Colonels looking ahead to first game without Stubbs

This weekend, the Nicholls State University Colonels football team will travel to Denton, Texas to play the North Texas Mean Green. Last Saturday, the Colonels’ home opener was nothing short of a disaster. The Colonels (0-3) gave up 381 total yards and only put up 252 total yards. The Colonels’ run game was non-existent, and quarterback Kalen Henderson ran the ball more times than he wanted to. The Colonels last offensive series featured quarterback Beaux Hebert, and the Colonels went three and out. A decent effort by the defense kept the Colonels in the game until the end of the third quarter, when a fumble by Henderson gave Henderson State University a golden opportunity to seal the game.

With the Colonels’ season winless, the team looks ahead to North Texas, a team that is 1-2 for the season.

The team is also going through an emotional week after their head coach Charlie Stubbs announced his resignation Sunday. Nicholls’ athletics hired interim head coach Steve Axman Tuesday afternoon.

While the Colonels’ first practice with Axman was cancelled due to weather, the Colonels will resume practice Wednesday to prepare for North Texas. Coach Axman said he is looking forward to this Saturday and hopes that he can help prepare the Colonels for the rest of the season.
“The ultimate goal is to win conference,” Axman said.

“The team watched two hours of film on North Texas, looking for ways to attack the deeper parts of the field because of North Texas’ cover four defense. The team is also looking to get the running game started, after a less than 100 yard effort last Saturday,” Henderson said.
Axman said while he was unable to see film of any of the Colonels’ games this season, what happened is in the past, and the team needs to rally together and look ahead because there are still nine games left to play this season. The team is looking forward to North Texas and their first win of the season.

Axman said, “The team needs confidence, and winning is what gives any team confidence. “
North Texas is a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent, which the Colonels have struggled with this season, giving up a total of 117 points with 44 against Airforce Academy and 73 to Arkansas State University. The Colonels also surrendered 27 more points in their home opener to division one opponent Henderson State, totaling the point deficit in the first three games to 144.

The Colonels have a long road ahead of them this season, but even with the resignation of Coach Stubbs and the hiring of interim Head Coach Axman, the team is in high spirits to turn their season into a winning one.

“With every closed door, there is another open one,” Hebert said.