARTS AT THE 12:30 MARK)