OXFORD, Ohio - With another strong showing against an FBS opponent, there is a certain buzz surrounding the Austin Peay State University football team to begin the 2017 campaign.

Maybe it is the quality of opponents the Govs have opened with this season. After all, they are one of only two Ohio Valley Conference schools to open their schedule with consecutive FBS opponents. Or maybe it's the undeniable improvements in physicality and speed that APSU fans have enjoyed through two games. Perhaps it is the leadership and examples laid out by second year head coach Will Healy and his staff.

Regardless of the reasoning that might have triggered the change, the fact of the matter is there has been one. There is a newness to this program unlike any other and that assessment is coming from a guy who has been here for one week.

Junior Malik Davis, coming off a team-leading 12 tackles against the Redhawks, credits playing with confidence as the main reason behind this conference-leading start.

"I love how we just fly around," Davis said. "We gang tackle and try and get the ball out. We forced three turnovers against Miami and we tackled well. After playing these teams, we realize that we can play with anybody."

This week the Governors will open their home schedule with a matchup against Morehead State and fans that don the red and black probably haven't been this excited for a home opener in quite some time. While the team and coaches might not have gotten the results on the scoreboard through two weeks that they would have liked, the fact of the matter is the corner has been turned.

"We are talented enough to beat anyone on our schedule," Healy said. "I thought Week 1 we were extremely resilient, had tons of energy and tons of enthusiasm. We played the game how we are supposed to play. Against Miami, we were a little too lackadaisical, but we showed glimpses of being dominant. We have to put four quarters together, but when we do, we will be scary."

I joined the athletics communications staff on Tuesday accepting a role working with the football, tennis and beach volleyball programs. During my first week with the Govs, I wanted to get to know the coaches and staff and acclimate myself with the sports I would be tagging along with.

Infectious. That was what I felt the second I walked onto the turf to catch my first practice. I was engulfed and dumbfounded at the environment. It was unlike any football team I had ever helped with.

I made it out to a few different practices this week and an important thing to point out is the amount of fun these guys were having. You hear a lot of talk about family and culture, but maybe more than any team I have been around, these guys enjoy the process. I was impressed with the ability the players had to maintain a business-like attitude but also dance around to the latest and greatest in hip-hop, country and classic rock.

I have been drawn to the electricity in the locker room, weight room and on the field, that to me, has been nothing short of captivating.

The best way for me to describe it is by saying that the hype surrounding APSU football gives me the "I don't want to be left out" feeling. The feeling deep down in your stomach when you are watching an event and you know something great is about to happen, but you don't want to turn the channel because 20 years from now, you want to say that you saw it live (does anyone else really do this, or is it just me).

So as the season turns the page on chapter one and moves forward to a schedule that sees four of the next six contests within the friendly confines of Fortera Stadium, jump on board, get on the bus, join the crowd, or whatever cliché you prefer. There is something special happening in Clarksville and I cannot wait to enjoy the ride.