Nicholls football releases 2012 schedule

Nicholls State football coach Charlie Stubbs will visit a couple old friends in the 2012 season.

The Colonels released their schedule this past week, headlined by matchups against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents Oregon State and Tulsa, programs where Stubbs spent time as an assistant during his coaching career.

“We are very excited about the 2012 schedule,” Stubbs said. “It’s very challenging, which is what we want. Playing this kind of demanding schedule will make us stretch and grow to our potential as we strive to improve as a program.”

The Colonels will find out right away where they stand on Sept. 1 when they travel to take on Oregon State.

The Beavers finished the 2011 season with just a 3-9 record, which included a loss to Sacramento State.

But Stubbs said he knows taking on the Pacific contender will be a challenge – something the Colonels will look forward to as they progress through offseason workouts.

“I know it will be an exciting trip for our players to travel to the Pacific Northwest to compete against a PAC-12 school,” the coach said.

Following the meeting with the Beavers, Nicholls will take on South Alabama (Sept. 8) and Tulsa (Sept. 15).

The Jaguars defeated the Colonels 39-21 in 2010 and will be competing as a FBS school for the first time in 2012.

Tulsa is coming off an 8-5 season in which the team participated in the Armed Forces Bowl.

“I know that they’ll be a major test for our program,” Stubbs said. “But it’s something that will help us as we get closer to conference play.”

Following three-straight road games, the Colonels will play their home opener on Sept. 22 against Evangel.

The Colonels also hosted Evangel in their home opener in 2011, scoring a 42-0 win.

Following the home tilt, Nicholls will move to Southland Conference play where they will be tested from the opening bell.

The Colonels will play Central Arkansas and Sam Houston State to kick off the conference, both teams who made the playoffs last season.

“I know the conference schedule will be super challenging and we will be tested early,” Stubbs said.