Battle for the Paddle

Battle for the Paddle

File:Nicholls State Colonels alternate logo.png Nicholls State Colonels Texas State Bobcats
Sport	Football
First meeting	October 4, 1980 Nicholls State 24, Southwest Texas State 21
Latest meeting	October 1, 2011 Texas State 38, Nicholls State 12
Next meeting	–
Trophy	Paddle Trophy
Statistics
Meetings total	30
All-time series	Nicholls State leads, 16–14
Largest victory	Nicholls State, 63–37 (1993)
Longest win streak	3 games, three times by Nicholls State, and twice by Texas State
Current win streak	Texas State, 1 (2011–present)

The Battle for the Paddle is the result of a game postponement. In fall 1998, the Nicholls State 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. 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.

Nicholls State Athletic Director Rob Bernardi brought controversy to the final chapter of 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. Texas State won the last Battle for the Paddle 38–12. It is unknown whether the two schools will schedule each other in the future.

Nicholls State leads series 16–14.

Game results

Nicholls State victories

Texas State victories

#	Date	Location	Winner	Score		Series
				NSU	TxSt
1	October 4, 1980	Thibodaux, LA	Nicholls State	24	21	NSU 1–0
2	September 18, 1982	San Marcos, TX	Southwest Texas State	7	14	Tied 1–1
3	November 10, 1984	San Marcos, TX	Nicholls State	30	14	NSU 2–1
4	October 26, 1985	Thibodaux, LA	Nicholls State	20	12	NSU 3–1
5	October 25, 1986	San Marcos, TX	Nicholls State	35	21	NSU 4–1
6	October 24, 1987	Thibodaux, LA	Southwest Texas State	16	31	NSU 4–2
7	October 29, 1988	San Marcos, TX	Nicholls State	13	10	NSU 5–2
8	October 21, 1989	Thibodaux, LA	Nicholls State	22	21	NSU 6–2
9	September 29, 1990	San Marcos, TX	Southwest Texas State	30	33	NSU 6–3
10	September 28, 1991	Thibodaux, LA	Southwest Texas State	10	19	NSU 6–4
11	October 3, 1992	San Marcos, TX	Southwest Texas State	13	38	NSU 6–5
12	October 23, 1993	Thibodaux, LA	Nicholls State	63	37	NSU 7–5
13	October 22, 1994	San Marcos, TX	Southwest Texas State	26	27	NSU 7–6
14	October 21, 1995	Thibodaux, LA	Southwest Texas State	25	35	Tied 7–7
15	October 26, 1996	San Marcos, TX	Nicholls State	49	36	NSU 8–7
16	October 11, 1997	Thibodaux, LA	Nicholls State	29	28	NSU 9–7
17	November 28, 1998	San Marcos, TX	Southwest Texas State	27	28	NSU 9–8
18	October 9, 1999	Thibodaux, LA	Southwest Texas State	0	16	Tied 9–9
19	October 7, 2000	San Marcos, TX	Southwest Texas State	0	25	SWTS 10–9
20	October 27, 2001	Thibodaux, LA	Nicholls State	33	14	Tied 10–10
21	October 19, 2002	San Marcos, TX	Nicholls State	24	21	NSU 11–10
22	November 6, 2003	Thibodaux, LA	Nicholls State	31	13	NSU 12–10
23	November 13, 2004	San Marcos, TX	Texas State	12	35	NSU 12–11
24	October 29, 2005	Thibodaux, LA	Nicholls State	32	29	NSU 13–11
25	November 2, 2006	San Marcos, TX	Nicholls State	21	19	NSU 14–11
26	November 10, 2007	Thibodaux, LA	Nicholls State	52	28	NSU 15–11
27	November 15, 2008	San Marcos, TX	Texas State	10	34	NSU 15–12
28	October 17, 2009	Thibodaux, LA	Texas State	28	34	NSU 15–13
29	October 16, 2010	San Marcos, TX	Nicholls State	47	45	NSU 16–13
30	October 1, 2011	San Marcos, TX	Texas State	12	38	NSU 16–14
	Totals			741	776	NSU 16–14

See also

• List of NCAA college football rivalry games