Austin Peay Governors (0-0) at Memphis Tigers (0-0)
Saturday, August 30th, 2014 | 6:00pm CDT
Memphis, TN | Liberty Bowl (61,008)
Clarksville, TN – On Saturday, August 30th, 2014, the Austin Peay State University football team kicks off the 2014 season on the road against the Memphis Tigers at the Liberty Bowl. Kickoff is at 6:00pm.
This contest begins the second season of the Kirby Cannon Era. After the Govs went 0-12 in their first season under Cannon, APSU’s roster has undergone a huge makeover, with 38 freshmen or redshirt freshmen comprising the roster and making the Governors an extremely young team.
![Austin Peay State University's football team to play first game of the year this Saturday at Memphis Tigers. (APSU Sports Information) Austin Peay State University's football team to play first game of the year this Saturday at Memphis Tigers. (APSU Sports Information)](https://www.clarksvilleonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/APSU-Football-12-480x322.jpg)
APSU is 27-48-2 in openers in its previous 77 years of football, including last season’s 45-0 loss at Tennessee.
The Govs have won the season opener five times in the last 19 seasons, the last time being when they beat Cumberland, 38-6, to open 2010. APSU has not won a season-opening road game since it defeated Kansas State, 26-22, September 5th, 1987.
After an early season week off next week, Austin Peay will debut New Governors Stadium, September 13th, when it plays host to Chattanooga.
A ceremonial demolition of the 67-year-old stadium’s west side followed APSU’s last home game against Southeast Missouri, November 16th, 2013. What replaced it is a $19 million structure.
After playing three FBS programs–Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Ohio–in 2013, the Governors play just one this season, Memphis.
After opening 2013 with five straight road games plus a week off, the Governors schedule this season is a little more favorable. Week 2 will see the Govs play their 2014 season’s first home game against Chattanooga.
In addition, the Governors will play five home games this season after only four a year ago. The Govs also will not play more than two straight games away from Governors Stadium this season.
This is APSU’s 78th season of college football, including nine non-scholarship seasons (1997-2005).
Austin Peay has enjoyed only 18 winning seasons in 77 years of football and two winning seasons since the turn of the century–a 7-5 mark in 2002 as a nonscholarship program and a 7-4 record in 2007.
In the Govs three FBS 2013 games against Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Ohio, the total attendance was 149,908. The Govs drew a total of 149,903 (home and away) in attendance during the 2012 season.
It will be a homecoming of sorts for several Governors football players when APSU opens at Memphis. Seven Govs played their prep football in or near the Memphis area.
They are:
- Cornerback Roderick Owens (Whitehaven HS)
- Quarterback Trey Taylor (Houston HS)
- Quarterback Timarious Mitchell (Whitehaven HS)
- Running back Justin Roberson (Germantown HS)
- Injured safety Brad Wilmer (Millington HS)
- Offensive lineman Braxston Jones (Munford HS)
- Nose tackle DeAndre Carroll (Kingsbury HS)
Broadcast Information
ESPN 3
Play-by-Play: Joel Meyers
Analyst: Chad Brown
Radio – Governors Sports Network
Play-by-Play: David Loos
Analyst: Van Stokes
Live Statistics
http://austinpeay.statbroadcast.com
Live Audio
www.LetsGoPeay.com