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Ex-OVC rivals Austin Peay, Murray State to continue feud ‘for the foreseeable future’




A pass to James Burns (#0) is defended by Murray State.RYAN VINSON

A pass to James Burns (#0) is defended by Murray State.RYAN VINSON

The impact of a regional rivalry isn’t lost on Austin Peay Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison.

Before starting his current four-year stint as AD in Clarksville, Harrison spent a decade in Duke’s athletics department, growing a distaste for the University of North Carolina along the way. He also took part in the Third Saturday in October rivalry as both a student and assistant coach at Tennessee.

So, when last year’s college sports realignment hit the Ohio Valley Conference, questions began swirling as to whether the storied mid-major rivalry would continue.

For now, Harrison is making sure of it.

“Very early on when this was going on, I talked to then (Murray State) AD Kevin Saal, and we agreed to continue to play each other for the foreseeable future in all sports,” Harrison said.

“I believe it’s one of the great rivalries in college athletics. Our campuses aren’t very far (apart). There’s obviously been great matchups. We’re similar institutions, so there’s no reason to be this close and not play.”

Murray State's defender wraps up James Burns (#0).RYAN VINSON

Murray State’s defender wraps up James Burns (#0).RYAN VINSON

Saturday’s game in Clarksville marked the 56th football meeting between the Governors and Murray State, but it was the first time in 17 years that the two teams weren’t in the same conference.

Austin Peay is in the midst of its inaugural ASUN season after officially leaving the Ohio Valley in July 2022. Murray State, which moved with Belmont to the Missouri Valley Conference, is an affiliate football member of the OVC this fall.

Fading ties with other former Ohio Valley foes had an impact on Harrison retaining the rivalry. Middle Tennessee State and Western Kentucky – who were members of the conference before the turn of the 21st century – play Austin Peay sparingly throughout the season. A future with current OVC member Tennessee State may also be cut short, Harrison said, after TSU athletic director Mikki Allen declined to keep their series going.

Harrison’s swift actions could be a positive sign in at least keeping the Racers around, but other factors still leave things in the air. Apart from the added difficulty in scheduling out-of-conference meetings, Saal left Murray for Wichita State in July.

APSU's defensive line faces off with Murray State.RYAN VINSON

APSU’s defensive line faces off with Murray State.RYAN VINSON

He hasn’t revisited the rivalry’s future with new Murray State AD Nico Yantko, but Harrison “fully expect(s) that the rivalry between Austin Peay and Murray will continue in all sports.”

The 80-year history between the two schools that sit 67 miles apart is reason enough to keep the feud going.

“As soon as the schedule comes out, whether it’s football, basketball, baseball, softball – I don’t care if we were playing checkers in the park; they’re going to circle Murray State-Austin Peay,” said Brian Rives, Austin Peay’s play-by-play broadcaster since 2009.

“It’s going to lose a little bit with it not being in the same conference, but just because of the history and because there’s so many folks around this area… It’s always going to mean a little more.”

CJ Evans Jr. (#5) fights for extra yardage.RYAN VINSON

CJ Evans Jr. (#5) fights for extra yardage.RYAN VINSON

While the rivalry’s past is basketball-based, Austin Peay’s football team has celebrated the most success recently against the Racers.

A 52-17 win at Fortera Stadium marked the sixth-straight win for APSU over its rival, which leads the all-time series 36-20. The Governors (5-2) scored the second-most points in the rivalry’s history and outgained Murray State 570-219 Saturday.

Austin Peay has outscored the Racers 250-91 since 2017.

“We want the rivalry to continue. We strive for that, and Murray State has done a great job working with us and trying to make that happen,” said head football coach Scotty Walden, who moved to 3-0 against Murray State with the win.

“What we’ve got to do is come together and see how we can kind of format it to make it happen. They’ve got a new conference schedule, we’ve got a different conference schedule, so both sides are definitely working on it. Gerald and I have worked hand-in-hand to try to make that happen for sure, and I hope we can continue it.”

 

 

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