A (Boring) Origin Story For Austin Peay’s Famous Team Cheer?

Austin Peay State University’s unlikely trip to the NCAA men’s tournament has put some national focus on the school’s head-turning team cheer.

Jean Kendrick (then known by her maiden name, Jean Collins) of Hermitage says she and Ray Radford — who would be elected student body president — believe they may have started it all. It was a home football game in 1967. The crowd needed some inspiration.

“It’s not anything too exciting. We didn’t study over it or anything. It just hit both of us at the same time. Let’s Go Peay!” Kendrick recalls with a laugh. “Everybody around us loved it. There was no alcohol involved. We were just having a really good time.”

Now that Austin Peay has trademarked the chant, Kendrick jokes that she should be receiving royalties.

No luck confirming Kendrick’s recollection, though a school spokesman says there is no mention of “Let’s Go Peay!” in yearbooks prior to 1967.

While perhaps not the origin, Austin Peay points to
the early 1970s as when the chant became popularlized. Brooklyn phenom James “Fly” Williams led the team to two consecutive NCAA tournaments as fans cheered, “The Fly is open, let’s go Peay!”