The Nicholls State football program announced its 2012 schedule on Friday, Feb. 3, which features three games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents and four games at John L. Guidry Stadium.

Charlie Stubbs, who admitted the schedule is far from easy, said he hopes that playing such high caliber programs will help the team improve and grow to their potential.

“It is a challenge putting a schedule together, and sometimes you have to take certain dates when they are available,” Stubbs said. “This is what we want and we are very excited to be playing these teams.”

The Colonels will play their first three games on the road starting with Oregon State, South Alabama, then Tulsa.

Stubbs is very familiar with Oregon State and Tulsa, where he worked for both as an offensive coordinator.

“It is going to be fun to travel to schools that I used to coach for. In fact, two of my children were born in Oregon while I was coaching there,” Stubbs said. “I think the players will especially be excited to travel to Oregon, because I do not believe any member of the team has been there before.”

Oregon State finished with a 3-9 record last season, which included a 29-28 over-time loss against Football Championship Subdivision’s Sacramento State in their 2011 opener.

South Alabama defeated the Colonels in 2010, 39-21, just as the Jaguars were about to switch to the FBS. This up-coming season, South Alabama will be a member of the Sun Belt Conference.

The game against Tulsa, who is in Conference USA, will be the first meeting between the two programs.

“All of us are ready to play against South Alabama after playing a few years ago,” Stubbs said. “Next is Tulsa, which is also a program I am familiar with. That will also be a tough match-up.”

Nicholls will play its home opener against Evangel on September 22 before starting conference play. The Colonels defeated the Crusaders last year 42-0.

Conference play will start on the road against Central Arkansas (Oct. 6), then at home against national runner-up, Sam Houston State (Oct. 13).

The next two games will then be on the road against Stephen F. Austin (Oct. 20) and Northwestern State (Oct. 27). The last two out of three games will be at home against McNeese State (Nov. 3), away at Lamar (Nov. 10), then ending at John L. Guidry Stadium against rival Southeastern.

“Conference will be tough, but I like challenges, and I believe that the teams that we play before conference will prepare us,” Stubbs said.

Stubbs and the rest of the coaching staff are also hoping that this schedule will interest potential recruits.

“Players are always excited to play against big schools, and that is a tool we can use to spark the interests of young players out there who are debating what program they want to play for,” Stubbs said.

Stubbs added that a lot of preparation and hard work will have to go into insuring a successful season.

“We have much work to do in the next few months and I know everyone is up to the challenge. This will make us a better team.”