For Bobcats, reclaiming paddle starts new tradition

Texas State reclaimed the paddle from Nicholls, sort of.

The Bobcats partied with a rowing oar after defeating the Colonels, 24-3, on Saturday in the renewal of the “Battle for the Paddle” at Bobcat Stadium.

“Just having the paddle, you know, what’s the meaning of it. The kids are running around the locker room with the paddle right now and I think it’s a great thing for this university,” head coach Jake Spavital said. “Whenever there’s a trophy on the line that means there’s a lot that this university plays for and what it means.” 

But these Bobcats had no clue about the coveted paddle coming into this week. 

And who can blame them? Texas State hasn’t played Nicholls since 2011 — a 38-12 win in favor of the Bobcats. But like any gridiron rivalry, it wouldn’t be one without controversy, and this one is abound with it. 

“I didn’t know much about it until, I don’t know, a couple days ago,” said senior linebacker Nik Daniels, who led the Bobcats with nine tackles on Saturday. “It’s cool to have a rivalry game. It makes the game a little more interesting.”

This rivalry’s trophy is a long rowing oar with one side of its blade colored in maroon and gold with the Bobcats’ victory scores over Nicholls since 1998 inscribed on it, while the opposite side is painted in Nicholls’ red and gray and its wins marked. 

The paddle made its first appearance in 1998 after Nicholls and Texas State’s game was moved to November after record flooding took place in San Marcos, which killed 25 people. The trophy was made in honor of those who lost their lives and until 2010 the teams fought for the paddle. 

But the true drama began in 2011. The Bobcats were an FBS transitional team that year and had more scholarships available to them than Nicholls did. So the Colonels left the paddle in Thibodaux, Louisiana. When Texas State downed the Colonels in their last game, the Bobcats never received their victory reward.  

With Texas State and Nicholls meeting for the first time in eight years, it was time for Spavital and his team to create new traditions. Texas State brought back the oar … at least its own version of it. 

After the game was knotted at 3-3 at halftime, Texas State pulled away and earned a 24-3 win over the Colonels. 

The Bobcats paraded around their home turf with their paddle in hand, ensuring their competition knew where the trophy truly belongs. The party continued in the locker room as Texas State secured its second-straight win this season. 

“It’s pretty cool to have a trophy for a game,” junior quarterback Gresch Jensen said. “(The postgame celebration is) crazy. Coach Spav kind of gets thrown around a little bit in there. But it’s pretty fun, though, and guys let loose. You know, you work really hard all week and put up a good performance and keep going from there.” 

Texas State and Nicholls have no plans to continue the rivalry after Saturday’s game. The Bobcats control ownership of the paddle after claiming this year’s victory, even if the Colonels haven’t returned the original. 

“I’m pretty excited that the paddle’s gonna stay here in San Marcos,” Spavital said. “Don’t know when we’re going to play them again but at least we can say that we were the last ones that actually won it until the rivalry gets renewed again.”