UT Martin first-year head football coach Jason Simpson talked about the Ohio Valley Conference championship ever since he was hired back in December 2005.
He backed up all that talk Nov. 18 when he led the nationally ranked Skyhawks to a 42-14 win over host Murray State. The victory gave the Skyhawks a share of their first-ever OVC championship.

With a share of the OVC title, the Skyhawks claimed the automatic qualification to the Division I Football Championship. The Skyhawks, ranked No. 12 in the nation, was one of 16 teams to advance to the championship and play for the national title.

The Skyhawks traveled to nearby Carbondale, Ill., to face No. 10 Southern Illinois in the first round of the championship. The Skyhawks enjoyed a 27-7 lead in the second half, but fell short as the Salukis claimed a 36-30 win in the last minute of play.

“You hate coming out on the losing end in a game that was so tight,” Simpson said. “I am so proud of our kids. I am proud of our university. I am proud of administration and our fans. I thought our kids represented us well today and gave us a chance to win at the end.”

The Skyhawks finished the season with a 9-3 overall record and a 6-1 OVC worksheet. The 9-3 record is the best since 1988, when the football team posted an 11-2 mark and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs.