About Austin Peay State University and Athletics Located in Clarksville, Tennessee, just 40-minutes northwest of Nashville, Austin Peay is a thriving campus that serves the northern Middle Tennessee region, the state, the nation, and the world abroad. Established in 1927 and named in 1929 for former Tennessee Gov. Austin Peay, a Clarksville native who was instrumental in founding the University, the University continues to honor Tennessee governors through the naming of buildings on campus, as well as the governor mascot and APSU’s “Governors” athletic teams. The urban campus has become one of the most dynamic universities in the region, distinguishing itself for its innovations in faculty and student success, while also affording the opportunity to experience, create,