After three weeks on the road, Nicholls will play their home-opener against Bacone College this Saturday for Homecoming.The Colonels are 0-3 after losing to three Football Bowl Subdivision opponents in San Diego State, Western Michigan and South Alabama.

Nicholls head coach Charlie Stubbs relishes that Colonels will finally play in front of their home crowd.

“There’s nothing like that 12th man,” Stubbs said. “Whether it’s the crowd pulling you through the tough times or encouraging you when you do have success, that’s what we’re looking for. It’s been a very taxing three weeks on the road.”

Bacone College is a four-year liberal arts college affiliated with the American Baptist Church and located in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Coach Stubbs wants to make sure the Colonels focus is on Bacone and not on Homecoming.

“The biggest thing you have to watch out for is that there aren’t too many distractions,” Stubbs said.

Bacone will come to Nicholls Saturday with a 1-2 record. Bacone defeated Haskell University 21-6, lost to McMurry University 41-6 and fell to Southwest Baptist University 21-12.

The Colonels have the advantage of playing this game in their backyard, and Coach Stubbs believes it will play to his team’s favor.

“They get the comfort of sleeping in their own bed,” Stubbs said. “They’re very comfortable with the environment, and I really believe they will play hard because they’ll have a lot more friends and family in the stands.”

Bacone is a step down in competition for the Colonels and not a Football Bowl Subdivision, part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Coach Stubbs knows that no game is a sure win and looks to the crowd to pick the team up.

“What we really need is when we struggle, they pick us up and when we make some plays, they’re there to encourage us to make another,” Stubbs said.

The game starts at 4 p.m. Saturday against the Warriors in John L. Guidry Stadium.