CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? It will be a banner night at Austin Peay State University when the Governors and Lady Govs' basketball teams hit the hardwood for the first time in 2008 for “Reigning Red,” beginning at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, at the Dunn Center.

Wendy's is sponsoring the Governors Club “Meet and Greet,” beginning at 6:30 p.m., in the second-level Govs Club room, while APSU Student Affairs will host a free meal open only to Austin Peay students on the third level, welcoming the first 500 students with a free Official Reigning Red t-shirt.

For the second straight year, “Reigning Red” (formerly known as Home Before Midnight Magic) will open Austin Peay basketball on a Thursday night. The fun begins with Austin Peay's version of “Dancing in the Dunn,” pairing members of the Austin Peay Pom Squad with celebrities from the Austin Peay community for a dance competition like never before. Participants for “Dancing in the Dunn” include Greg Walker (Voice of the Govs), Zoot Parker (Governors Club President-elect), Josh Meeker (former student-athlete), Chris Drew (Student Government Association President) and the Governor Peay.

The Govs and Lady Govs each will participate in a short scrimmage. Honorary coaches for the Lady Govs are Lee Hall, the wife of APSU President Tim Hall, and Dr. Sherryl Byrd, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. For the Govs scrimmage, President Hall and Mike O'Malley, of Wendy's, will take the benches as honorary coaches.

“Reigning Red” was created with the purpose of commemorating past success of the Govs and Lady Govs while recognizing the rosters for the upcoming season. This season's edition will feature the unveiling of a preview of “More Than 40 Minutes,” a documentary produced by the APSU Department of Communication, followed by the unveiling of the Govs 2007-08 Ohio Valley Conference regular-season and tournament championship banners, as well as the official championship ring presentation. The documentary also will be available for purchase throughout the night.