Murray State University Athletics
Register Now For 2002 Football Reunion
9/14/2017 9:02:00 AM | Football
For a third-straight year, Murray State Football is honoring and remembering one of its greatest teams at homecoming. This October, the Racers'Â 2002Â Ohio Valley Conference championship team will be returning to campus for homecoming weekend (Oct. 27-28).
In 2002, head coach Joe Pannunzio had thoughts of winning the Racers' first OVC title since 1996, but knew it would take some outstanding play to get the job done. With a veteran squad able and ready, the Racers went 6-0 at at home in Stewart Stadium with wins over Southern Illinois, Tennessee Tech, Southeast Missouri, Samford and Tennessee State.
However, standing in the way of a share of the OVC title was mighty Eastern Illinois and future NFL star quarterback Tony Romo. On a cool Saturday afternoon in Stewart Stadium on Nov. 23, the Racers took it to the defending OVC champs. Forcing the Panthers into four turnovers, the Racers took a 34-23 lead with 6:20 remaining in fourth quarter. EIU rallied and took a 35-34 lead with 23 seconds left. MSU successfully defended EIU's two-point conversion attempt, meaning they could win with a field goal instead of forcing overtime.
Racer quarterback Stewart Childress hit passes to Marcus Christon and Jimmy St. Louis to set up a 52-yard field goal try by Shane Andrus with four seconds on the clock. Andrus gave the pigskin a solid boot and sent the ball sailing through the uprights for the win. Fans rushed the field in celebration and took down a goal post, which eventually wound up on the steps of Winslow Dining Hall.
The Racers' 35-34 victory was their eighth OVC championship and it made Joe Pannunzio the fifth Murray State coach to win a league title. The Racers (7-5, 6-1 OVC) finished the season in the 1-AA playoffs with a first round loss at Western Kentucky.
Among the events involving the 2002 team include, a reunion dinner Friday (Oct. 27) at Roy Stewart Stadium. On homecoming morning (Oct. 28), the team gathers at the Curris Center for the M-Club breakfast and walk in the homecoming parade down Murray's Main Street. When the Racers kick-off at 3 p.m. against Eastern Kentucky, the team will be honored on the field at halftime.
Recent Murray State homecomings have seen the best of the best in Racer Football history come back to campus. In 2015, the Racers' OVC championship teams from 1995 and 1996 that were coached by Houston Nutt were recognized and the 1986 OVC title team coached by Frank Beamer was honored in 2016.Â
This year's reunion will honor the 2002 football team, but all football alumni are encouraged to attend. Registration can be found under the "Related Links" box on this page.
