1983 Nicholls State Colonels football team

The 1983 Nicholls State Colonels football team represented Nicholls State University as an independent during the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Sonny Jackson, the Colonels compiled a record of 5–6. Nicholls State played home games at John L. Guidry Stadium in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

1983 Nicholls State Colonels football
Conference	Independent
Record	5–6
Head coach	Sonny Jackson (3rd season)
Home stadium	John L. Guidry Stadium (capacity: 11,600)
Seasons ← 1982 1984 →

1983 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 3 Holy Cross ^			–					9	–	1	–	1
No. 17 Tennessee State			–					8	–	2	–	1
No. 7 Colgate ^			–					8	–	3	–	0
Lehigh			–					8	–	3	–	0
Lafayette			–					6	–	4	–	0
Northeastern			–					6	–	4	–	1
Southeastern Louisiana			–					6	–	5	–	0
William & Mary			–					6	–	5	–	0
Nicholls State			–					5	–	6	–	0
Bucknell			–					4	–	5	–	1
Cincinnati			–					4	–	6	–	1
Delaware			–					4	–	7	–	0
Northwestern State			–					4	–	7	–	0
James Madison			–					3	–	8	–	0
Richmond			–					3	–	8	–	0
Western Kentucky			–					2	–	8	–	1
^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 3	Lamar		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	W 21–14
September 10	at Troy State		Veterans Memorial Stadium Troy, AL	L 25–33	6,000	^[1]
September 24	at McNeese State		Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA	W 30–27
October 1	No. 4 Jackson State	No. 18	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	L 20–27		^[2]
October 8	Southern		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	L 20–21		^[3]
October 15	at No. 8 Northeast Louisiana		Malone Stadium Monroe, LA	L 27–47		^[4]
October 22	Illinois State		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	L 29–34
October 29	Southwest Missouri State		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	W 33–7
November 5	Northwestern State		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA (NSU Challenge)	L 21–24
November 12	at UCF		Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL	W 37–14
November 19	at Southeastern Louisiana		Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA (River Bell Classic)	W 6–0
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee Poll released prior to the game

^[5]

References

1. "Troy St. 33–25". Daily World. September 11, 1983. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "JSU holds off Nicholls 27–20". The Clarion-Ledger. October 2, 1983. Retrieved August 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Southern University 21, Nicholls State 20". The Alexandria Daily Town Talk. October 9, 1983. Retrieved August 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Indians win fifth straight". The Daily Advertiser. October 16, 1983. p. 39. Retrieved January 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.  
5. "Nicholls State University Athletics - 1983 Football Schedule" (PDF). Nicholls State University Department of Athletics. p. 63. Retrieved September 24, 2017.