Started By
Message
History repeats itself
Posted on 9/3/26 at 2:18 pm
Posted on 9/3/26 at 2:18 pm
LSU should read up on the history of what happened when Georgia Tech split from the SEC...
The Exit:
Dodd spent three years campaigning for the SEC to reform Rule 140 and limit how many freshmen a school could sign per year. The breaking point arrived at the 1964 SEC winter meetings. A vote to alter the rule resulted in a 6-6 tie, meaning the oversigning rules stayed exactly as they were. Immediately following the tied vote, Georgia Tech President Edwin Harrison walked to the podium and announced that Georgia Tech was officially withdrawing from the SEC. The school operated as an independent program until eventually joining the ACC in 1978.
The fallout:
By the early 1970s, Georgia Tech deeply regretted leaving the SEC. Operating as an independent program had backfired: attendance at Bobby Dodd Stadium was dropping, football went through consecutive losing seasons, and the athletic department was facing serious financial deficits. Bobby Dodd—who had transitioned from head coach to athletic director—orchestrated a campaign to get the Yellow Jackets back into the conference. He famously stated, "We need the conference and the conference needs us," estimating that 90% of Georgia Tech alumni wanted to return. However, the 1975 attempt to rejoin failed due to a combination of lingering bad blood and strict voting rules:
1. The Grudge from the "Mississippi Schools"
At the time, admitting a new school into the SEC required a unanimous vote from all member universities. This proved to be Georgia Tech's downfall. During Georgia Tech's powerhouse years in the SEC, Dodd had openly acted elite toward some of the conference's smaller programs. He reportedly made comments indicating that Georgia Tech was "too big of a brand" to be playing games in places like Starkville or Oxford. When Tech applied to rejoin in 1975, Ole Miss and Mississippi State exacted their revenge by issuing a definitive veto against the Yellow Jackets.
2. Divided Support
While the Mississippi schools blocked the move, support across the rest of the conference was mixed: The Supporters: Ironically, his former rival Bear Bryant of Alabama backed the return, stating he "hoped and prayed Tech would get back in before I got out of coaching." Florida's athletic director also supported it, noting that Tech belonged in the SEC. The Lukewarm Members: The SEC was comfortable at 10 members at the time (Tulane had also left in 1966) and felt no pressing urgency to expand. Other schools, like Florida State and Memphis State, were also aggressively lobbying to join, complicating the landscape. Realizing the door to the SEC was permanently shut, Georgia Tech had to pivot. Later in 1975, they helped form the Metro Conference for all sports except football (which remained independent). Just three years later, in 1978, they accepted an invitation to join the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), where they have played ever since.
The Exit:
Dodd spent three years campaigning for the SEC to reform Rule 140 and limit how many freshmen a school could sign per year. The breaking point arrived at the 1964 SEC winter meetings. A vote to alter the rule resulted in a 6-6 tie, meaning the oversigning rules stayed exactly as they were. Immediately following the tied vote, Georgia Tech President Edwin Harrison walked to the podium and announced that Georgia Tech was officially withdrawing from the SEC. The school operated as an independent program until eventually joining the ACC in 1978.
The fallout:
By the early 1970s, Georgia Tech deeply regretted leaving the SEC. Operating as an independent program had backfired: attendance at Bobby Dodd Stadium was dropping, football went through consecutive losing seasons, and the athletic department was facing serious financial deficits. Bobby Dodd—who had transitioned from head coach to athletic director—orchestrated a campaign to get the Yellow Jackets back into the conference. He famously stated, "We need the conference and the conference needs us," estimating that 90% of Georgia Tech alumni wanted to return. However, the 1975 attempt to rejoin failed due to a combination of lingering bad blood and strict voting rules:
1. The Grudge from the "Mississippi Schools"
At the time, admitting a new school into the SEC required a unanimous vote from all member universities. This proved to be Georgia Tech's downfall. During Georgia Tech's powerhouse years in the SEC, Dodd had openly acted elite toward some of the conference's smaller programs. He reportedly made comments indicating that Georgia Tech was "too big of a brand" to be playing games in places like Starkville or Oxford. When Tech applied to rejoin in 1975, Ole Miss and Mississippi State exacted their revenge by issuing a definitive veto against the Yellow Jackets.
2. Divided Support
While the Mississippi schools blocked the move, support across the rest of the conference was mixed: The Supporters: Ironically, his former rival Bear Bryant of Alabama backed the return, stating he "hoped and prayed Tech would get back in before I got out of coaching." Florida's athletic director also supported it, noting that Tech belonged in the SEC. The Lukewarm Members: The SEC was comfortable at 10 members at the time (Tulane had also left in 1966) and felt no pressing urgency to expand. Other schools, like Florida State and Memphis State, were also aggressively lobbying to join, complicating the landscape. Realizing the door to the SEC was permanently shut, Georgia Tech had to pivot. Later in 1975, they helped form the Metro Conference for all sports except football (which remained independent). Just three years later, in 1978, they accepted an invitation to join the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), where they have played ever since.
3
Posted on 9/3/26 at 2:22 pm to AUTiger789
LSU bout to be left on the tarmac
Posted on 9/3/26 at 2:30 pm to bamabaseballsec
Yep. The SEC survived and thrived without Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets program withered away.
The same scenario would happen without LSU. We'd move on and continue to thrive... LSU would be in the Sun Belt
The same scenario would happen without LSU. We'd move on and continue to thrive... LSU would be in the Sun Belt
Posted on 9/3/26 at 2:40 pm to AUTiger789
We're not threatening to leave 
Posted on 9/3/26 at 2:42 pm to AUTiger789
Bama killed a guy in a game bitch. They were pussies for not responding in kind
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News