Battle for the Paddle

Last updated
Battle for the Paddle
Sport Football
First meetingOctober 4, 1980
Nicholls State, 24–21
Latest meetingSeptember 28, 2019
Texas State, 24–3
Next meetingSeptember 20, 2025
TrophyPaddle Trophy
Statistics
Meetings total31
All-time seriesNicholls leads, 16–15
Largest victoryNicholls State, 63–37 (1993)
Longest win streak3 games, three times by Nicholls, and twice by Texas State
Current win streakTexas State, 2 (2011–present)
Locations of Nicholls and Texas State

The Battle for the Paddle is the result of a game postponement. In fall 1998, the Nicholls 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. [1] 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 eventually took place on November 28, 1998 with Texas State prevailing 28–27 to win the Paddle Trophy. [2]

Contents

Nicholls Head Coach and offensive guru Charlie Stubbs brought controversy to the rivalry in 2011, when he refused to bring the Paddle Trophy to San Marcos due to Texas State having a scholarship advantage as an FCS transitional school, stating "we ain't bringing the damn thing." [3] Texas State won the Battle for the Paddle 38–12. [4] The two teams met in 2019, with Texas State winning 24–3. The next scheduled meeting will be in 2025. [5]

Nicholls leads series 16–15.

Game results

[6]

Nicholls victoriesTexas State victories

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football</span> University of Hawaii football team

The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team represents the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in NCAA Division I FBS college football. It was part of the Western Athletic Conference until July 2012, when the team joined the Mountain West Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Longhorns football</span> Intercollegiate team representing The University of Texas at Austin in American football

The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate team representing the University of Texas at Austin in the sport of American football. The Longhorns compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference. Their home games are played at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Army Black Knights football</span> American athletic football program of the nations army Military Academy

The Army Black Knights football team, previously known as the Army Cadets, represents the United States Military Academy in college football. Army is a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) member of the NCAA. The Black Knights play home games in Michie Stadium with a capacity of 38,000 at West Point, New York. The Black Knights are coached by Jeff Monken, who has held the position since 2014. Army claims three national championships from 1944 to 1946. In addition, major selectors have awarded Army championships in 1914 and 1916. Army has produced 24 players and four coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame, 37 consensus All-Americans, and three Heisman Trophy winners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas Razorbacks football</span> College football team of the University of Arkansas

The Arkansas Razorbacks football program represents the University of Arkansas in the sport of American football. The Razorbacks compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The program has one national championship awarded by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Helms Athletic Foundation (HAF) in 1964, and one national championship awarded by the Rothman Foundation for the Analysis of Competitions and Tournaments in 1977. The school does not claim the 1977 title. Arkansas has won thirteen conference championships, includes 58 All-Americans amongst its list of players, and holds an all-time record of 736–531–40. Home games are played at stadiums on or near the two largest campuses of the University of Arkansas System: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, and War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas A&M Aggies football</span> Program representing Texas A&M University in American football

The Texas A&M Aggies football program represents Texas A&M University in the sport of American football. The Aggies compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Texas A&M football claims three national titles and 18 conference titles. The team plays all home games at Kyle Field, a 102,733-person capacity outdoor stadium on the university campus. Jimbo Fisher is the team's head coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fresno State Bulldogs football</span> American varsity football team

The Fresno State Bulldogs football team represents California State University, Fresno in NCAA Division I FBS college football as a member of the Mountain West Conference. The green "V" on the Bulldogs' helmets, uniforms, and playing field symbolizes California's Central Valley, specifically the San Joaquin Valley, the agricultural valley from which they draw their support.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SMU–TCU football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The SMU–TCU football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the SMU Mustangs football team of Southern Methodist University (SMU) and TCU Horned Frogs football of Texas Christian University (TCU). The winner of the game receives an iron skillet as a trophy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of I-10</span>

The Battle of I-10 is the name given to the New Mexico State–UTEP football rivalry. It is a college rivalry game between New Mexico State University (NMSU) and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). It is called the Battle of I-10 because the two universities are located along Interstate 10 connecting Las Cruces and El Paso. The teams compete for the Silver Spade Trophy and the Mayor's Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas State Bobcats</span>

The Texas State Bobcats are the sports teams that represent Texas State University. Currently, they compete in the Sun Belt Conference in NCAA Division I. The Bobcat has been the mascot of Texas State University since 1921, when the university adopted the name from the recommendation of a committee formed to raise school spirit. Though considerably smaller than mountain lions, bobcats are known for their stubborn fierceness and great courage. The football squad used the bobcat for the first time in 1921 and went undefeated with a 7–0 season. Texas State had several officially recognized live bobcat mascots until the 1970s. In 1964, the Texas State Bobcat was given the official name of "Boko" by Beth Greenlees, a sophomore from Luling, Texas, who beat out about 100 other students in a "Name the Bobcat" contest. Her winning submission earned her a $5 prize and the honor of being the person who named the Texas State mascot. Boko has twice been named “USA National Champion” mascot. Texas State had no official fight song until 1961, when Paul Yoder was commissioned to compose "Go Bobcats." The song is the rousing "call to arms" for all Texas State athletic games and competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas State University</span> Public Research University in San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University (TXST) is a public research university with its main campus located in the southern portion of the Austin metropolitan area, and its Round Rock campus in the northern portion. Since its establishment in 1899, the university has grown to the fifth largest university in the state of Texas and the 28th largest university in the United States. Texas State University reached a record enrollment of 38,808 students in the 2016 fall semester, continuing a trend of enrollment growth over several years. The university offers more than 200 degree options from its ten colleges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholls Colonels football</span>

The Nicholls 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' first football team was fielded in 1972. The team plays its home games at the 10,500 seat Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The Colonels are coached by Tim Rebowe.

The Northwestern State Demons football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Northwestern State University located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and is a member of the Southland Conference. Northwestern State's first football team was fielded in 1907. The team plays its home games at the 15,971 seat Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas–Texas A&M football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Texas–Texas A&M football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and the Texas A&M Aggies. The rivalry was played every year between 1915 and 2011, until A&M left the Big 12 Conference to join the Southeastern Conference during the 2010–12 Southeastern Conference realignment as a part of the wider 2010–2014 NCAA conference realignment. Texas currently leads the series 76–37–5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Bell Classic</span> American college football rivalry

The River Bell Classic is the annual football game between Nicholls State University and Southeastern Louisiana University with the winner being presented with the River Bell Trophy. The two schools are 94 miles apart and no two football-playing schools in the Southland Conference are as close as Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NSU Challenge</span> American college football rivalry

The NSU Challenge is an American college football rivalry game played annually between the Nicholls Colonels football team representing Nicholls State University and Northwestern State Demons football team representing Northwestern State University. Both universities are members of the Southland Conference. The NSU Trophy, which is a wooden trophy enscripted with NSU goes to the winning team. Although Nicholls has changed their athletic brand name from Nicholls State to Nicholls in 2018, thus not going by NSU anymore in athletics, the rivalry is still called the NSU Challenge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I-35 Rivalry</span>

The I-35 Rivalry is a college rivalry between the Texas State University Bobcats (TXST) and the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners (UTSA). It is named for the Interstate Highway that connects San Marcos, Texas, and San Antonio, Texas, the respective sites of both universities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Arkansas Razorbacks football team</span> American college football season

The 2014 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas during the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Razorbacks played their home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville and War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. They competed as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. They were led by second year head coach Bret Bielema. They finished the season 7–6, 2–6 in SEC play to finish in last place in the Western Division. They were invited to the Texas Bowl where they defeated Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Walsh Legacy Game</span> American college football rivalry

The Bill Walsh Legacy Game is the name given to the San Jose State–Stanford football rivalry. It is a college football rivalry between the San Jose State Spartans football team of San José State University and the Stanford Cardinal football team of Stanford University. The two teams have played each other 67 times since 1900. The rivalry is currently on hiatus due to non-conference scheduling conflicts. Stanford leads the series 52–14–1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Texas State Bobcats football team</span> American college football season

The 2019 Texas State Bobcats football team represented Texas State University in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bobcats played their home games at the Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos, Texas and competed in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They were led by first-year head coach Jake Spavital.

References

  1. "Texas State Plays Host To Nicholls State In Battle For The Paddle Game on Saturday". txstatebobcats.com. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  2. "College football's most unique rivalry trophies". foxsports.com. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  3. "Goodbye to the paddle". houmatoday.com. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  4. "Texas State paddles Nicholls State". mysanantonio.com. 2 October 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  5. "Texas State adds Nicholls to 2025 football schedule". FBS Schedules. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  6. "Texas State vs Nicholls State - All Time". cfreference.net. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2013.