The Forgotten History of the Original Southeastern Conference Teams

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has become synonymous with college football excellence, boasting some of the most iconic programs in the sport. However, few fans know that two schools that once called themselves SEC members have since parted ways with the league. Sewanee and Georgia Tech were charter members of the original Southeastern Conference in 1894, but their paths diverged over a century ago.

Sewanee, now a small Division III private liberal arts university in Tennessee, left the conference in the early 1900s. According to John Shackelford, the school's athletic director, Sewanee never looked back and has no regrets about its decision. In fact, the school's basketball gym still proudly displays a sign commemorating its time hosting SEC games.

Georgia Tech, on the other hand, tried to rejoin the SEC just nine years after leaving, but was ultimately rejected. Today, the two schools have little in common, aside from their shared history as charter members of the original Southeastern Conference.

In 1899, Sewanee fielded one of the best teams in college football history, finishing the season undefeated with a combined score of 91-0 against five opponents. The team's dominance was so impressive that even Georgia Tech, which lost to Sewanee by a whopping 32 points, received a moral victory from two writers at the Atlanta Constitution newspaper.

The SEC has undergone significant changes since its inception, and today it boasts 16 member schools with a lucrative television deal worth $3 billion. While Sewanee is content with its decision to leave the conference, Georgia Tech's regret over leaving still lingers.

As the SEC looks to the future, it's essential to remember its humble beginnings and the two schools that helped shape its history. The story of Sewanee and Georgia Tech serves as a reminder that even the smallest decisions can have lasting impacts on the trajectory of an institution.

The original southeastern conference teams may be largely forgotten, but their legacy lives on in the storied tradition of college football excellence.

Original southeastern conference teams