This article is about the University in Clarksville, Tennessee named for former Governor Of Tennessee Austin Peay. For an article on that governor, see Austin Peay IV . To talk about Austin Peay athletics, visit www.Peaymania.com
is an accredited public university located in
Clarksville, Tennessee , and operated by the
Tennessee Board Of Regents . It began when the former '''Southwestern Presbyterian College''' moved to
Memphis in
1925 (where it is now known as
Rhodes College ), leaving its former campus in Clarksville unoccupied. In
1929 , area civic and
Political leaders encouraged the
State of
Tennessee to purchase the facility and operate it as a public
Normal School for the training of schoolteachers. This was done, and the institution was renamed in honor of former
Governor Austin Peay who had died in office in
1927 , which many attributed at least in part to stress due to his battles with the state
Legislature over
Education issues.
The school thus began with the formal name of . Racial
Desegregation , among other factors, led to a name change to '''Austin Peay State College''', and the institution was granted
University status in
1967 . The school grew greatly in the late
1940s and
1950s , largely due to
Veterans attending under the
G. I. Bill Of Rights , which gave the school a large number of male students for the first time, schoolteaching at the time of the school's founding having been a largely-female occupation. At the same time, several fields of study in areas beyond
Education were introduced into the curriculum. Much of the recent growth of the school has been in conjunction with programs conducted in conjunction with the
United States Army at nearby
Fort Campbell .
The school's athletic teams, most of which compete in the
Ohio Valley Conference , are known as the "Governors" in honor of the school's namesake. The school's popular, if controversial, cheer is, "Let's go, Peay!" The
Football team had participated in the
Pioneer Football League , but on
April 8 ,
2005 announced that it was leaving the Pioneer League at the conclusion of the 2005 season and that the football program would rejoin the Ohio Valley Conference in
2007 .
The basketball Govs and Lady Govs have a long tradition of excellence in the OVC. Coach Dave Loos has led Austin Peay to two NCAA tournament berths, on the way to becoming one of the most respected coaches in the conference. Notable players such as Trenton Hassell and Bubba Wells continue to emerge from the program.
Supporting all the athletic teams are the Austin Peay cheerleaders and pom squad. A small co-ed squad with a strong competitive tradition, the cheer squad is recognized as one of the top teams in Tennessee. The pom squad, carrying between 16 and 20 girls, is equally respected for their technique and flair. The teams are coached by husband and wife, Josh and Keli Rutherford.
Governor fans gather online at Peaymania.com to talk about their team.
The site of Austin Peay State University has also been the site of Clarksville's first educational institutions, Rural Academy (
1806 -
1810 ) and Mount Pleasant Academy (
1811 -
1824 ). Later, Clarksville Academy (
1825 -
1848 ), Masonic College, (
1849 -
1850 ), Montgomery County Masonic College, (
1851 -
1854 ), and Stewart College (
1855 -
1874 ) would occupy this area until the arrival of Southwestern Presbyterian University (
1875 -
1925 ).
- Armory (demolished May 2005 , to be replaced with new Recreational Center)
- Browning Building
- Claxton Building
- Clement Building
- Dunn Center
- Ellington Building
- Felix G. Woodward Library
- Harned Hall
- Marks Building
- McCord Building
- Music/Mass Communication Building
- Memorial Health Building ("The Red Barn")
- Sundquist Science Center
- Trahern Building
- University Center
- Killebrew Hall
- Miller Hall
- Rawlins Hall
- Cross Hall
- Hand Village
- Emerald HIlls
- Sevier Hall
- Blount Hall
- Harvill Hall
- Two Rivers Apartments
Accounting
