Category: Austin Peay Governors
Colonels Can’t Slow Down Governors as Peay Upsets EKU
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Led by a pair of undersized, but extremely-talented backs, the Governors had little trouble racking up yards on the ground against the Ohio Valley Conference’s top run defense.
Terrance Holt and Ryan White combined to rush for 275 yards as Austin Peay pulled off a stunning upset of Eastern Kentucky University Saturday at Governors Stadium. The Colonels turned the ball over four times, including twice in the fourth quarter, as Austin Peay (3-4, 2-2 OVC) held on for a historic 24-20 win.
The Governors had not beaten the Colonels (4-3, 4-2) since 1977, a streak of 22 games.
Pressure cooker in the OVC
With arguably the best team in the conference not eligible for the league title, the nine-team Ohio Valley Conference could see some serious competition in 2009.
- 2497 words - FCS News Articles, Ohio Valley Conference, Eastern Kentucky Colonels, Eastern Illinois Panthers, Austin Peay Governors, Tennessee State Tigers, Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, Murray State Racers, Jacksonville State Gamecocks, UT-Martin Skyhawks, Southeast Missouri State Redhawks Eastern Kentucky Tabbed as 2009 OVC Favorite, Preseason OVC Team Named
In a balanced vote that saw five of the eight eligible teams receive at least one first-place vote, two-time defending champion Eastern Kentucky University has been picked as the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference preseason football favorite in a vote of league head coaches and sports information directors.
- 2443 words - Ohio Valley Conference, Eastern Kentucky Colonels, Eastern Illinois Panthers, Austin Peay Governors, Tennessee State Tigers, Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, Murray State Racers, Jacksonville State Gamecocks, UT-Martin Skyhawks, Southeast Missouri State Redhawks OVC and SportsUnlimited to Launch Ohio Valley Conference Football 2009 Magazine
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The Ohio Valley Conference has announced the launch of production of “Ohio Valley Conference Football 2009″ a full-color, limited edition football magazine that previews the 2009 football season. The venture with SportsUnlimited will be available in late August but is now available for pre-order. Detailed feature articles on all nine OVC teams will be included in the publication.
- 292 words - Ohio Valley Conference, Eastern Kentucky Colonels, Eastern Illinois Panthers, Austin Peay Governors, Tennessee State Tigers, Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, Murray State Racers, Jacksonville State Gamecocks, UT-Martin Skyhawks, Southeast Missouri State Redhawks With Economy Slumping, Colleges Cut Teams to Save Money
After three decades of steady growth in the number of teams and student-athletes, colleges and universities large and small, private and public, east and west, are slashing millions of dollars from their sports budgets.
Colleges have dismissed athletic staff, reduced hours for pools and practice courts, and increased equipment and facility fees. Some have also cut the size of their travel squads, eliminated trips requiring air travel and done away with housing teams in hotels the night before home games.
Govs Ready for Spring Football Practice
The shoulder pads and cleats get put on as the daisies bloom and the birds return just in time for spring football.
Austin Peay begins its session in earnest today at 7 p.m. The Govs will practice for the next four weeks every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and alternate on Friday and Saturday the first three weeks starting with a Friday practice this week.
The Govs will hold their first scrimmage at 10 a.m. on March 28. The second scrimmage will be at 4 p.m. on April 3. Spring football practice will conclude with the Red-White Spring Game game at 6 p.m. on April 9.
Bye Week Gives Austin Peay Time to Think About 0-6 Start
There’s not even a clear-cut way for Austin Peay to think about the bye week.
The only succinct thing is the Govs dropped their sixth straight game, and fell to 0-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference after losing to Murray State 32-12 Saturday night at Governors Stadium.
OVC Plays Tough Non-Conference Schedule
Loss of Samford gives teams open slot for extra game.
Eastern replaced the opening in its 2008 schedule with another game against a Football Bowl Subdivision team.
The Panthers had that opportunity because Samford left the Ohio Valley Conference following the 2007 season to join the Southern Conference. Eastern also cut down on 115 miles of travel.
Eastern will travel to Mount Pleasant, Mich., to play Central Michigan in its first of four non-conference games before starting Ohio Valley Conference play.
OVC Conference Parity Gives Several Teams Shot at Championship
Jacksonville State was picked to finish first in the Ohio Valley Conference for the 2008 season. Eastern Kentucky was a close second, and Eastern Illinois - not far behind - rounded out the top three.
Two points separated the Colonels from the Gamecocks, and the Panthers were three points behind Eastern Kentucky and five points behind Jacksonville State.
All three teams were awarded six first-place votes in the preseason conference rankings.
Governors QB proves doubters wrong
The accolades for quarterback Gary Orr were numerous in high school. For instance, he was a first-team Class 5A Tennessee all-state selection by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.
But other numbers didn’t wow the college football recruiters. According to Rivals.com, he was 164 pounds and ran a 5.22 40-yard dash at a Nike Camp in Atlanta in 2004.
“I was kind of little,” Orr said. “I expected something, but they didn’t come because of the size. That’s the way it goes.”
It’s going well now. Orr will lead Austin Peay State University (Tenn.) into the Fargodome against North Dakota State on Thursday night as a returning starter and a team leader.
Govs Not Scared by No. 2 Bison
It’s certainly the biggest game Austin Peay has played since its return to scholarship football.
And the Govs’ season opener against No. 2 North Dakota State on Thursday is probably the program’s biggest since playing Cincinnati in 1985 and 1993. APSU also played the Bearcats in the third game in 1988, and had a win over Kansas State in 1987.
Surely, the thought of playing such a highly-regarded team like the Bison should matter.
Austin Peay also new to D-I hype
North Dakota State takes to its familiar home field Thursday night with a veteran group, a veteran coaching staff and an expected ranking in the top 25 poll.
For being a new team on the Division I Football Championship Subdivision block, the second-ranked Bison look pretty established. That’s not the case with its opponent; NDSU vs. Austin Peay State University is a contrast in mature football programs.
The Governors, in just their second year of scholarship, still appear in the early stages of a building project.
“To be honest, we have 30 guys who have never flown in an airplane before,” said Austin Peay head coach Rick Christophel. “Getting on a plane is a unique thing for them.”
APSU makes splash with return of scholarships
Austin Peay at North Dakota State
- When: 7 p.m. Thursday
- Radio: 970 AM
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Austin Peay State University spent about 10 years playing non-scholarship football. In retrospect, to some people, the school located in Clarksville, Tenn., could just as well been named Austin Powers in that span.
Attention took a dive beginning in 1997 when the Governors, citing gender equity concerns, dropped out of the Ohio Valley Conference for football only and joined the non-scholarship Pioneer League.
APSU Govs Square Off Once Again
Second scrimmage will fine-tune team.
They really don’t know who’s in the lead to be the starter.
But the hope is one of Austin Peay’s five running backs will stand out and claim the top job during today’s scrimmage at 5 p.m. at Governors Stadium.
Today’s scrimmage, the second of the preseason, is free and open to the public.
Govs Prepare for Opener at Fargo with Blaring Music
No, there wasn’t a party at Governors Stadium during Austin Peay’s practice Thursday morning, although it sounded like one.
Govs coach Rick Christophel had music blaring through the sound system to simulate some of the noise they will hear in the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D., home to season-opening opponent North Dakota State.
“There were two things we were trying to do, we’re getting ready to go to the dome, it’s going to be loud and a lot of these kids have never experienced that. The other thing is to make them focused,” the coach said. “I think it’s good to get them out there and have them focus on what they’re doing with their jobs. Sometimes a little bit of distraction helps and gets them more in-tune to doing their jobs.”
APSU Position Battles Rage On
Wednesday practice may have been Austin Peay’s best this week, and especially attitude-wise. But animation and passion is what Govs coach Rick Christophel wants to see.
Any mistakes made can be fixed. That’s what practice is for.
“I thought the tempo of practice was a lot better than it has been,” the coach said. “It’s been great weather and that helps, but we flew around to the football. We made mistakes. But I don’t have a problem with that if we’re going full speed and we’re trying to get accomplished what we want accomplished.”
APSU's Frederick Grows as a Player, Person
Admittedly, and statistically, Lanis Frederick’s junior campaign came nowhere close to the record-setting season he had as a sophomore.
In 2006, the Clarksville native broke Austin Peay’s single-season records for receptions (77) and receiving yards (1,101) while scoring seven times.
So his 33 catches for 550 yards and four touchdowns in 2007 certainly didn’t come close to what everyone was expecting.
APSU Spends the Day Preparing Mentally
Austin Peay practiced in helmets and shorts Tuesday afternoon.
The session was more of a teaching and refining practice after the team watched tape from Monday’s scrimmage.
“It was very important, because it’s the little things that help you win football games, and you always want to come out there perfect,” junior defensive end Nick Clark said. “Like with us (on the defensive line) hand and foot placement, and how we work against the offensive line, is important. These days are always good for us.”
APSU Scrimmage Lacks Intensity
Govs start out flat, but pick up pace.
The morning air was a little more crisp than the way Austin Peay came out for its first scrimmage Monday at Governors Stadium.
And the man who matters most noticed.
“I was a little disappointed in our enthusiasm. I didn’t think we came out the way we should have,” Austin Peay coach Rick Christophel said. “I not sure the reason why, because we only had a kicking practice Sunday. I just thought we had a little more enthusiasm at the end than we did at the beginning. It’s always good to finish good, but we weren’t crisp. It didn’t feel like we had an air about us when we came out to the field.”
APSU Govs Piecing Together Team
Just like a puzzle, Austin Peay starts to put the pieces together and establish its depth chart with the first full scrimmage this morning at Governors Stadium.
The Govs will start practice at 9 a.m. and are scheduled to get the scrimmage going around 9:30.
It’s the first chance for the team to play in game-like situations.
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