Governors Traditions
Who Was Austin Peay?
He was Tennessee Governor Austin Peay… a favorite son of Clarksville. Gov. Peay signed a law establishing Austin Peay Normal School April 26, 1927. However, he passed away before the school could hold its first classes and the Tennessee State Legislature named the new school in his honor. Classes began at Austin Peay on Sept. 24, 1929. Although Austin Peay State University is the latest entity to call the land fronting College Street home, institutions of higher learning have occupied the campus since 1806.
Origin of the Governors nickname
An obvious reference to Governor Austin Peay, the university's teams have not always been known by the Governors moniker. In the first years of intercollegiate competition, Austin Peay's athletic teams were often called “Nomalites” or “Warriors.” The present “Governors” tag surfaced around 1937, likely as a tribute to Governor Austin Peay.
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Alma Mater: "All Hail to Austin Peay"
At the conclusion of each home game, Austin Peay athletes retreat to the area of the field closest to the student section where they join the band and student body in singing the alma mater. “All Hail to Austin Peay” was written by Dr. Aaron Schmidt in 1963 and has been the university's alma mater since.
All Hail To Austin Peay
All Hail our Alma Mater,
All Hail to Austin Peay,
Forever faithful to thy standards will we ever be,
We love thy campus beauty, serene in dignity,
And so we proudly sing this song in praise of thee,
All Hail, All Hail,
We sing in praise of thee,
We love our Alma Mater,
All Hail to Austin Peay.
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Fight Song & Fight Song Fridays
Dr. Aaron Schmidt also is responsible for the Austin Peay Fight Song, popularly given the title “Smash Bang” due to the start of the tune. Current athletics director Derek van der Merwe began the tradition of Fight Song Fridays at Governors Stadium to ingrain the fight song into the fabric of university life.
Smash! Bang! To Victory
Go the Governors of Austin Peay
Clash! Clang! It's Misery
For the minions of the Enemy
Fight On and
Smash! Bang! to Score Again
For It's Ready, Set, 1, 2, 3!
Smash Bang! Biff Bam! Clash Clang! Rim Ram!
Dash Along to Victory!
Let's Go Peay!
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Listen to the Alma Mater: All Hail to Austin Peay
performed by the Governors Own Marching Band |
Listen to the Austin Peay Fight Song
performed by the Governors Own Marching Band |
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Let's Go Peay! Seriously. It's our cheer.
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Let's Go Peay!™
Back in the 1970's a basketball player from New York City appeared at Austin Peay and quickly became a national star. In the rise to stardom, James “Fly” Williams also helped make Austin Peay's cheer famous. During his time at Austin Peay the cheer was appropriately “The Fly is open, Let's Go Peay!” Since then fans in arenas and stadiums nationwide can expect the Governors faithful to chant “Let's Go Peay!” whenever their team needs an extra boost.
The Sporting News listed "Let's Go Peay!" beside Kansas' “Rock Chalk Jayhawk” chant as one of the best cheers in college basketball.
Austin Peay-Murray State Rivalry
The opening statement of ESPN The Magazine's 2009 College Basketball Preview put in bold lettering the way many Austin Peay and Murray State fans feel about their annual rivalry… particularly the one played on the hard wood of a basketball court. Simply put, it said “Forget Duke-UNC, the real rivalry is Austin Peay-Murray State.”
The Governors and Racers have met annually in men's basketball competition since 1941-42. The rivalry has grown in ferocity as the two teams have perennially been contenders for the Ohio Valley Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. During a 24-year stretch from 1987 to 2010, either Austin Peay or Murray State reached the OVC Tournament's championship game, combining to win 15 of those championship contests.
Austin Peay and Murray State have met in the OVC Men's Basketball Tournament 14 times since 1976, with the Racers holding a slight 8-6 edge in those outings, six of those meetings were semifinal matchups and five others were for the title.
Tailgate Alley
Tailgate Alley is a community that has occurred on each home football game day since 2007. Austin Peay fans reserve locations from the athletics department which has reserved an area in the Foy Center Parking Lot on the west side of Governors Stadium. In a matter of years, Tailgate Alley has swelled from a modest group of Austin Peay fans into more than 80 reserved spots. The Physical Plant's “Peay-ons” and their bus are the most visible group within the confines of Tailgate Alley but many student and university organizations also have taken up residence in Tailgate Alley before a home football game. Recent additions to Tailgate Alley have included the Kids Fun Zone and a Legends Tent where live bands perform prior to kickoff.
Gov Walk
Since the inception of Tailgate Alley in 2007, Austin Peay's football teams have walked the distance from their locker room at the Dunn Center to Governors Stadium through a tunnel of cheering Austin Peay fans. The Austin Peay campus police help escort the parade which is led by the Governors Own Marching Band, the APSU Cheer Team and the APSU Dance Squad.
