Miles takes blame for LSU’s loss at Ole Miss
October 22, 2013
CCA wins first-ever meeting with Houma Christian
October 22, 2013
Nicholls State linebacker Chris Bermond has always liked a challenge.
When Bermond transferred to Hancock High School in South Mississippi during his prep career, the school was in the midst of a losing streak that had stretched from the 2004 school year into 2008.
Bermond then became part of a team that not only snapped the skid but won five games in a season in 2009.
Before arriving at Nicholls State in 2012, the Colonels were coming off a season in which they had gone 1-10 overall and 0-7 in Southland Conference play.
Although the team suffered a similar fate in his first year with the program in 2012, Bermond has played a big part in helping Nicholls succeed this season. The team’s 4-2 start before last Saturday’s loss to Stephen F. Austin was Nicholls’ best under fourth-year head coach Charlie Stubbs.
Part of what drew Bermond to Nicholls was the challenge of being part of another program’s building project. So when the opportunity to play for a school not far from his hometown of Bay St. Louis arose, Bermond answered the call.
He transferred from Pearl River Community College after turning down offers from New Mexico, Ohio and Texas State – all three FBS schools.
“It was something you could leave behind and say, ‘I did something,’” Bermond said of helping Hancock snap its losing streak. “So the 1-10 record (at Nicholls) the year before I signed was an intriguing challenge, and I like a challenge. I came here on my official visit and signed immediately. I just liked the atmosphere here.”
Nicholls coach Charlie Stubbs recalled his recruitment of Bermond and said the linebacker’s maturity was one of the biggest factors in what initially attracted him to the JUCO standout. Bermond had developed a good rapport with Stubbs and Colonels defensive coordinator Jeremy Atwell on his only visit to the school.
“He was very serious about wanting to earn his degree, but also play championship football,” Stubbs said. “He’s driven. It’s important to him. That’s what attracted us to him. He’s been everything we could have asked for in a junior college transfer. In recruiting, I tell everybody that we need help. You can see we don’t have all the bells and whistles here, but one of my spills when I talk about recruiting is I can help you earn your degree. We’re striving to play championship football, but I’m going to be honest and say that we also need some help. The game of football is not very complicated. If you have good players you win. If you don’t, it’s hit or miss.”
Stubbs also praised Bermond’s instincts and said the linebacker has a good feel for the game in general.
“Some guys understand what they do, but he can anticipate some things beforehand,” said Stubbs. “He can read blocking schemes well, and he takes the proper angles as a linebacker.”
Now in his second season at Nicholls, Bermond is second on the team in tackles with 45 through seven games played. He also has two interceptions and 2.5 sacks.
As a whole, the Colonels’ defense is coming off one of its worst showings of the season. The team allowed 687 yards of total offense and 35 first downs in a 55-41 loss to Stephen F. Austin last Saturday, and that was with the Colonels’ offense holding on to the ball a full seven minutes longer in time of possession.
The defensive effort was particularly disappointing after Nicholls had played arguably its most complete game of the season in a 33-21 victory over Northwestern State the previous week.
In that game, the Colonels jumped out to a 27-0 halftime lead and led 33-7 before allowing two late touchdowns in the fourth quarter when the game was well in hand.
But even in spite of that victory, Stubbs had cautioned that the Colonels’ defense still had a long way to go and knew the team was in for a challenge against Stephen F. Austin, now the Southland Conference leader in total offense and passing yards.
“We’ve got to get better,” Stubbs said. “We’ve got to make the quarterback uncomfortable back there. We’ve got to hit him and not let him get into a rhythm. That’s a good defense anywhere.”
As with any defense, everything starts up front, Bermond said.
“We can’t play good if our D-line doesn’t play good,” he said. “If we don’t play good, the secondary can’t play good. We’ve got to get pressure for them to hold if we’re in man coverage or vice versa. We all feed off each other.”
Despite Saturday’s loss, Bermond isn’t likely to sulk about it for long.
He points to the Colonels’ four victories this season as a sign that the program has changed and believes the team can be even better going forward.
They’ll have to be in order to have any chance of competing in conference play on a consistent basis.
“Every win has given us confidence,” Bermond said. “I’m a senior, but I haven’t been here all four years. This is only my second year so I didn’t really get to experience it all and go through the hard times, but I understand where they’re coming from. I went through one 1-10 season and that was enough for me. It just leaves a bad taste in your mouth and every time you do win, you want more.”
Nicholls State linebacker Chris Bermond lines up and gets himself ready for a play during a game this season. Bermond and the Colonels are looking to rebound after a poor defensive showing against Stephen F. Austin on Saturday.
