Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium

Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium is a 10,500-seat multi-purpose stadium in Thibodaux, Louisiana.[2] It is home to the Nicholls Colonels football team of the Southland Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The stadium is named in honor of former state representative John L. Guidry who was instrumental in the establishment of Francis T. Nicholls Junior College. The playing surface is named Manning Field after the Manning family (Peyton, Eli, Cooper and Archie) because the family holds the annual Manning Passing Academy football camp at the facility.[3] The current playing surface is GeoGreen Replicated Grass.[4] The stadium was officially dedicated on September 16, 1972.

Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium
Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium
Former namesColonel Stadium (1972)
John L. Guidry Stadium (1973–2006)
LocationMadewood Dr. and Stadium Dr.,
Thibodaux, LA
Coordinates29°47′11″N 90°48′15″W
OwnerNicholls State University
OperatorNicholls Athletics Department
Capacity10,500 (2011–present)[1]
12,800 (1984–2010)
11,600 (1976–1983)
Record attendance14,125
October 10, 1981
vs. Southern University
SurfaceGeoGreen Replicated Grass
Construction
Broke ground1971
OpenedSeptember 16, 1972
Construction cost$2 million
Tenants
Nicholls Colonels football (NCAA)
Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium

The stadium features a three-level press box on the west side with a photo deck located on the roof.[2] The president's suite and a 30-seat club level is located on the third level. The second-level houses an area for game management staff, television, radio and coaches' booths and a working press area. On the ground level is the Colonels Club Room. Members use the club room as a hospitality area before home football games as well as for various university functions throughout the year.

The stadium is also the site of LHSAA high school football games, Crawfish Day, Winter Fest and holds marching band competitions.

History

The first game in stadium history was on September 16, 1972, as the Nicholls State football team defeated Ouachita Baptist 12–7.

The New Orleans Saints (NFL) used the stadium for training camp prior to the 1975 season and again from 2000 to 2002.[5] In 2005, John L. Guidry Stadium and the Nicholls State campus became the host of the Manning Passing Academy.[6]

For the 2007 Nicholls State football season, a new AstroTurf playing surface was installed at the stadium.[7][8] Prior to the start of the 2010 season, a new scoreboard, complete with graphic animation features as well as a new sound system was added. In 2012, the west entrance of the stadium was renovated which included a new entrance into the Colonel Club area and a new ever-present illuminated Nicholls "N".[9]

In 2017, the stadium press box was named C.C. Collins Press Box and a new artificial turf playing surface was installed.[10] The GeoGreen Replicated Grass playing surface featured the Nicholls Athletics logo at midfield, along with Manning Field and Southland Conference logos on each 25-yard-line.[4] Also in 2017, the stadium received a new 31' wide LED video display scoreboard and sound system.[11]

On June 12, 2019, Nicholls announced a new $6.5 million, 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m2) football operations center will be built in the south end zone along with an expansion and renovation of the Frank L. Barker Athletic Building.[12][13] The football team will move from the Barker Athletic Building to the football operations center starting with the 2020 Nicholls Football season.[12][13] The football operations center will include a new locker room, players’ lounge, 142-seat team meeting room with stadium-style seating, training room, equipment room, coaches’ and staff offices, position and group meeting rooms, catering kitchen and team lobby.[12] The team meeting room will also function as a gameday club seating area with a large window overlooking the field.[13] Construction of an indoor training facility located behind the football operations center will begin after completion of the football operations center.[13][14]

Facilities

Frank L. Barker Athletic Building
Frank L. Barker Building

The Frank L. Barker Athletic Building or Barker Hall is located adjacent to Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium. It houses the Nicholls Colonels football coaches' offices, locker rooms, meeting rooms, athletic training rooms and athletic staff.[12]

The Nicholls Athletics Hall of Fame is also located in the building.

Leonard C. Chabert Strength and Conditioning Facility
Leonard C. Chabert Facility

The Nicholls Colonels Strength and Conditioning facility is located in the Leonard C. Chabert Strength and Conditioning Facility or Leonard C. Chabert Hall. The facility has multi-purpose power stations, weight machines, dumbbell stations, elliptical machines and stationary bikes. It is the strength and conditioning facility and nutrition center for Nicholls athletics.[12]

Nicholls Colonels Football Practice Fields

The Nicholls Colonels football practice fields include three natural grass football practice fields located across Acadia Drive from Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium, the Frank L. Barker Athletic Building and the Leonard C. Chabert Strength and Conditioning Facility.[15] Two of the fields face in a north–south configuration similar to Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium with a third facing in an east–west configuration.

  • Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium
    Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium
  • Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium exterior
    Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium exterior
  • Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium/Barker Athletic Building
    Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium/Barker Athletic Building
  • Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium - Goalpost
    Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium - Goalpost
  • Manning Field
    Manning Field
  • Manning Field with scoreboard
    Manning Field with scoreboard
  • C.C. Collins Press Box
    C.C. Collins Press Box
  • Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium - View from Home Stands
    Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium - View from Home Stands
  • Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium - Scoreboard and Stands
    Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium - Scoreboard and Stands
  • Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium - Scoreboard
    Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium - Scoreboard
  • Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium - Press Box (1980s–2016)
    Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium - Press Box (1980s–2016)
  • Football Practice Facility
    Football Practice Facility

See also

References
  1. "Nicholls State Colonels" (PDF). Southland Conference. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  2. "Nicholls State Colonels football media guide" (PDF). Nicholls State University Athletics. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  3. "Football field's namesake brings academy to campus". The Nicholls Worth. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  4. "Guidry Stadium field turf installation underway". geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  5. "New Orleans Saints Training Camp Locations". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  6. "The Manning Passing Academy Legacy Builds". footballfoundation.org. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  7. "John L. Guidry Stadium to get AstroTurf for 2007 season". houmatimes.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  8. "Manning helps upgrade stadium field". espn.com. 14 December 2006. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  9. "Nicholls State Colonels facilities" (PDF). geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  10. "Nicholls stadium getting new turf field". houmatoday.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  11. "John L. Guidry Stadium new LED video display and audio solution". Nevco. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  12. "Nicholls receives gift for Barker Hall Expansion, Football Operations Center". crescentcitysports.com. 12 June 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  13. "Nicholls unveils plans for $6.5 million football facility". dailycomet.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  14. "Nicholls receives gift for Barker Hall Expansion, Football Operations Center". geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  15. "Nicholls Map". Retrieved June 14, 2019.
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