In addition to improving the team’s on-the-field performance, it was one of Daryl Daye’s goals when he became head coach at Nicholls: improve off-the-field performance.One of the biggest ways that Daye and his staff measure off-the-field performance is the grade point average of the players.
This spring, the GPA for the Colonels rose for the fourth consecutive time.
“I am very impressed with our kids off the get-go academically with what they’ve accomplished in four semesters going from a 1.79 to a 2.48. What you emphasize is what you get with athletes,” Daye said.
“So, the more I emphasize, the better they get. I was excited about the commitment because that tells me you have a disciplined bunch of guys.”
The 2.48 was average was just shy of Daye’s goal of a 2.5 team GPA.
A total of 31 Colonel football players scored GPAs of 2.5 or higher. Five players scored 3.0 or higher.
Ryan Thibodaux, junior long snapper, led the team with a 3.7.
This trend started not long after Daye took over the head coaching reins. He brought a different coaching philosophy that contrasted to the one in place at the time.
“I don’t know [about what happened.] I wasn’t here, but I just know that what we ask these kids to do they do. They’re clean-cut high-standing individuals.
“It’s just taking some time for these kids to grow up. You’ve got so many young kids playing, but that’s what makes them better.”
Daye involves the parents of his players in his philosophy.
“We had five kids who didn’t make a 2.0 last semester, and all five parents were called. It’s amazing how fast they get straight,” he said with a laugh.
Classroom success is exemplified by the on-the-field leader, quarterback Josh Son, who finished the semester with a 3.5.
“He’s a competitor and a good leader. He does it on the field and in the classroom,” Daye said.
Free safety Lee Rogers, a leader on defense, registered a 3.6.
Whereas the Colonels normally sign 12 to 15 players every year, twice that number have been signed the last two years.
“That’s how much it emptied out. That’s how much was failing out and quitting. To fill back up we’ve signed 30 plus for two years,” Daye said.
He said retention is always a problem, and the root of retention problems rest in discipline.
“We’ve got three academic all-state kids. We’ve got four kids that are TOPS candidates. So, that tells you what type of kids we’re recruiting.
“We’re after the clean-cut good kids that are going to be acting right. They come here to get their education. Not everybody’s going to be in the NFL.”
Daye said he is cautious when recruiting because one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.
“It can, but that’s your job as a coach to make sure you don’t bring bad apples in. If there are bad apples here in our recruiting class, that’s our fault.
“I look at every one of them in the eye, and I look at them head to toe. We research them, and we’re going to know what he is before he steps on campus. We still make mistakes, too. Some of them can fool you, but not for too long.
