Murray State University Athletics
Inside the Stables - Memories from the Battle of the Border
10/14/2022 12:52:00 PM | Football
Alumni testimonials from Murray State's rivalry with Austin Peay
Murray State's rivalry against Austin Peay has been instilled in many Racer student-athletes for decades.
This week, Racer football plays the Austin Peay Governors in what is known as the "Battle of the Border".
As one of the top rivalries in college sports, the rivalry continues Saturday at APSU’s Fortera Stadium with a 3 p.m. kick off in Clarksville, Tennessee.
The meeting is the 36th between the Racers and Govs since the first one in 1953.
Battle of the Border Remains A Big Game
Former Racer quarterback Casey Brockman said since he was a freshman, he was made aware of the rivalry.
"The intensity through the week builds right up to the game,” Brockman said. “I learned this quickly during my freshman year and how much this game means. A lot has changed through the years as players have come and gone, but this rivalry remains the same. I‘m in a different place in my life, family and career, this rivalry is something that is still in me and I’ll be watching the game too.”
Brockman was privileged to have experienced the rivalry as an athlete and a coach. He coached with the Racers from 2015-17.
"As a coach, you would hear the people around town and the people you work with talk about how we have to win this game, there was always an extra spark during Austin Peay week," Brockman said.
Former Racer wide receiver, Jordon Gandy, said the proximity between Murray and Clarksville (67 miles) made it possible for rival team members to get to know each other away from the gridiron.
"It was good getting to know those guys in the places we would hang out at and also through Greek Life, I got to know some of them well," Gandy said. "It's a game we wanted to win very much, but it didn’t always go our way," Gandy said. "We won some and lost some, but that’s part of the rivalry, you become thankful to have played in this game.”
Former Racer star linebacker, Lamont Crittendon, describes the rivalry between Murray and Austin Peay as a brotherhood.
"Back then, we saw Austin Peay as a little brother and it was game we don't lose," said Crittendon. "However, they’ve gone through a transformation and they’ve developed into a great program.”
Big Games – Big Players
Brockman, Gandy and Crittendon have fond memories of the game with APSU, but they also performed well against them.
Brockman totaled 497 passing yards in his sophomore game against the Governors in 2010. As a senior in 2012, he threw four touchdowns and hit MSU Hall of Famer Walter Powell on a 71-yard touchdown pass. The play is currently 17th in program history among longest pass plays.
As a junior in 2016, Gandy caught 13 passes for 147 yards from QB KD Humphries including one that went for a touchdown as the Racers won the game 45-17 at Clarksville.
Crittendon had 11 tackles against the Govs in 2017.
Lookout for the trio at Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 29.
