Peay-TSU rivalry didn't die despite gap

Photo: Austin Peay's Terrence Holt returns a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown against Bethel in the first quarter of the Governors' season opener. Holt, a freshman who was recruited by Austin Peay and TSU, said Saturday's game is 'a big deal.'

By JAMES D. HORNE, Gannett Tennessee

CLARKSVILLE — Terrence Holt may understand the renewed football rivalry between Austin Peay and Tennessee State better than anyone.

The current Austin Peay freshman, and former Maplewood standout, was recruited by both schools.

The Govs won that competition.

But won't be the last matchup between Austin Peay (2-0) and TSU (1-1).

The teams last met in 1996, a 38-14 TSU victory. The rivalry will be renewed Saturday at 6 p.m. in Governors Stadium.

The two schools met every year from 1988 to 1996 with TSU leading the series 6-3.

"We're right up the interstate from each other," said Holt, a wide receiver and kick returner, who took a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown the first time he touched the ball this season. "Being so close, we (team members from Austin Peay and Tennessee State) sometimes run into each other, and especially when I go home, so it's a big deal. A lot of friends are going to be playing against each other. We've both been practicing hard, so whomever has practiced the hardest will come out on top."

And the atmosphere surrounding the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams makes it seem like there hasn't been an 11-year break.

For the Govs, who left the OVC and dropped scholarship football after the 1996 season, it will be their first OVC game in 11 years. Austin Peay's last OVC contest was a 55-24 win over Tennessee Martin on Nov. 23, 1996.

Already a rivalry

"It's a great rivalry to start with because they (TSU) are only 40 miles away and there's a lot of Tennessee State fans in Clarksville, and a lot of people here who have ties to Tennessee State," Govs Coach Rick Christophel said. "Plus, we're going to recruit in Nashville, so that will help build the rivalry over the years. Hopefully, it will be something good, something big and something the fans will really enjoy."

Check that, the Govs and Tigers are rivals, if you ask TSU Coach James Webster.

"We don't think it (this game) has a chance to be a rivalry, it is a rivalry," he said. "It has all the makings of a rivalry, and that makes it a rivalry. They want to beat us and we want to beat them."

TSU has 10 Nashville natives, and Austin Peay has 15 players with Nashville ties.

"This is a big game," said sophomore free safety Tremayne Townsend, a Brentwood Academy graduate who has 10 tackles.

"With our being 2-0 and getting back into the OVC, that makes it a big game, too. A lot of people are coming up just to see what I can do."

The Sgt. York Trophy will go to the winner of the round-robin series between Peay, Tennessee Martin, TSU and Tennessee Tech.