NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY COLONELS vs McNeese Cowboys
Thibodaux, La. (John L. Guidry Stadium)
Thursday, Aug. 31 | 7:05 p.m. CT
Nicholls Game Notes | McNeese Game Notes
Tickets: NichollsTickets.com
Video Stream: ESPN3
Audio: 100.3 FM KLRZ
Live Stats
FIRST FIVE
• For the first time since 1992, the Colonels will start their season against a Southland Conference foe as Nicholls hosts rival McNeese on Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. at John L. Guidry Stadium. The Thursday night showdown will be streamed live on ESPN3 and can be listened to on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM and KBZE 105.9 FM.
• The Colonels have a 20-25 record all-time in season openers. Despite the near upset of Georgia last season, the team's skid in openers extended to five games - all
coming against FBS programs (South Alabama, '12; Oregon, '13, Air Force, '14, ULM, '15). When Nicholls has had the luxury of opening at home, the Red and Gray are 14-6. The last opener at home came in 2011 where Nicholls defeated Evangel, 42-0.
• Head coach
Tim Rebowe is entering his third season at the helm of the Colonels. After leading Nicholls to 5-4 record in conference last year, the team was projected to finish fifth this season in the preseason poll, voted on by the coaches and sports information directors. In two seasons, Rebowe has an 8-14 overall record and an 8-10 mark in Southland games.
• The Colonels have not had much success against the Cowboys as McNeese holds a 30-11 all-time record against Nicholls. In last season's matchup in Lake Charles, the Cowboys had a 21-3 lead at the break before going on to win, 38-13, to extend their winning streak in the series to eight games. McNeese is 15-4 in Thibodaux with the Colonels' last win at home coming in the 2005 championship season.
• Nicholls will make its debut in the renovated John L. Guidry Stadium. The stadium, which has been the home of the Colonels for nearly 50 years, received new field turf this spring which was installed by Geo Surfaces out of Baton Rouge. In addition to the new playing surface, a brand new sound system and video board were installed to enhance the fan experience.
BY THE NUMBERS
1 - Nicholls finished 2016 as the No. 1 team in the FCS in fourth-down conversions. The Colonels went for it on fourth down 14 times and converted 12 (85.7%). The percentage was the highest in the FCS since the '06 season (Youngstown St. - 90.9% - 10/11)
9/9 - All nine members of Coach Rebowe's coaching staff return from last season. Of the nine, seven have been on the staff since Rebowe took over in '15
12 - DT
Sully Laiche ranked No. 12 in the FCS last season with 9.5 sacks. He had three games with 2.0 or more sacks, highlighted by a 3 sack day against UIW
15 - The Colonel defense led the Southland with 15 interceptions last season. Nicholls had an INT in all but one game (UCA) and totaled four at South Alabama and three at NSU
22- Sophomore QB
Chase Fourcade needs just 22 yards to crack the Colonels' all-time passing list. Fourcade threw for 2,482 yards last season which was the third most for a single season in team history
97 - Nicholls has a total of 97 Louisiana natives on its 2017 roster - most of any Division I program in the state
ON THIS DATE IN COLONEL HISTORY ...
• Nicholls is 2-2 all-time on Aug. 31, with the last matchup coming in 2013 at nationally-ranked Oregon. The last home date on 8/31 was a 35-0 shutout of Southern Arkansas in 2006.
1991 Texas A&M-Kingsville -- L -- 3-7 -- H
2000 Central Arkansas -- W -- 52-44 -- H
2006 Southern Arkansas -- W -- 35-0 -- H
2013 Oregon -- L -- 3-66 -- A
SCOUTING THE COWBOYS
• McNeese was picked to finish third in the SLC Preseason poll after going 6-5 overall and 5-4 in the Southland last season.
• Defensive coordinator Lance Guidry is entering his second year as head coach of the Cowboys. Guidry's defense ranked second in the SLC last season in points allowed, total yards and rushing yards.
• The offense is guided by quarterback James Tabary, who started last season after transfering from FBS Arkansas State. Tabary was named SLC Newcomer of the Year after passing for 3,036 yards and 23 touchdowns.
• Not only has McNeese been able to win in Thibodaux with its 15-4 record, the Cowboys have did it in convincing fashion. In the 15 victories, McNeese is winning by an average of 25.5 points.
ALL-TIME SERIES vs McNEESE
Series Record: McNeese leads 30-11
in Thibodaux: McNeese leads 15-4
First Meeting: 10/21/72 @ NICH; MCN 24-7
Last Meeting: 10/1/16 @ MCN; MCN 38-13 (
RECAP)
Most Points Scored (by both): 91, 2003
Most Points Scored by NICH: 39, 2005
Most Points Scored by MCN: 63, 2003
LAST OUTING
Nov. 17, 2016
Southeastern Louisiana 44, Nicholls 42
THIBODAUX, La. – Trailing by 16 late in the fourth quarter, the Nicholls State University football team scored two touchdowns in the final two minutes and recovered a pair of onside kicks, but a last-second Hail Mary into the end zone was batted down as the Colonels were defeated by Southeastern Louisiana, 44-42, in the River Bell Classic on Thursday night at John L. Guidry Stadium. (
RECAP)
A WIN OVER MCNEESE WOULD...
... improve Nicholls' record in season openers to 21-25
... give Coach
Tim Rebowe his ninth conference victory, matching the program's total from the previous seven seasons (2008-14)
... snap an eight-game losing streak to McNeese
... give Nicholls a 1-0 record for the first time since 2011
... give Coach Rebowe his first season-opening victory
... be the Colonels' 12th over McNeese in the series
... make the Colonels 1-0 in league play for the second straight season
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
A total of five Colonels received Preseason All-Southland honors for the 2017 season. Offensive lineman
Chandler Arceneaux, defensive lineman
Sully Laiche and defensive back
Christian Boutte received first-team recognition, while linebacker
Allen Pittman and offensive lineman
Ryan Hanley were tabbed second team. Boutte and Hanley were voted onto the team, joining Arceneaux, Laiche and Pittman who all earned All-SLC recognition for the 2016 campaign.
GAMEDAY/STADIUM ANNOUNCEMENTS
Nicholls Athletics announced several
new improvements for the 2017 season, including the
clear bag policy. Please click on the provided links for details.
NICHOLLS FOOTBALL ON TWITTER
For the latest news and in-game updates, be sure to follow the team on Twitter
@Nicholls_FB.
