History of the Southeastern Conference (SEC)

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The history of the Southeastern Conference spans 92 years. While most of us hear “SEC” and simply think of football, the Conference is responsible for much more than gridiron matchups.

The conference comprises a wide variety of sports and has continually grown over the decades after its founding, calling all sports lovers. We’re talking about the history of the Southeastern Conference. 

What is the Southeastern Conference?

Better known as the SEC, the Southeastern Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located primarily in the South Center and Southeastern United States. It has sixteen current members, including it’s flagship public universities in 12 states, three land-grant universities, and one private research university.

While most people immediately think of football when they think of the SEC, this conference participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I sports bracket which includes football, basketball, track and field, and a host of other collegiate sports. 

A Brief History of the Southeastern Conference

Although the SEC is 92 years old, the schools began athletic competition with one another more than 100 years ago as members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The Association was founded in 1894 by seven colleges – Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Sewanee, and Vanderbilt.

Football was the first sport to make its way into the Association, having drifted down from the East and Midwest. It was well-received, and teams were formed and began competing in a mostly haphazard way. Later, basketball was adopted shortly after it was invented in 1891. In 1895, track was added to the list of athletic competitions the Association participated in. 

By 1895, the Association had grown to 19 institutions, and by 1920, there were 30 members. In that same year, the larger schools decided to reorganize as the Southern Conference. The charter members of the SEC were Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Washington & Lee. The Conference grew rapidly, swelling to 23 members, and over the course of the years, the Southern Conference included most of the Southern colleges from Virginia to Texas. 

The SEC Started in Knoxville, Tennessee

The SEC was formed in Knoxville, TN at the Farragut Hotel on December 8 – 9, 1932 during the annual Southern Conference Banquet.

The 13 members of the Southern Conference southwest of the Appalachian Mountains were reorganized and recognized as the Southeastern Conference to promote fair play and a less cumbersome system. The original member of the SEC were Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisiana State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Sewanee, Tennessee, Tulane, and Vanderbilt.

I just happened upon this sign at a hotel as I was visiting Knoxville and it made me stop to think.  Do you ever wonder how conferences are formed?  These days it’s so different.  

It has changed a lot over the years with now a total of 16 membrs, having the Univiersity of Texas and University of Oklahoma joining the past year.

Over the history of the Southeastern Conference, membership has changed, although not dramatically. Most of the core founding colleges remain, although Sewanee withdrew in 1940. Later, Georgia Tech would leave the Conference in 1964, and Tulane departed the Conference in 1966. Over the years, the Conference has also welcomed new members, with the University of Arkansas and the University of South Carolina gaining admittance in 1991. Texas A&M University was the most recent member added to the Conference in 2011. 

Today’s Southeastern Conference

The Southeastern Conference’s history is long and storied, but only a brief overview is shared here. Today, the Southeastern Conference is a major force in collegiate sports, as it has been for decades.

Generally recognized as one of the most successful collegiate conferences, the SEC owes its success to proximity and popularity. The South is a hotbed of sports, and with so many avid fans and players in close proximity to the major universities that comprise the Conference, the schools have their pick of the cream of the sports crop. 

In today’s modern world, that means more opportunities for athletes of all genders and races. And that’s a great thing! The Conference remains committed to its long history of excellence in sports, as well as continuing to build a new history of inclusion and equality, building on its 1993 adoption of The Principles of Gender Equity in sports and continuing to offer more opportunities to all athletes period. 

 

As they say around here – It Just Means More – in the SEC

 

The SEC and National Championships

There are currently eight national championships from SEC schools:

Tennessee Volunteers – Baseball

LSU Tigers – Women Gymnastics

Texas A & M  Aggies – Women Tennis

Arkansas Razorbacks – Women Indoor and Outdoor Track

Auburn Tigers – Men Golf

South Carolina Gamecocks – Women Basketball

Florida Gators – Men Outdoor track

 

Since 1990, there’s an average of 7 National Titles in the SEC Schools.

Spring is a time for a lot of National Championship titles to be earned, so here’s hoping for another successful year for these athletes.

As of now, the SEC is dominating in the top 10 and 25 in basketball.  Is it time for another national champion?  I think so as I do have tickets for the Final Four in San Antonio this year. 

Your Favorite Conference and Team

Is your favorite team in the SEC?

Our house is divided, but at least we are all in the BEST Conference – the SEC.

Me – Arkansas Razorbacks – lived most of my life there

Don – Tennessee – always lived her

Doug – Florida – not sure why – but a good pick

What’s your favorite sport?

 

We have visited several colleges during our travels.  Watch for more on each of the SEC College Towns as I introduce a new feature on my blog – Sports – to include our favorite sports and teams, sporting events like auto racing too.

A few random shots as you will see each campus has their own look, especially when they love to show off their mascots.

 

 

More Places to Visit with a Sports Theme

Women Basketball Hall of Fame

Attending an Indy Car Race in Nashville

Corvette Musuem in Bowling Green 

 

*SEC logo used with permission form the Southeastern Conference

 

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