THIBODAUX – Ethan Pitre, art senior from Cut Off, left, and Koryn Boyd, art freshman from Pointe-aux-Chenes, paddle their pirogue toward the finish line during the Nicholls State University Homecoming pirogue races held on Thursday, Oct. 11, on Bayou Lafourche. The tradition dates back to 1953 and has become a staple of Homecoming Week. Nicholls will host other Homecoming festivities throughout the weekend, leading up to the Colonels football game against Sam Houston State University at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at John L. Guidry Stadium. For more details, visit www.nicholls.edu/homecoming