Battle for the Paddle

Battle for the Paddle
Nicholls Colonels
Texas State Bobcats
SportFootball
First meetingOctober 4, 1980
Nicholls State, 24–21
Latest meetingSeptember 28, 2019
Texas State, 24–3
Next meetingSeptember 20, 2025
TrophyPaddle Trophy
Statistics
Meetings total31
All-time seriesNicholls leads, 16–15
Largest victoryNicholls State, 63–37 (1993)
Longest win streak3 games, three times by Nicholls, and twice by Texas State
Current win streakTexas State, 2 (2011–present)
Map
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300km
200miles
Texas State
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Nicholls
Locations of Nicholls and Texas State

The Battle for the Paddle is an American college football rivalry game played between the Texas State Bobcats and the Nicholls Colonels. The rivalry began between the two schools as an in-conference rivalry, first in the Gulf Star Conference and then the Southland Conference. The name for the rivalry originated as a result of a game postponement during the 1998 season. Prior to the game, heavy rains flooded San Marcos, Texas and the field at Texas State.[1] 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.[2]

Nicholls head coach and offensive guru Charlie Stubbs brought controversy to 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, stating "we ain't bringing the damn thing."[3] Texas State won the Battle for the Paddle 38–12.[4] Since Texas State's ascension to the FBS, the teams do not meet as frequently. The two teams met in 2019, with Texas State winning 24–3. The next scheduled meeting will be in 2025.[5]

Nicholls leads series 16–15.

Game results

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[6]

Nicholls victoriesTexas State victories
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 October 4, 1980 Thibodaux, LA Nicholls State 24–21
2 September 18, 1982 San Marcos, TX Southwest Texas State 14–7
3 November 10, 1984 San Marcos, TX Nicholls State 30–14
4 October 26, 1985 Thibodaux, LA Nicholls State 20–12
5 October 25, 1986 San Marcos, TX Nicholls State 35–21
6 October 24, 1987 Thibodaux, LA Southwest Texas State 31–16
7 October 29, 1988 San Marcos, TX Nicholls State 13–10
8 October 21, 1989 Thibodaux, LA Nicholls State 22–21
9 September 29, 1990 San Marcos, TX Southwest Texas State 33–30
10 September 28, 1991 Thibodaux, LA Southwest Texas State 19–10
11 October 3, 1992 San Marcos, TX Southwest Texas State 38–13
12 October 23, 1993 Thibodaux, LA Nicholls State 63–37
13 October 22, 1994 San Marcos, TX Southwest Texas State 27–26
14 October 21, 1995 Thibodaux, LA Southwest Texas State 35–25
15 September 21, 1996 San Marcos, TX Nicholls State 49–36
16 October 11, 1997 Thibodaux, LA Nicholls State 29–28
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
17 November 28, 1998 San Marcos, TX Southwest Texas State 28–27
18 October 9, 1999 Thibodaux, LA Southwest Texas State 16–0
19 October 7, 2000 San Marcos, TX Southwest Texas State 25–0
20 October 27, 2001 Thibodaux, LA Nicholls State 33–14
21 October 19, 2002 San Marcos, TX Nicholls State 24–21
22 November 6, 2003 Thibodaux, LA Nicholls State 31–13
23 November 13, 2004 San Marcos, TX Texas State 35–12
24 October 29, 2005 Thibodaux, LA Nicholls State 32–29
25 November 4, 2006 San Marcos, TX Nicholls State 21–19
26 November 10, 2007 Thibodaux, LA Nicholls State 52–28
27 November 15, 2008 San Marcos, TX Texas State 34–10
28 October 17, 2009 Thibodaux, LA Texas State 34–28
29 October 16, 2010 San Marcos, TX Nicholls State 47–45
30 October 1, 2011 San Marcos, TX Texas State 38–12
31 September 28, 2019 San Marcos, TX Texas State 24–3
Series: Nicholls leads 16–15

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Texas State Plays Host To Nicholls State In Battle For The Paddle Game on Saturday". txstatebobcats.com. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  2. ^ "College football's most unique rivalry trophies". foxsports.com. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  3. ^ "Goodbye to the paddle". houmatoday.com. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  4. ^ "Texas State paddles Nicholls State". mysanantonio.com. October 2, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  5. ^ "Texas State adds Nicholls to 2025 football schedule". FBS Schedules. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  6. ^ "Texas State vs Nicholls State – All Time". cfreference.net. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
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