Tennessee competed in the Southern Conference from 1921 to 1932.
Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Maryland, Mississippi State,
North Carolina, North Carolina State, Ole Miss, Sewanee, South Carolina, Tennessee, Tulane, Vanderbilt, Virginia,
VMI, VPI, and Washington and Lee were among the 23 schools that made up the Southern Conference.
In 1932, 13 Southern Conference colleges left to start their own conference.
In 1932, 13 Southern Conference colleges left to start their own conference.
13 Southern Conference members from the west and south of the Appalachian Mountains left to form the
Southeastern Conference. Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi
State, Sewanee, Tennessee, Tulane, and Vanderbilt were the original members of the newly founded Southeastern
Conference.
The separation to form the new conference was motivated in part by a desire to focus on better sports administration
with fewer teams from the Southern Conference’s 23 schools. The Southern Conference also intended to increase
qualifying restrictions.
During the annual Southern Conference banquet on December 8-9, 1932, at the Farragut Hotel in Knoxville,
Tennessee, the Southeastern Conference was founded.
Dr. John J. Tigert, president of the University of Florida, spoke on behalf of the 13 schools and formally delivered
resignations during the meeting in Knoxville.
Dr. Frank L. McVey, president of the University of Kentucky, was selected SEC president; J.F. Broussard of
Louisiana State University was voted vice president; and A.H. Armstrong of Georgia Tech was named secretary.
