Southern Conference

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Expansion of the Southern Conference in the United States

The Southern Conference ( SoCon ) is a league of US university sports founded in 1921 by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and part of Division I of the NCAA. The Southern Conference is located in the southeastern United States, the participating universities of the SoCon are in the states of Alabama , Georgia , North Carolina , South Carolina and Tennessee . SoCon is based in the city of Spartanburg in South Carolina. Competitions take place in 19 different sports, men compete in 10, women in nine of them. The College Football Teams ( American Football ) of the Southern Conference play in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision, the former I-AA. It is one of the oldest of the major university sports leagues in the United States, only the Big Ten (1896), Missouri Valley (1907) and the Southwestern Athletic (1920) Conferences can look back on a longer history.

The Southern Conference is considered one of the stronger leagues of college football within the division and belongs to the midfield within the various basketball leagues. The SoCon garnered nationwide attention following its sporting successes in recent years, including the three-time NCAA Division-I football champions, the Appalachian State Mountaineers, and the Davidson Wildcats, who made it into the Elite Eight of the Division I men's basketball championship.

history

SoCon was founded on February 25, 1921 in Atlanta, Georgia when 14 members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association split off. The founding members were the University of Alabama , Auburn University , Clemson University , University of Georgia , Georgia Institute of Technology , University of Kentucky , University of Maryland, College Park , Mississippi A&M (now Mississippi State University ), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , North Carolina State University , University of Tennessee , University of Virginia , Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and Washington and Lee University . In 1922, six other colleges joined, the University of Florida , Louisiana State University , University of Mississippi , University of South Carolina , Tulane University and Vanderbilt University . In the following years the University of the South (1923), the Virginia Military Institute (1925), the Duke University (1929) and the Wake Forest University (1936) followed.

The Southern Conference has spawned two other major leagues. In 1933, 13 universities south and west of the Appalachians split off (Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Sewanee, Tennessee, Tulane and Vanderbilt) to jointly form the Southeastern Conference (SEC) to build. In 1953 another seven schools (Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina and Wake Forest) left SoCon to form the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Other former members of the Southern Conference include East Carolina University (1964–1976), East Tennessee State University (1978–2005), George Washington University (1936–1970), Marshall University (1976–1997), University of Richmond ( 1936–1976), College of William and Mary (1936–1977) and West Virginia University (1950–1968).

sports

The Southern Conference organizes competitions in 19 sports, the men compete in the sports baseball , basketball , cross-country skiing , college football , golf , soccer , tennis , athletics , athletics (indoor) and wrestling . For the women's teams at the universities, SoCon offers competitions in basketball, cross-country running, golf, soccer, softball , tennis, athletics, athletics (indoor) and volleyball .

Members

The Conference grew to 12 members with the entry of Samford on July 1, 2008. The number of teams competing in college football rose to nine. The group of men's teams in the sports of basketball and volleyball were divided into divisions within the conference: Appalachian State, Chattanooga, Elon, Samford, UNC Greensboro and Western Carolina belong to the northern division, and The Citadel, College of Charleston, Davidson, Furman, Georgia Southern, and Wofford.

University place founding type of school students Member since Nickname
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee 1886 Public 11,388 1976 Mocs
The Citadel Charleston, South Carolina 1842 Public 3,400 1936 Bulldogs
East Tennessee State University Johnson City, Tennessee 1911 Public 14,587 1978-2005; 2014 Buccaneers
Furman University Greenville, South Carolina 1826 Private 2,688 1936 Paladins
Mercer University Macon (Georgia) 1833 Private 8,603 2014 Bears
Samford University Homewood, Alabama 1841 Private 4,440 2008 Bulldogs
University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina 1891 Public 19,393 1997 UNC Greensboro Spartans
Virginia Military Institute Lexington, Virginia 1839 Public 1,717 1924–2003, 2014 VMI keydets
Western Carolina University Cullowhee (North Carolina) 1889 Public 10,340 1976 Catamounts
Wofford College Spartanburg, South Carolina 1854 Private 1,613 1997 Terriers

Associate members

university place Team name Founded Sponsorship students Joined sport Main Conference
United States Air Force Academy (Air Force) Colorado Springs , Colorado Falcons 1954 federal 4,417 2015 Wrestling Mountain West Conference
Appalachian State University Boone , North Carolina Mountaineers 1899 state 17,589 2013 Wrestling Sun Belt Conference
Bellarmine University Louisville , Kentucky Knights 1950 Private 3.846 2015 Lacrosse (men) Great Lakes Valley Conference (NCAA Div. II)
Belmont University Nashville , Tennessee Bruins 1890 Private 8.080 2018 Soccer (men) Ohio Valley Conference
Campbell University Buies Creek , North Carolina Fighting Camels 1887 Private 11,241 2011 Wrestling Big South Conference
Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant , Michigan Chippewas 1892 state 27,693 2017 Lacrosse (women) Mid-American Conference
Davidson College Davidson , North Carolina Wildcats 1837 Private 1,850 2014 Wrestling Atlantic 10 Conference
Delaware State University Dover , Delaware Hornets 1891 state 3,400 2017 Lacrosse (women) Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
University of Detroit Mercy Detroit , Michigan Titans 1877 Private 5,700 2017 Lacrosse (women) Horizon League
Gardner-Webb University Boiling Springs , North Carolina Runnin 'Bulldogs 1905 Private 5,000 2011 Wrestling Big South Conference
Georgia Southern University Statesboro , Georgia Eagles 1906 state 20,517 2016 Rifle shooting Sun Belt Conference
High Point University High Point , North Carolina Panthers 1924 Private 4,500 2014 Lacrosse (men) Big South Conference
Jacksonville University Jacksonville , Florida Dolphins 1934 Private 3,741 2014 Lacrosse (men) Atlantic Sun Conference
University of North Georgia Dahlonega , Georgia Nighthawks 1873 state 16,064 2016 Rifle shooting Sun Belt Conference
Presbyterian College Clinton , South Carolina Blue pants 1880 Private 1,403 2019 Wrestling Big South Conference
University of Richmond Richmond , Virginia Spiders 1830 Private 4,361 2014 Lacrosse (men) Atlantic 10 Conference
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Birmingham , Alabama Blazers 1969 state 18,568 2016 Rifle shooting Conference USA

former members

University place accession exit Current league Nickname
University of Alabama Tuscaloosa , ( Alabama ) 1921 1932 SEC Crimson Tide
Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina 1971 2014 Sun Belt Mountaineers
Auburn University Auburn, Alabama 1921 1932 SEC Auburn Tigers
College of Charleston (Charleston) Charleston, South Carolina 1998 2013 CAA Cougars
Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina 1921 1953 ACC Tigers
Davidson College Davidson (North Carolina) 1936, 1992 1988, 2014 Atlantic 10 Wildcats
Duke University Durham, North Carolina 1928 1953 ACC Blue Devils
East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina 1964 1976 The American Pirates
Elon University Elon (North Carolina) 2003 2014 CAA Phoenix
University of Florida Gainesville (Florida) 1922 1932 SEC Gators
George Washington University Washington, DC 1936 1970 Atlantic 10 Colonials
University of Georgia Athens (Georgia) 1921 1932 SEC Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta (Georgia) 1921 1932 ACC Yellow Jackets
Georgia Southern University Statesboro, Georgia 1992 2014 Sun Belt Eagles
University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky 1921 1932 SEC Kentucky Wildcats
Louisiana State University Baton Rouge ( Louisiana ) 1922 1932 SEC LSU Tigers
Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia 1976 1997 C-USA Thundering stove
University of Maryland College Park, Maryland 1923 1953 Big Ten Maryland Terrapins
University of Mississippi Oxford (Mississippi) 1922 1932 SEC Ole Miss Rebels
Mississippi State University Starkville, Mississippi 1921 1932 SEC Mississippi State Bulldogs
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina 1921 1953 ACC North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina 1921 1953 ACC NC State Wolfpack
University of Richmond Richmond, Virginia 1936 1976 Atlantic 10 Richmond Spiders
University of the South Sewanee (Tennessee) 1923 1932 SAA Sewanee Tigers
University of South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina 1922 1953 SEC Gamecocks
University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee 1921 1932 SEC Volunteers
Tulane University New Orleans, Louisiana 1922 1932 The American Green wave
Vanderbilt University Nashville ( Tennessee ) 1922 1932 SEC Commodores
University of Virginia Charlottesville ( Virginia ) 1921 1937 ACC Cavaliers
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia 1921 1965 ACC Virginia Tech Hokies
Wake Forest University Winston-Salem , (North Carolina) 1936 1953 ACC Demon Deacons
Washington and Lee University Lexington, Virginia 1921 1958 ODAC Generals
West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia 1950 1968 Big 12 West Virginia Mountaineers
The College of William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia 1936 1977 CAA William & Mary Tribe

Sports facilities

University Football stadium Basketball hall Baseball field Football stadium
Surname Places Surname Places Surname Places Surname Places
Chattanooga Finley Stadium 20,668 McKenzie Arena 10,928 Jim Frost Stadium 3,000 Finley Stadium 20,668
The Citadel Johnson Hagood Stadium 11,500 McAlister Field House 6,000 Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park 6,000 Washington Light Infantry Field ?
East Tennessee State William B. Greene Jr. Stadium 7,694 Freedom Hall Civic Center 8,500 Thomas Stadium 1,200 Summers – Taylor Stadium 2,000
Furman Paladin Stadium 16,000 Timmons Arena 5,000 Latham Baseball Stadium 2,000 Stone Stadium 3,000
Mercer Moye Complex 10,200 Hawkins Arena 3,500 Claude Smith Field 500 Bear Field 300
Samford Seibert Stadium 6,700 Pete Hanna Center 4,974 Griffin Stadium 1,000 Samford Track & Soccer Complex 1,200
UNC Greensboro Not a football team N / A Greensboro Coliseum (M)
Fleming High School (F) 		7,617
2,320 		UNCG baseball stadium 3,500 UNCG Soccer Stadium 3,540
VMI Alumni Memorial Field 10,000 Cameron Hall 5,020 Gray – Minor Stadium 1,400 Patchin Field 1,000
Western Carolina Bob Waters Field 13,742 Ramsey Center 7,826 Hennon Stadium 1,500 Catamount Athletic Complex 1,000
Wofford Gibbs Stadium 13,000 Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium 3,300 Russell C. King Field 2,500 Snyder Field 2,250

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c d Southern Conference: The History of the Southern Conference
  2. ↑ Stewart Mandel: The Mother of All Upsets ( Memento June 4, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  3. ↑ Press: Curry's sweet touch continues as Davidson eludes Wisconsin
  4. ^ Southern Conference: The Southern Conference Welcomes Samford University

Web links