Colonels making ‘Louisiana first’ push count

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On the day he was hired, Nicholls football coach Tim Rebowe made a promise to the Colonels’ fans and high school football players in the area.

“We want local players,” Rebowe said during an interview at his introductory press conference. “We want to recruit this area because we know there are a lot of really talented players here. Our philosophy will be to recruit within about a 100-mile radius on all sides of Thibodaux. If we can do that effectively, I think we will have all of the talent we need to have an effective football team.”

Now three years into his rebuilding project, it’s safe to say that Rebowe has made good on his promise.


The Colonels opened their 2017 season in style on Thursday night, scoring a thrilling last-second victory over McNeese State.

On Nicholls’ opening-night roster, the university listed 107 total players. Only 10 of those players are from out-of-state, which obviously means that the Colonels have 97 Louisiana-born ball players in their locker room for the new season, including 17 players who played high school football in either Lafourche, Terrebonne, Assumption of St. Mary parishes.

“I think our staff has done an outstanding job working hard to build those relationships and I think that’s where a lot of that success has come,” Rebowe said during the offseason. “And I think now, we’ve gotten better and I think a lot of the kids are looking at what’s going on, seeing that it’s heading in the right direction and they’re more willing to buy into it and be a part of what’s happening here.”


That “invest local” approach is paying off big for the Colonels – both on and off the field.

On the field, the Colonels are attracting quality talent – some of the best recruiting classes in the Southland Conference over the past several seasons.

In the opener last Thursday against McNeese State University, 21 out of the team’s 22 starters were Louisiana-born.


The only exception was left tackle Eddie Houston, who isn’t exactly a foreigner. He is from Newton, Mississippi, which is just 249 miles from Thibodaux, according to Google Maps.

Because of that imbalance tilted toward Louisiana players, almost all of the Colonels’ productivity came from Louisiana players.

All of the team’s total yardage was accumulated by Louisiana players, led by quarterback Chase Fourcade, who is a New Orleans native.


His favorite target was Damion Jeanpierre Jr., who, like Fourcade, is a Rummel graduate and is from the city.

The Colonels have 12 players listed from New Orleans and several others who are from suburbs like Metairie, Kenner and other surrounding areas.

“That’s an area with a lot of really talented players,” Rebowe said during the offseason. “New Orleans, the River Parishes and all of that area is so fertile for talent. We’re really fortunate, certainly, to be in a position to say that we’re just 40 minutes or an hour away from those places. That makes us an attractive option for a lot of those kids who are looking to stay close to home and have their families be able to see them play.”


But while the benefits on the field are obvious when looking at Nicholls’ depth chart, there are also some rewards for the Colonels off the field – namely in ticket sales and other revenue streams.

People are buying into Nicholls football for the first time in quite some time.

On Thursday, the Colonels drew a home crowd of more than 9,000 – an awfully high number considering that the game wasn’t even on a weekend.


That official attendance, listed at 9,024 fans, easily outweighs all of the Colonels’ home-openers since 2010.

It is also just the fourth time since 2010 that Nicholls draws more than 6,000 fans for its home opener. But they’ve now done so three-straight years – every season of Rebowe’s tenure.

Nicholls has made strides to make its in-game experience better, as well. In the offseason, the field turf on John L. Guidry Stadium was redone. Visually, the new turf is multiple shades of green and is much more visually appealing. The Colonels also added a new video board to its score board, which allows fans to watch instant replays during live action.


In recent years, the press box has also been renovated.

“I’m all in,” Thibodaux native Sam Wilson said. “For the price, I don’t think you can beat what’s going on out there. It’s fun, family-friendly entertainment and the team is competitive now. Everyone loves a winner. We will be out there as often as we can throughout the season.”

Renee Benson, of Lockport, agreed.


She said she’s a huge LSU fan, but quickly added that on games when the Tigers are on the road and/or are facing inferior competition, she and her family will head to Thibodaux to watch the Colonels.

“It’s here in our backyard,” she said. “Why not support it? I think they’re all doing a great job. We love those boys.”

Nicholls will resume its 2017 season on Saturday against Texas A&M in College Station – the stiffest test the Colonels will have this season.


The team will return to John L. Guidry Stadium on the following Saturday – Sept. 16 – for a date with Prairie View A&M.

That game is Family Day, and Nicholls officials believe they’ll draw another sizeable crowd for that contest.

Nicholls footballMisty Leigh McElroy


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