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For the first time in a while, there’s a little steam simmering off the Nicholls State University football brand.
Fresh off a 3-8 season under first-year coach Tim Rebowe – a year that was widely considered a success because the Colonels had won just five combined games in the three seasons prior to 2015 – Nicholls took the podium at Southland Conference Media Days last week in Lake Charles.
Throughout the news conference, Colonels players and coaches expressed optimism that year two of the Rebowe era will be a continuation of last season when the Colonels finished 3-3 in the final six games, including winning two out of their final three games to close the year.
“I’m very excited to be here for my second season and be a part of what I think is the best conference in the country,” Rebowe said. “We have some outstanding coaches who are good leaders of men and fantastic football players who can compete anywhere in the country. To be part of that is truly a blessing.”
For a lot of the players on Nicholls’ roster, the act of carrying momentum from one season to the next is new.
That’s because a lot of the Colonels’ recent history dictated that the team would enter the season without much going in its favor.
But Rebowe’s arrival changed those negative prognostications and has turned the temperament of Nicholls football – both on the field and in the community.
In the coach’s first season, the Colonels were more competitive on the field, winning three Southland Conference games for the first time since 2010.
But more important than the on-field success is the newfound pizazz that the Colonels have off it.
Nicholls has done a lot of things to generate community interest under Rebowe, including several camps, fundraiser events and other things to get the Colonels’ name out to the community.
Rebowe has also recruited Louisiana tirelessly in his time with the team, helping secure two-straight highly touted recruiting classes to Thibodaux – players who are expected to settle into their roles on the depth chart in 2016.
The Nicholls coach said earlier in the offseason that the recruiting victories are part of the big-picture plan and vision for the university – one which sees the Colonels competing for conference championships in every season.
Rebowe added that credit goes to his assistant coaches for the momentum.
“They’ve done such an outstanding job working,” Rebowe said. “You know, in this job, it’s about building relationships. And we have a lot of guys who have really good relationships with people around the state. We’ve been utilizing those things and we’re a place that appeals to a lot of people, because I think a lot of kids see that things are turned back in the right direction and there’s some momentum forming here.”
On the field in 2016, Nicholls has familiar faces around its depth chart, returning seven players who have experience starting games and more who have played a significant amount of snaps.
Senior quarterback Tuskani Figaro is back after starting nine games in 2015 and completing 91-of-164 passes for 925 yards and four touchdowns.
Figaro is also a weapon on the ground. He rushed for 456 yards and five touchdowns last season and owns a 1,000-yard rushing season earlier in his career.
The veteran quarterback said he’s excited for 2016 and thinks Nicholls will be better. Figaro said the positive attitude around the team is contagious and has sparked a new life into the Colonels’ locker room.
“Coach Rebowe brought a lot of enthusiasm and it changed the atmosphere here,” Figaro said. “Before, we were a little down and it wasn’t as exciting. He brought that extra enthusiasm, and he got on us every day and it helped. We’ve changed our attitude.”
Defensively, Rebowe said he’s excited about the Colonels’ hopes, and it’s not difficult to understand why.
The Colonels return just about everything from a unit that improved drastically in 2015 – a unit led by All-Conference defensive back B.T. Sanders and junior linebacker Hezekiah White, who led the Colonels with 96 tackles last season.
Sanders said Nicholls’ defense will be better in 2016 because the players have a better understanding of Rebowe’s system.
The defensive back said it’s an honor to be named All-Conference in the preseason, but added that the only thing that matters to the Colonels in 2016 is the recognition they receive during and after the year is complete.
“It’s cool, but it’s just preseason,” Sanders said. “It does give me something to work for, but it doesn’t really mean anything. It’s more important what the whole team does. I’d rather talk about receiving an award after the season.”
Rebowe would, too.
But the coach said he’s grateful his players are now both playing and thinking like champions.
That’s a little bit of a different vibe for the program compared to the past.
Finally, the Colonels have some swag. And they plan to cash that into wins in the fall.
“They know it’s going to be different,” Rebowe said. “They know that every team is different. We’re going to have to step our game up to get a few more victories this year. But I think them believing in the system and believing in the process and knowing that it does work has been the biggest difference.” •
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