Former NSU quarterback returns to old stomping ground

At quarterback,Yale Vannoy was instrumental in Nicholls State’s first and only Southland Conference Championship in 2005.

Then a senior, the Texas native led the Colonels to the title over their archrivals, the McNeese State Cowboys. It was his second year as starting quarterback at Nicholls.

The feat is something the 25 year old cherishes. While he no longer lives in Thibodaux, he considers it “home.”

SportsNet caught up with the former Colonel at the recent Manning Passing Academy, where he was a camp counselor, to discuss life after football, his experience at the camp and Nicholls football.

SportsNet: What are you doing now, still playing football?

Yale Vannoy: No, I’m living in San Antonio now. I got on with a pharmaceuticals company (Zyber Pharmaceuticals) outside of Baton Rouge. Cooper Collins, who is a former Nicholls quarterback, is the president of the company.

SN: Was returning to NSU what attracted you to volunteer?

YV: It’s the only reason I do this camp. It’s amazing to see the Mannings, but I do it to see all of my former coaches and all of my friends. That’s the coolest part about coming back. I have friends and family here now that I love to come back and see. The people and the fans are amazing. It was the five best years of my life.

SN: What was it like being a part of Nicholls’ only Southland Conference Championship team in 2005?

YV: I can’t even find a word to describe it. It was the best feeling to have, especially with my family and friends at the game. We worked so hard and came from nothing. It was amazing. I’m glad I got to experience it with those guys and the writers who followed us all season. Not only was it a great time for us, but also, it was a great time for Nicholls and a great thing for Thibodaux.

SN: Do you still keep in touch with teammates and people associated with Nicholls?

YV: I try to make a habit of calling every day while I’m on the road. I had dinner with a bunch of my old teammates when I came in (for the passing academy).

SN: What are your thoughts on the quarterback situation at Nicholls? Any favoritism toward Vince Montgomery or Zach Chauvin?

YV: I love both of those guys. I talked to Vince yesterday and he sounds like he is ready. When I saw him, he looked bigger than ever and he is very passionate about Nicholls. From day one, I was impressed by Zach. I watched him at Thibodaux High, and I always found him to be an amazing athlete and a true leader. He’s a good, humble guy. They will both be good starters. If either one gets hurt or if either one plays, it won’t be a problem. We’re (Nicholls) good either way.

SN: What’s it like to see all of the improvements Nicholls has made to the campus?

YV: It feels incredible. I didn’t think I could be any prouder of going here. Every time I come back they add more beautiful things. Just the dorms and the field have seen major improvements on top of all of the other stuff. It makes me so proud to be a Colonel and, hopefully, it keeps getting better.

SN: What was it like working the Manning Camp for your fourth year?

YV: It was so cool to be around the college and pro coaches. Some people might think they’ll walk around bigger or better than everybody else, but that’s not the case. They’ll talk to the kids and talk to other counselors. They are real down to earth. They are good about everything.

SN: What’s your reaction when you see guys from LSU, Georgia, Purdue, etc. working alongside you at the academy?

YV: My initial reaction is I want to go head-to-head with them to see how I do. They are all amazing athletes. It is fun to watch them do the Air-It-Out. At the end of the day, they are just regular guys like me. That’s the beauty of it.

SN: Being an option quarterback, did you go to the Manning Camp to actually help the campers with their passing game?

YV: (laughing) The funny thing is, unfortunately, we did not throw the ball much at Nicholls. I love running the option, but a lot of people know that we probably used about an hour of each practice throwing the ball. We really did. During the summer, we did seven-on-seven and did so much throwing. I really like throwing the ball, but I really like helping out the kids even more. They normally have them do a bunch of option drills and play-action pass type stuff, which is what I usually help with. Anything I could do to help, I did.

SN: You worked with the Manning Passing Academy for four years. Have you seen improvement in the athletes that come back year after year?

YV: The coolest thing is seeing the kids when they first come in to now. They might have a little facial hair; they might be a couple inches taller or put a few pounds on. They take what they learn at the academy and bring it back the next year. That’s really the cool thing.

SN: Now that you’ve been away from football, do you miss it?

YV: I missed it the day I left. I help out at high schools around the San Antonio area and I come out and do the camp. Any person who is done with it is still going to love it and still going to want to do it. I’m going to be 90 and in a wheel chair and still miss it.

SN: What do you do in your free time now?

YV: I work out a lot and play any type of sport I can play. I play flag football, ice hockey, softball, volleyball; anything I can do. I help out at a private high school in Texas that (former Colonels) Corey and Brady Vavala’s dad used to coach at, so it makes good use of my free time.

Yale Vannoy played quarterback for the Nicholls State Colonels from 2002-05. During his senior season, he led the Colonels to their first and only Southland Conference Championship. * Photo courtesy of NICHOLLS STATE