COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF

TXST FOOTBALL

Battle for the Paddle renewed as Bobcats host Colonels

The Countdown to Kickoff series takes a look at the upcoming 2025 season for the Texas State Bobcats as they prepare to hit the gridiron.

This week will preview the Bobcats final regular season game of the season as Texas State reunites with one of their longtime rivals in the Nicholls Colonels during the renewal of the Battle for the Paddle.

Nicholls came into last season with high expectations after being voted the preseason favorite in the Southland Conference preseason poll. However, the Colonels finished the season with a 4-8 overall record including dropping their last four games of the regular season.

Head Coach Tim Rebowe announced his retirement at the end of the season after 10 seasons and was replaced with defensive coordinator Tommy Rybacki.

The Colonels are looking to replace several starters on offense including their leading passer, leading rushing and leading receiver.

Looking to help lead the offense is running back Miequle Brock. Brock was second in rushing for Nichols, running for 479 yards and 75 carries and three touchdowns for the Colonels. Also returning for Nichols is wide receiver Scrappy Osby who caught 28 passes for 346 yards and two touchdowns.

On defense, defensive back Shane Lee returns as the Colonels’ returning lead tackler with 48 total tackles, 26 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks and one interception.

The series between Texas State and Nicholls dates back to 1980 and became one of the fiercest rivalries in the Southland Conference with a unique history.

Both the Bobcats and Colonels met during the 1980 season and the 1982 season when Texas State was still in Division II while Nicholls was an independent in FCS.

Texas State and Nicholls helped found the Gulf Star Conference in 1984 forming a new conference along with Northwestern State, Sam Houston, Southeastern Louisiana and Stephen F. Austin that would compete at the FCS level.

The Gulf Star Conference only lasted four seasons before Texas State, Northwestern State, Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin joined the Southland while Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana remained independent.

Despite no longer being members of the same conference during this time span from 1987-1990, Nicholls remained an opponent for Texas State, playing four straight years as non-conference opponents.

Nicholls later opted to join the Southland Conference in 1991 where the series between the Bobcats and Colonels returned as a conference matchup where it would remain until the 2011 season.

In 1998, the series took an unexpected turn, creating one of the most unique college football rival trophies.

The original game between Texas State and Nicholls was scheduled to take place October 17 of the 1998 season during homecoming for the Bobcats. However, San Marcos was hit with torrential rainfall, bringing an estimated 20 inches of rainfall, causing severe flooding.

The game was moved to November 28 — later in the season.

Looking to add both an incentive for the players and honor the victims of the flood, both athletic departments came up with the Paddle Trophy — a canoe paddle painted maroon and gold on one side and red and silver on the other. The running joke between fanbases that emerged was that fans “needed a boat and a paddle just to see the game.”

The game ended in a 28-27 win for the Bobcats after quarterback Spergon Wynn hit D’Angleo Torres for two fourth quarter touchdown passes to seal the game. As time expired, defensive back Darrick Vaugn became the first Bobcat player to touch the paddle trophy as Texas State celebrated the victory and the creation of what would be known as the Battle of the Paddle.

The Battle for the Paddle continued on through the 2011 season until Texas State made the transition to FBS.

However, the ending of the Battle for the Paddle as a conference series again added another chapter to the history of the rivalry.

During the 2010 season, Nicholls defeated Texas State 47-45 in a thrilling game to bring back the Paddle Trophy. In the lead up to their showdown in 2011, Texas State began the process of leaving FCS to become an FBS program and briefly became an independent football.

Nicholls argued because Texas State was transitioning to FBS and now had a scholarship advantage, the game was no longer even. As former Nicholls Head Coach Charlie Stubbs put it in a now infamous quote, “we ain’t bringing the damn thing.” Texas State created a new Paddle Trophy and defeated Nicholls 38-12.

The Battle for the Paddle was brought back for the 2019 season as Texas State and Nicholls met once again in the 31st meeting between the two teams, ending with the Bobcats winning 24-3.

Texas State leads the overall series 16-15 and leads the Battle for the Trophy series at 9-6.

Kickoff for Texas State-Nicholls is set for 7 p.m. Saturday Sept. 20 at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos.

cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc