RELIVING IT ALL

Nicholls State University had a magical ride in 2017 – a football season that folks in Thibodaux will be talking about for a long, long time.

But for the Colonels, the mission isn’t complete.

This team still believes it has some unfinished business in those Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs.

Fresh off a first-round exit in the postseason, the Colonels got back to work this week, evaluating players and recruiting to try and restock a cupboard that has talented players at just about every position.

Coach Tim Rebowe said he’s sorry his 2017 seniors couldn’t go out with a championship, but quickly added that the team has underclassmen capable of making big ways – now and into the future.

“We had a group of seniors that believed in what we’re doing,” Rebowe said. “And these underclassmen too did a fantastic job, so the future is going to be bright for us.” That, it is.

The Colonels do graduate more than a dozen seniors of this year’s team, but a lot of their household names are back for 2018, which should bode well for the future.

Quarterback Chase Fourcade is back and will be poised to be the team’s starting quarterback for a third-straight season.

Fourcade completed 162-of298 passes for 2,316 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2017 – a solid season after turning heads as a true freshman the year before.

But Fourcade did have problems with turnovers – especially late in the year after his shoulder injury, which has the quarterback going to back to the drawing board this offseason to try and get better.

Fourcade has posted on social media since the game, indicating that he is working hard to better himself for the final two seasons of his career.

After the playoff loss against South Dakota, he said bluntly that the Colonels didn’t plan to be just occasional visitors to the playoffs, but rather the team hoped to be a team that has a frequent seat at the table.

We’re not done yet,” Fourcade said.

In addition to the quarterback, the Colonels return seven other starters offensively, including most of their skill guys and four-fifths of their offensive line.

The Colonels return standout playmaker Damion Jeanpiere at receiver and Kyran Irvin at halfback. Nicholls also brings back other top rushers Dontrell Taylor and Tahj Smith, which should make the Colonels a diverse offense capable of pounding opponents and controlling the line of scrimmage in the future.

Defensively, Nicholls made significant strides in 2017, continuing a positive trend forward for the unit in Rebowe’s tenure.

The Colonels allowed opponents to generate just 352.2 yards per game this season – a mark that was near the top in the Southland Conference and also among the best in the FCS.

But like the offense, the Colonels’ defense isn’t losing much in depth, returning seven starters from their playoff game, including Corey Abraham, who led the team with 79 tackles on the season.

Also back is Sully Laiche, who led the team in sacks with 7.5, as well as defensive back Ahmani Martin (61 tackles), linebacker Hezekiah White (54 tackles) and defensive end Kenny Dotson (38 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks).

Laiche said he thinks the Colonels turned their program around in the past few seasons because of an attitude changed sparked by Rebowe and his coaching staff. He said now, the team is focused on making that next leap forward – something he believes is easily attainable.

“It starts with the players,” Laiche said. “The attitudes around campus and in the locker room – just everybody being positive – it just brings positives vibes to the football team and to the community itself. How you’re acting in the community – just everybody coming in as a whole, it really is special.”

As always, the schedule the Colonels will face in 2018 will be challenging – both inside and outside the Southland Conference.

The Colonels will take on Tulane in a non-conference game on Sept. 8 at Yulman Stadium – an opportunity for Nicholls fans to try and upset a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent – something the team has been eerily close to doing in the past few seasons.

In the Southland, Nicholls is in line to play several of the league’s best teams at home, pending the rotation of the Southland schedule.

Nicholls is due to play Sam Houston State at home, as well as Southeastern Louisiana – two of the team’s biggest rivals in the league.

The Colonels will travel to McNeese and North

western State in 2018, which will also provide lofty challenges.

Rebowe said during his radio show earlier this season that he’s proud of his team, but he wants the Colonels to understand that just making it to the playoffs isn’t enough – soon, it’s time to take the next leap forward and win some championships.

With the personnel the Colonels return and the confidence the team has after its big-time season in 2017, Nicholls believes it has what it takes to make it happen.

“We’ve taken some steps and we’ve been rebuilding,” Rebowe said. “But we want to continue to get into those games, continue to compete and win some championships. We knew when we took the job that those things were possible here at Nicholls and we’re happy and fortunate to be in that position right now.”

The Nicholls State University football team takes the field for a game this season. The Colonels had a magical ride in 2017, making it to the FCS Playoffs. Now, the team is focused on having a good offseason and making it back, something that’s doable because of countless returnees on the depth chart.

COURTESY

Nicholls State University football coach Tim Rebowe talks to his team during a game this season. The Colonels had a great season.

COURTESY