Austin Peay has always been known around the conference for its men’s basketball. While football head coach Rick Christophel won’t overshadow the men’s basketball tradition that Dave Loos has established in Clarksville, Tenn., the first-year coach is sure trying to this fall.

Christophel’s team jumped out to a 2-0 start, but hadn’t really played anybody note-worthy. The Governors, back in the OVC for football for the first time since 1996, certainly impressed me with last week’s performance in their 33-32 overtime loss to Tennessee State.

The Tigers, arguably one of the most athletic teams in the conference, had to rely on a 43-yard field goal by kicker Eric Benson to force overtime.

And the Tigers escaped with the win because of poor special teams play by Austin Peay.

The Governors missed an extra point attempt in the third quarter after taking a 19-16 lead. In overtime, Austin Peay scored first, thanks to a six-yard touchdown run by running back Chris Fletcher. But the extra point attempt was blocked by TSU.

The Governors get their next test this weekend when they face struggling Tennessee-Martin. The Skyhawks are off to an 0-3 start and must win this game against Peay to have any hope of a repeat playoff berth. You know it’s never a good sign when a team has a must-win game in the fourth week of the season.

Tech’s offense erupts

Tennessee Tech has a completely new offense under first-year head coach Watson Brown. It has shown the last two weeks, albeit against weak competition. Tech has outscored its last two opponents (Cumberland and Concordia) 100-28. It seems quarterback Lee Sweeney has adapted well to Brown’s offense, which consists of multiple shotgun formations and zone read plays.

What a shame

Last Saturday, history was almost made in Cape Girardeau, Mo., when Indiana State played Southeast Missouri. It was the first time in Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) history that two African-American head coaches were scheduled to coach against each other. Except it didn’t happen.

Indiana State head coach Lou West was suspended for the game because the Sycamores used an ineligible player during their win last year against Missouri State. SEMO head coach Tony Samuel roamed the sidelines in SEMO’s win, while West sat in the stands and had no contact with his players.

Typical NCAA.

When something good happens in a sport, they always have some way of ruining it.

What others are saying

“So Southeast fans certainly should not start jumping for joy, ready to proclaim the Redhawks Ohio Valley Conference title contenders.

By the same token, I don’t think people should simply dismiss the win as irrelevant.

When your program is in a rebuilding stage (as Southeast’s is), and when your team is so young and inexperienced (as Southeast’s is), any victory over another Division I-AA squad is welcome, especially one from a power conference like the Gateway.”

-Southeast Missourian sports reporter Marty Mishow in his Sept. 17 column about SEMO’s 13-10 win against Indiana State.