SKYHAWK FOOTBALL QUICK HITS – AUSTIN PEAY EDITION

1. OVC Coaches Teleconference

2. Sgt. York Trophy Series

In July 2007, the Nashville Sports Council and the Ohio Valley Conference announced the creation of the Sergeant York Trophy which goes to the winner of the quadrangular season football series between the four Ohio Valley Conference football-playing schools located in the state of Tennessee – Austin Peay State University, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University and the University of Tennessee at Martin.

The award is only the second traveling trophy that involves more than two teams in college sports; the other is the Commander in Chief's Trophy which has been contested between Air Force, Army and Navy annually since 1972.

The award is named in honor of Alvin C. York, the most noted Soldier of World War I. As a corporal in the 2nd battalion, 328th Infantry, in the Battle of the Meuse River-Argonne (Oct. 8, 1918), York and seven other soldiers captured 132 prisoners, was promoted to sergeant and received the Distinguished Service Cross, the French Croix de Guerre, the French Legion of Honor, the Croce di Guerra of Italy and the War Medal of Montenegro. Upon his return to the United States in 1919, he was bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor.

After the completion of the football season, the Sergeant York Trophy will be awarded to the institution with the best head-to-head record in the match-ups with their fellow Tennessee schools. In the event of a tie, the award will be shared; however, the previous winner will retain the trophy if they are part of the tie. If the tie is between two other institutions, the trophy will go to the institution that has gone the most seasons without winning the trophy.

All-Time Sgt. York Trophy Winners
2007      Tennessee State*/Austin Peay
2008      Tennessee State
2009      Tennessee Tech
2010      UT Martin
2011      Tennessee State*/Tennessee Tech
2012      Tennessee State*/UT Martin
2013      Tennessee State
2014      UT Martin
2015      UT Martin
2016      UT Martin*/Tennessee State/Tennessee Tech
2017      Austin Peay
*Took home the trophy due to winning the tiebreaker

3. On This Date in UT Martin History

When the Skyhawks take the field on Saturday it will be the sixth time in program history that UT Martin has played on the 22^nd of September. Overall, UT Martin is 4-4 on games played on Sept. 22 dating back to 1962. Additionally, the Skyhawks are 1-1 against the Governors on Sept. 22.

1962 at Central Arkansas (W, 13-6)
1973 at Jacksonville State (L, 50-7)
1979 vs. Jacksonville State (W, 15-14)
1984 vs. Valdosta State (L, 38-6)
1990 at Mississippi College (L, 44-14)
2007 at Austin Peay (L, 17-14)
2011 vs. No. 24 Murray State (W, 48-26)
2012 at Austin Peay (W, 31-6)

4. Running Backs Closing In On 1,000

The running back duo of LaDarius Galloway and Jaimiee Bowe are closing in on reaching the 1,000-yard rushing mark for their respective Skyhawk careers. Bowe enters Saturday's contest with 997 career rushing yards in 23 games while Galloway has notched 984 yards in 14 games.

5. Skyhawks Open OVC Play on Saturday

Since the 2006 season, UT Martin has ranked as one of the best programs in the Ohio Valley Conference after winning just 20 games in the team's first 14 years in the league. The Skyhawks have clinched four winning season in the past six years while finishing .500 or above in conference play since 2006 - posting four top-two finishes during the span. UT Martin enters conference play on Saturday after being tabbed to finish third in the annual preseason poll.