Answering the most pressing question about Pitt's opener: Who was Austin Peay?

Pitt plays Austin Peay on Saturday at Heinz Field in its first game of what will be a season like no other.

Let’s get the big question out of the way first:

Who was Austin Peay?

Born to a former Confederate cavalryman, Austin Peay was the first Tennessee governor since the Civil War elected to three terms, serving from 1923 until his death in 1927.

He pushed for an unpopular tobacco tax that made education reform possible in Tennessee. He mustered support for the tax, with these nearly poetic words (gathered from the school’s website):

“Who will speak for those sad and mindless waifs scattered throughout our state and destitute of hope and home? Who will voice the humanity and aspirations of Tennessee tonight?”

The tax passed in 1925, two years before he died in office of a cerebral hemorrhage. Two years later, the school adopted his name.

Today, Austin Peay’s teams are called the Governors, Govs for short. They come to Pittsburgh for the first time — Pitt never has played Austin Peay in football or basketball — after an historic 2019 season. The Govs won 11 games and the Ohio Valley Conference championship and advanced to the FCS playoffs for the first time.

Yet, 2020 has brought a series of challenges to the Govs, whose former coach, Mark Hudspeth, resigned July 3 after one season, a week before his 20-day suspension for “unacceptable conduct” was scheduled to end.

Athletic director Gerald Henderson said the suspension was not connected to covid-19. The school paused athletic activities for a short time early this summer when 11 players tested positive, according to The Clarksville (Tenn.) Leaf-Chronicle.

“They were in shock, just like everybody,” interim coach Marquase Lovings said of Hudspeth’s resignation. “I was in shock when it happened. Definitely in shock, but the kids bounced back.

“But once they understood their position coaches would be back in place, there’s a sense of normalcy and it was better for everyone.”

Lovings had only been with the team since 2019 before he was promoted, but he said the transition has not been difficult.

“It’s something I’ve been preparing for for a long time,” he said.

In the middle of the turmoil, the OVC postponed the conference season until 2021. Lovings said he believes the season might run from Feb. 27 to April 17.

Meanwhile, the Govs are playing a three-game season that will end next week at Cincinnati. They opened with a 24-17 loss to Central Arkansas on Aug. 29 in the first overall college game since the start of the pandemic in March.

“It’s kind of crazy,” Lovings said of the unique three-game season. “It’s kind of good for the coaches. It’s like a preseason NFL deal. To see where you stand against an ACC opponent is really cool. It is good for our program to see how good our kids are as a team.”

Said Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi: “This is going to be their Super Bowl. Austin Peay is very capable of kicking our tail.”

A total of 14 starters (seven on each side of the ball) return for Austin Peay, including quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall, who has rushed or thrown for 4,204 yards and 43 touchdowns since 2017, and cornerback Kordell Jackson, the school’s first FCS consensus All-American since 2002.

“For some guys, this might be the last two games of their careers,” Oatsvall said.

Oatsvall missed most of last season with a Lisfranc foot injury, but he said he’s completely recovered.

“I’m proud of the leader he is,” Lovings said. “He’s a kid you look at as being a Gov and a total Gov. When things go awry, he can get you out of trouble and make a play down the field. He did that a couple times against UCA.”

Oatsvall has competed against four FBS teams, going 0-4. In 2017, the Govs lost to Cincinnati, 26-14, Miami (Ohio), 31-10, and Central Florida, 73-33. A year later, they took a 45-0 thumping from Georgia.

“Pitt is very similar to Georgia in the sense that they have guys who are very big and can run really fast,” Oatsvall said. “It’s a reason it’s called Power 5. It’s the best of the best. Talent-wise, they can play with anybody.”

Oatsvall said losing most of 2019 was difficult, but good for him at the same time.

“I was able to get really humbled and get my priorities and get my perspective straight,” he said.

Oatsvall runs a triple option, similar to what Pitt used to see against Georgia Tech. The only difference is Oatsvall will be in shotgun formation. He scored on a 1-yard run with 1 minute, 40 seconds left to give the Govs a 17-16 lead before Central Arkansas countered with the decisive touchdown 64 seconds later.