In 1937, Austin Peay Normal School (now Austin Peay State University) fielded its first football team. The team was coached by James C. “Bill” Dupes and played its home games at Fortera Stadium in Clarksville, Tennessee.

The team played a six-game schedule, facing off against regional opponents such as David Lipscomb College, Middle Tennessee State Teachers College, and Murray State Teachers College.

Despite being a brand new team, Austin Peay showed promise, winning its first two games of the season and finishing with a record of 3 wins, 2 losses, and 1 tie. The team’s first-ever win came against David Lipscomb College, a 7-0 victory in front of a home crowd on September 25, 1937.

The inaugural Austin Peay football team set the foundation for the program’s future success, paving the way for six Ohio Valley Conference championships and several appearances in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs. Today, Austin Peay football remains an important part of the university’s athletic tradition, with Fortera Stadium serving as a popular gathering place for students, alumni, and fans.