Before 2016, the Nicholls State Colonels were one of the worst teams in the FCS. The Colonels had a record of 53-121 (0.305 win percentage) during the seasons of 2000 through 2015. The Colonels finished 0-11 in 2003, 1-10 in 2011 and 2012, and 0-12 in 2014. In 2015 they finished 3-8. However, the tide began to turn for the Colonels during the 2016 season.
The Colonels opened the 2016 season by nearly upsetting the Georgia Bulldogs, a member of the SEC (arguably the best conference in all of college football), losing the game by only two points. Although the Colonels would finish the year 5-6, a major change in the program could already be seen under new head coach Tim Rebowe and freshman quarterback Chase Fourcade.
The following season was even better. Nicholls finished 8-3 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2005. The Colonels lost the game at home by only won score to the South Dakota Coyotes.
In 2018, the Colonels proved they were a different team than the one that lost every game a few seasons ago. Nicholls faced the University of Kansas in the first game of the season. Chase Fourcade ran in the game winning score to lead his team to a 26-23 win in overtime. The win was Nicholls’ first win over a Power 5 opponent. Led by Fourcade, the Colonels finished 8-3 (7-2 in conference play). During the season, they dominated many of their conference opponents, beating Sam Houston State 27-7, Lamar 50-27, Northwestern State 28-10, Incarnate Word 48-21, Houston Baptist 41-20, Stephen F. Austin 47-14, and Southeastern 44-0. The Colonels were the Southland Conference Champions for the first time since 2005 and returned to the FCS Playoffs. It was the first time in program history that Nicholls made the playoffs in back to back seasons. The Colonels faced off at home against the San Diego Toreros, and beat them 49-30 in the first round of the playoffs. Fourcade went 21 for 31, 337 yards, and 2 touchdowns air while gaining 95 yards on 15 attempts and 2 more touchdowns on the ground. Nicholls was knocked out of the playoffs the following week by Eastern Washington. The Colonels had gone from being one of the worst FCS teams to winning their conference and making the playoffs in back to back seasons.
Chase Fourcade played a huge part in the Colonels 2018 success. He completed 214 out of 352 passes for 2930 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions. Because of his great performance through out the season, Fourcade was named the 2018 Southland Conference Player of the Year and named to the All-Southland First Team. He was also named to the All-Louisiana First Team, beating out LSU quarterback Joe Burrow who made the Second Team.
The Colonels’ success continued in the 2019 season. They finished 8-4 (7-2 in the conference) and won the Southland Conference. Winning back to back conference titles was another first for the Colonels. The Colonels hosted the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year. The Colonels won the first round by taking down North Dakota 24-6. Although the game was largely dominated by the Nicholls defense, Chase Fourcade played well and helped to lead his team to a playoff win for the second consecutive season. In the game, Fourcade threw 165 yards and a touchdown, while completing 14 of his 16 passes thrown. He rushed for 60 yards on 14 attempts and scored another touchdown on the ground. In the next round, the Colonels were defeated 37-13 by FCS power house North Dakota State, who went on to win the title, in a game that was much closer than the score indicated.
The success Nicholls saw in 2019 was once again largely due to the play of Chase Fourcade. Fourcade through 2948 and 17 touchdowns in his senior season while completing 226 of his 334 passes. His 67.7 percent completion percentage set a Nicholls single season record. He also ran for 639 yards and 12 touchdowns on 170 attempts. He was named the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was named to the All-Southland First Team and the All-Louisiana Second Team.
Chase Fourcade is a proven winner. Before going to Nicholls, Fourcade was the starting quarter for the Rummel Raiders for three seasons, and he led the Raiders to two Division 1 state titles. During the four seasons before he came to Nicholls, the Colonels had a combined 8-38 record over those four years, posting an awful 0.174 win percentage. However, during Fourcade’s years at Nicholls, the team went 31-19 (0.620 win percentage), won two conference titles, made the playoffs in three straight seasons, and won two playoff games. Fourcade is the Colonels’ all-time leader in passing yards (10,707), passing touchdowns (70), completion percentage (59.6), total yards (12,604), rushing touchdowns (35), and touchdowns responsible for (105). Chase Fourcade is one of the big reasons behind the turn around for the Nicholls State Colonels, who went from one of the worst to a very powerful and dangerous team.
An NFL team should add Chase Fourcade to their roster. He would be a great addition. Chase Fourcade is a great player and leader and deserves to be given a shot at the next level.
