Austin Peay State University raises more than $8,000 for Wounded Warrior Project

APSU Sports Information

Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University’s athletics department raised more than $8,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project, auctioning off 80 of the camouflage jerseys worn in the Governors’ 2014 Homecoming football game against Tennessee State.

As part of Military Appreciation Day and to honor the troops at Fort Campbell, the Austin Peay football team elected to wear camouflage jerseys, November 8th, 2014, against Tennessee State.

As a result, use of those jerseys would potentially cost the Governors one timeout for every quarter they were worn.

Austin Peay was informed about the consequences of violating the rule in the days before the game. Head coach Kirby Cannon could have made a change and kept his timeouts.

The Govs wore the jerseys for all four quarters against the Tigers.

“The sacrifices we made as far as timeouts are concerned certainly pales in comparison to those our friends at Fort Campbell have made.” Cannon said. “The kids would wear those 100 times over having extra timeouts. It is a strong indication of our support of Fort Campbell and the support we get from them in everyday life.”

During the game, it was announced that Austin Peay would auction off the jerseys to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, a Veterans service organization that offers a variety of programs, service and events for wounded veterans.

It’s mission is to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service members; to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other; to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of any service member, who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound, co-incident to their military service on or after September 11th, 2001, and their families.

Beginning at 11:00am on Veteran’s Day – significant for historical reasons, as the time harkens back to Armistice Day, the precursor to Veteran’s Day, which commemorated the end of World War I with an armistice that took effect on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of 1918 – the auction ended Wednesday, November 26th, the day before Thanksgiving.

The net proceeds of the auction will go to the WWP, a Florida-based service organization for the awareness and aid of injured service members.

Austin Peay will host representatives of the Wounded Warrior Project and present them with a donation check during an upcoming basketball game.

“The primary theme of our culture of excellence applies to what the athletics program achieves in the classroom, in competition, and in our community,” said Athletics Director Derek van der Merwe.  “When we talk about our community, Fort Campbell is a significant part of what makes this community great.  This effort was to demonstrate how we have the power to transform our community through an act of honor and pride.”