2024 River Bell Classic Preview

Erik Trosclair • November 21, 2024

Let's get into it!

The Nicholls State Colonels and the Southeastern Louisiana Lions will meet on the football field for the 35th time on Thursday night. This series is tied 17-17.


BACKGROUND


The 1st meeting between the 2 schools took place on September 30th, 1972, and the Lions were victorious by a score of 31-9. The home of the Colonels, John L. Guidry Stadium, and the home of the Lions, Strawberry Stadium, are about 90 miles away from each other. These 2 schools played every season from 1972-1985; Southeastern Louisiana did not have a football program from 1986-2002. The Lions rejoined the Southland Conference in 2005, and the rivalry was reborn. The winner of the River Bell Classic each year takes home the River Bell Trophy. The River Bell Trophy, which was redesigned before the 2012 contest, was just a bell for the 1st game in this rivalry.


TOP PERFORMANCES


This game has seen it all: blowouts, close games, high scoring contests, and low scoring contests. This game has seen some great performances by many athletes.


On the Colonel side, in 1977 linebacker Rusty Rebowe, brother of current Nicholls head coach Tim Rebowe, had 23 tackles. In 2019, Dai'Jean Dixon caught 9 passes for 190 yards and 3 TDs, including a game winner with less than a minute remaining. In the Spring of 2021, Julien Gums rushed for 4 TDs in a game that had a combined score of 97 points. In the fall of 2021, Collin Guggenheim ran the ball 29 times for 267 yards and 3 TDs in a game that had a combined score of 87 points.


On the Lion side, in 1972, Gino Marino ran the ball 28 times for 127 yards, in a dominant performance by the Lions. In 1980, Mack Boatner ran the ball 25 times for 135 yards to help the Lions secure a 15 point victory. In 2005, Trey Willie passed for 403 yards and 3 TDs in a 38 to 28 shootout. In 2014, Devante Scott caught 7 passes for 196 yards and 1 TD in a dominant 62-3 Lion victory.


Former Quarterbacks


Chase Fourcade, Nicholls State 2016-2019:


What does the River Bell Classic mean to you?


Chase: This game means a lot to me. Everybody in Louisiana knows what it is all about. It is a rivalry that a lot of players either grew up playing with or against each other. I was 2-2 in this game; you can throw records out of the window. It doesn't matter if you are 0-11 or 8-3. You circle this game on your calendar when the schedule comes out. My sophomore year I threw for right around 100 yards, and my junior year I had a really efficient game throwing the ball. A lot of great players have played in this matchup, which is part of why it means a lot to me.


Take us through that week of practice and school. Does the atmosphere change around campus?


Chase: Playing on Thursday, everything moves up a day; Sunday you are practicing Wednesday you are having your walkthrough; you are pushing everything up. In 2018 we needed that game to go to the playoffs and for a Southland Conference Championship. In 2018, they had a lot of good players. They had a great quarterback, Chason Virgil. Our message that week was, "How can we get better? and "How can we continue to score points?". School did not change much. Everyone is there; you know the place will be packed. You look forward to this. It is a Thursday night matchup; where else would you rather be? You have to play your best football in November.


Talk to us about that 2019 River Bell Classic game. You throw a game winner with 45 seconds left. What was that game and moment like for you?


Chase: We got off to a slow start. They went up 14-0 quick. They had a great scatback type of player, Devonte Williams. I throw a post route that really got me going, and we go on to score 21 unanswered points. We came up with some big defensive stops. I knew it was a Lance Guidry defense that was going to throw a lot at you, but also, I knew that Southeastern was going to do the same things they always do. Fun fact: the kicker who missed the extra point earlier in the game played at Nicholls before transferring. As far as that final drive went, every Sunday we would practice 2 minute drill, and on that drive we had 1:30 left on the clock. Coach Rob called basic day 1 install. On the final play, Dai'Jean had a matchup we really liked; he had a 5'11'' cornerback on him, and Dai'Jean is 6'4". The play call was Deuce 64 Up. We got a big stop from Sully Laiche. 1 blade of grass was our saying that season, and that is what we did. We kept them from getting one more blade of grass. For me, Sully, Evan, and Dontrell, it summed up 4 great years for us; we played with great players and made great memories. After that 2019 game, I remember going back to Nicholls, then heading to Last Call with my guard, PJ Burkhalter, and drinking a beer. This is the last game a lot of players will play, so you get everyone's best.


B.J. Young, Southeastern Louisiana 2008-2011:


What does the River Bell Classic mean to you?


B.J.: The River Bell Classic is a big game. It's a rival game that means a lot for both schools.


Take us through that week of practice and school. Does the atmosphere change around campus?


B.J: Campus is more electric, especially if the game is at your university. Having the game on a Thursday night helps bring a lot more excitement as well. Everyone is on campus on Thursdays. Nothing changed during the week of prep/practice. It is business as usual; the only difference is everything is pushed up a few days and more urgent being that the game is on a Thursday instead of a Saturday.


Talk to us about that 2011 River Bell Classic game. You have over 260 total yards and 2 TDs.


B.J.: The 2011 River Bell was a good game for SLU. We played really well that night. We started fast, which helped and was able to keep the momentum throughout the entire game. Playing at SLU was a great time. I built a lot of great relationships and learned a lot about the game of football that directly affects me in my career today.


CURRENT PLAYER SPOTLIGHT:


Jhy Orgeron: 2 Time Southland Commissioner’s Fall Academic Honor Roll & 2 Time All Southland Conference Offensive Lineman



Jhy has been a mainstay on the Lion offensive line these last 3 seasons. Orgeron has helped the Lion offense finish in the top half of the conference since becoming a full-time starter. Jhy was kind enough to give me some of his time this week.


What does the River Bell Classic mean to you? Talk to us about your thoughts on this year's game. What is your favorite River Bell Classic memory? What would it mean to end your Lion regular season career with a win, especially in this game?


Jhy: The River Bell Classic is always something that I look forward to. Big rival game. There's nothing more exciting than ringing that bell and being able to keep the trophy for the year. The year we are tied at 17-17, which is an awesome opportunity for us. Unfortunately, I will not be able to play this year because of an ankle injury, but if we make the playoffs, I should be cleared to play. This year's game is a little different for me. It'll be the first time in four years that I don't see the field. I want nothing more than for us to get the dub in order to maybe have a chance at the playoffs. My best River Bell Classic memory has to be in 2022, when we won the River Bell and the 2022 conference championship. That was a feeling that'll be hard to forget. When you work so hard for something and get the results you want it's an awesome feeling. A win would be big time for me because it may give me a chance to suit up again and ball out at least one more time.


THIS SEASON'S MATCHUP


The 2024 Lions


Southeastern Louisiana, (RV) 6-5, 5-1, has played a tough schedule this season. They have faced 3 teams that are in the FCS top 25 and Tulane, who is in the CFP top 25.

The Lion offense ranks 8th in the SLC in total yards per game (328.5), 5th in the SLC in rushing yards per game (160.7), and 8th in passing yards per game (167.8). This offense is led by quarterback Eli Sawyer. Sawyer has thrown for 1683 yards and 11 TDs this season. Dynamic playmaker Darius Lewis is the leading receiver for the Lions. Lewis has 73 receptions (2nd in the SLC), 711 receiving yards (4th in the SLC), 4 TDs (8th in the SLC), and 351 punt return yards (1st in the SLC). Antonio Martin Jr. is having a great season. Martin Jr. has 1164 rushing yards (1st in the SLC) and 11 rushing TDs (1st in the SLC). Brandon Hayes has 487 kickoff return yards (1st in the SLC) and 1 kickoff return TD (T-1st in the SLC). The Lion defense ranks 2nd in the SLC in total yards given up per game (345.5), 5th in rushing yards given up per game (159.4), and 2nd in passing yards given up per game (183.5). This defense is led by linebacker KK Reno. Reno has 85 tackles on the season (4th in the SLC).


The 2024 Colonels


Nicholls State, 4-7, 2-4, opened up with a tough 3 game stretch out of the gate, playing 2 FBS opponents (Louisiana Tech and LSU) and a solid Sacramento State team.

The Colonel offense ranks 6th in the SLC in total yards per game (342.7), 6th in the SLC in rushing yards per game (159.4), and 6th in the SLC in passing yards per game (183.4). Quarterback Pat McQuaide is the leader of this offense. McQuaide has 1920 passing yards and 13 passing TDs this season. Wide receiver Terry Matthews is a big play waiting to happen. Matthews has 32 receptions for 380 receiving yards this season. Running back Collin Guggenheim has been a force in the Southland Conference since walking on campus. Guggenheim has 178 carries for 790 yards and 7 TDs this season; he ranks in the top 5 in each of these categories. The Colonel defense ranks 1st in the SLC in total yards given up per game (296.6), 1st in the SLC in rushing yards given up per game (78.5), and 4th in the SLC in passing yards given up per game (218.2). This defense is led by linebacker Eli Ennis. Ennis has 104 tackles on the season (3rd in the SLC).


Be sure to tune in Thursday, November 21st, 2024, at 6 PM on ESPN+.


Get your popcorn out!


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The Curious Case of the Player to Be Named Later

By David Rainey • July 19, 2025
It’s that time of year again. The excitement of All-Star weekend and the Homerun Derby are behind us, and it’s on to the second half of the MLB season. This is the time where the great teams separate themselves from the good teams. It’s the time for teams to show whether they should be considered contenders or pretenders. And with this time of the year, of course, comes the MLB trade deadline. Arguably the most intriguing trade deadline of all the major sports. Fringe teams will have to decide whether to be buyers or sellers, and the great teams will mortgage their futures for one player they believe will take them to the promise land. Now, as out of left-field as the ending to this year’s All-Star weekend was (raise your hand if you also weren’t aware that swing offs were a thing), the MLB trade deadline features something much more curious. The Player to Be Named Later. You see, as most of us know, it’s extremely common in Major League Baseball for a team like the Padres, for example, to sell off a handful of their top prospects at the trade deadline for a lefty reliever they hope will help them navigate the difficult waters that is the postseason. But what some people aren’t aware of (outside of us baseball nerds of course) is the use of something, or someone more specifically, called the “Player to Be Named Later (PTBNL)” in these trade scenarios. For those of you who don’t know, here’s a quick explanation of what exactly the phrase “Player to Be Named Later” means. In baseball, when a team isn’t sure exactly which prospect they want in return or when they are trying to finesse the roster management rules, they will accept a “Player to Be Named Later” in return in a trade. This gives that team the opportunity to further evaluate players and choose who they want in return at a later date. This doesn’t mean that the team will just be able to choose a superstar down the road, there are limitations placed on who can be chosen, and most of the time the player ends up being just another player lost in baseball lore. However, sometimes these PTBNL turn out to be more than just a journeyman or even lead to oddities that only baseball can provide. So, what are the most famous cases of Players to Be Named Later? Well, I’m glad you asked. Let’s start with the not so unexpected scenario that actually led to the PTBNL rules to be changed. Trea Turner Before 2015, there was a rule in place in the MLB in which prevented players from being traded for a year after being drafted. Trea Turner was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 2014 Draft which meant, you guessed it, he wasn’t eligible to be traded until the following year. However, in December of 2014 the Padres, Nationals, and Rays agreed to mega-deal that involved 11 players AND a Player to Be Named Later. So, what does this have to do with Turner? Well, everyone was aware of who that PTBNL would be. Trea Turner. But as I mentioned before, he wasn’t allowed to be traded yet. So Turner had to spend the beginning of the next season playing for the Padres who had already traded him. This led to a rule change in MLB before the next draft to avoid this situation ever playing out again. But where is Trea Turner now? He’s certainly no journeyman. He had an incredible start to his career with the Nationals, before being traded (again) to the Dodgers with Max Scherzer in 2021. He eventually signed a $300 million deal with the Phillies where he still plays and remains one of the best players in Major League Baseball. But is he the best PTBNL of all time? Not quite. David Ortiz Big Papi. Ever heard of him? Sure you have. But did you know he wasn’t always the mashing lefty for the Red Sox that we know and love? That’s right. Early on in David Ortiz’s career he actually struggled to find a place in the league; and at one point, was even a Player to Be Named Later in a trade. He actually started his career with the Seattle Mariners, but he doesn’t mean much to the Mariners franchise outside of being a PTBNL in a trade in 1996 with the Minnesota Twins for Dave Hollins. As a matter of fact, not only was Ortiz not the player we know on the field, he wasn’t even David Ortiz on paper. At the time, he was actually known as David Arias. You might be thinking, “Wow. The Mariners really traded BIG PAPI.” Trust me when I tell that the Twins feel even worse. Ortiz would play a handful of seasons for the Twins from 1997-2002; however, even after a solid season in 2002 with the Twins, they would go on to RELEASE Ortiz. That’s right. Even one of the greatest players to ever step foot on a baseball diamond was not only traded as PTBNL but was also outright released. Of course in 2003, David Ortiz would go on to join the Boston Red Sox. Ten All-Star games, 3 World Series Championships, a World Series MVP, and a Hall of Fame selection later, David Ortiz would go down in baseball history as one of the most feared batters of all time, and the legend we know him as today Big Papi. What is the oddest Player to Be Named Later situation? There is a rare, but always delightfully bizarre situation in which a player is traded for himself as a Player to Be Named Later. This hilariously absurd scenario is so rare that it has only happened four times in the history of Major League Baseball. Harry Chiti – traded from the then Cleveland Indians to the Mets in 1962 for a PTBNL. However, he was so bad that the Mets decided trade him back to Cleveland as the PTBNL Brad Gulden – traded (with $100,000) from the Yankees to the Mariners for Larry Milbourne and a PTBNL in 1980. Once again, he performed so poorly that the Mariners traded him back to New York as the PTBNL in the original trade. Are you sensing a theme? Dickie Noles – In 1987 the Cubs traded him to the Tigers for a Player to Be Named Later. Sadly, he didn’t do enough during the Tigers playoff run that year for them to want to keep him around. So, they shipped back to the Windy City to complete the trade as the PTBNL. John McDonald – The most recent example. He was acquired by Detroit, who clearly didn’t learn anything in 1987, from the Blue Jays in 2005 for, that’s right, a PTBNL. Later that year, he was sent back to Canada for cash considerations. There you go. Next time you’re hanging out with your buddies on the back porch naming random athletes from your pass, feel free to drop in a “Dickie Noles” reference and explain the wonderful scenario of him being traded for himself. Baseball is such a beautiful sport in so many ways. For many of us, it’s the first sport we play as children, or the sport we remember watching with our grandparents on the living room floor. It has such an iconic and rich history. It’s known as “America’s past time” for a reason. But throughout that history, there are so many things that have happened that can only be described as strange and uniquely baseball. And that’s why we love it. So, when you’re scrolling social media or watching ESPN this trade deadline season and see that stud middle reliever traded for nothing but a Player to Be Named Later, maybe you won’t just brush it off this time around. Maybe you’ll wait to see who that player becomes, and maybe they’ll end up being another great piece of baseball trivia.

Tulane Football Season Preview E-Book

July 14, 2025
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