Nicholls State Colonels football The Nicholls State Colonels football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Nicholls State University located in Thibodaux , Louisiana , United States . The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision ( FCS ) and are members of the Southland Conference . Nicholls State ' s first football team was fielded in 1972 . The team plays its home games at the 12 , 800 seat John L . Guidry Stadium in Thibodaux , Louisiana . The Colonels are coached by Charlie Stubbs . Year - by - year results . Nicholls State Colonels Football Year - by - Year Results Stadium . John L . Guidry Stadium . Manning Field at John L . Guidry Stadium is a 12 , 800 - seat multi - purpose stadium in Thibodaux , Louisiana . It is home to the Nicholls State University Colonels football team of the Southland Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision . The stadium is named in honor of former state representative John L . Guidry . The playing surface is named Manning Field after the Manning family because Peyton Manning , Eli Manning and Archie Manning hold the Manning Passing Academy football camp at the facility . The current playing surface is Astroturf 3D Grass . The stadium was officially dedicated on September 16 , 1972 . The stadium features a three - level press box on the west side . The second level houses an area for game management staff , radio and coaches ’ booths and a working press area . The president ’ s suite and a 30 - seat club level is located on the third level . A photo deck is located on the roof . On the ground level is the Colonels Club Room . In 2012 , the west entrance of the stadium was renovated which included a new entrance into the Colonel Club area and a new ever - present illuminated Nicholls “ N ” . The Frank L . Barker Athletic Building is located adjacent to John L . Guidry Stadium . It houses the Nicholls State Colonels football coaches ’ offices , locker rooms , meeting rooms , athletic training rooms and athletic staff . The Nicholls State Athletics Hall of Fame is also located in the building . The Nicholls State Colonels strength and conditioning facility is located inside Leonard C . Chabert Hall . It includes the Colonels weight room and a 50 - yard artificial turf field is located adjacent to the building . Rivalries . Current rivalries . Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana are located 94 miles apart and no two football - playing schools in the Southland Conference are as close as the two schools . The winner of the annual football game is awarded the River Bell Trophy . The trophy features a river bell , the teams athletic logos and details the yearly victors . The game played between the rivals began in 1972 and was played annually until 1985 when Southeastern Louisiana dropped its football program . It resumed 20 years later in 2005 when football was reinstated by the university . The Nicholls State - Northwestern State football rivalry is played annually with the winner being awarded the NSU Trophy . Both universities are located in Louisiana and are members of the Southland Conference . The first game in the series was played in 1973 . Defunct rivalries . In fall 1998 , the Colonels were scheduled to take on the Texas State Bobcats . Prior to the game , heavy rains flooded San Marcos , Texas and the field at Texas State . Athletic directors and coaches from both schools decided to postpone the game and coined the annual contest the " Battle for the Paddle , " joking that fans and athletes needed to use a boat and paddle to get to the game . The game was eventually played on November 28 , 1998 with Texas State prevailing 28 - 27 to win the first " Battle for the Paddle " . A wooden oar or paddle named the " Paddle Trophy " was awarded to the winner of the contest . The rivalry ended in 2011 .