Will's articles should be reviewed anytime conference realignment comes up.

VT's History with the ACC (1921 - 1977)
Published June 20, 2003
https://tslarchive.sportswar.com/tslmail/archives/tslmail0084.htm

Conference Wars, Part 1: 1978-1990
Published June 8, 2004
https://virginiatech.sportswar.com/article/2004/06/08/conference-wars-part-1-1978-1990/

Conference Wars, Part 2: 1990-1994
Published June 14, 2004
https://virginiatech.sportswar.com/article/2004/06/14/conference-wars-part-2-1990-1994/

Conference Wars, Part 3: 1994-2000
Published June 23, 2004
https://virginiatech.sportswar.com/article/2004/06/23/conference-wars-part-3-1994-2000/

Conference Wars, Part 4: 2000-2004
Published June 30, 2004
https://virginiatech.sportswar.com/article/2004/06/30/conference-wars-part-4-2000-2004/

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Additional VT conference history 1911 - 1953

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) was founded in late 1894 with 14 charter members. In 1921, the SIAA had grown to 28 members -
1- University of the South (Sewanee)
2- Alabama
3- Vanderbilt
4- Tennessee
5- Georgia
6- Auburn
7- Georgia Tech
8- Kentucky
9- Tulane
10- Louisiana State
11- Clemson
12- Mississippi A&M (Mississippi State)
13- Mercer
14- Mississippi
15- Furman
16- Wofford
17- Millsaps
18- The Citadel
19- Howard College (Samford)
20- Centre
21- Mississippi College
22- Florida
23- Transylvania
24- Chattanooga
25- Louisville
26- Georgetown (Kentucky)
27- South Carolina
28- Oglethorpe

The South Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SAIAA) was formed in 1911 with eight charter members. In 1920 there were 15 members:
1- Catholic
2- Davidson
3- George Washington
4- Georgetown
5- Johns Hopkins
6- Maryland
7- North Carolina
8- North Carolina State
9- Richmond
10- Trinity College
11- Virginia
12- Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1911-1921)
13- Virginia Military Institute
14- Washington and Lee
15- William & Mary

On December 10, 1920, the SIAA voted to reject proposals to ban freshman athletes (playing in varsity sports) and to abolish paid summer baseball. Generally, larger universities opposed the eligibility of freshman players and pay-for-play, while the smaller schools (with smaller athletic budgets) favored it. In protest, the larger schools immediately announced they would seek to form a new conference.

On February 25, 1921, representatives from eight SIAA members and six SAIAA members met in Atlanta to establish the Southern Intercollegiate Conference:

SIAA members:
1- Alabama
2- Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn)
3- Clemson
4- Georgia
5- Georgia School of Technology (Georgia Tech)
6- Kentucky
7- Mississippi A&M (Mississippi State)
8- Tennessee
SAIAA members:
9- North Carolina
10- North Carolina State
11- Virginia
12- Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech)
13- Maryland
14- Washington & Lee

Southern Conference play began in the fall of 1921. In 1922, six more schools joined:
15- Tulane
16- Florida
17- Louisiana (LSU)
18- Mississippi
19- South Carolina
20- Vanderbilt

By 1930, three more schools had joined:
21- VMI (1923)
22- Sewanee (1923)
23- Duke (1928)

On December 9, 1932, thirteen members withdrew from the Southern Conference and formed the Southeastern Conference:
1- Alabama
2- Alabama Polytechnic Institute
3- Florida
4- Georgia
5- Georgia School of Technology
6- Kentucky
7- Louisiana
8- Mississippi
9- Mississippi A&M
10- University of the South
11- Tennessee
12- Tulane
13- Vanderbilt

Florida’s Dr. J.J. Tigert, acting as spokesman for the withdrawing group, regretted the move but believed it was necessary as the Southern Conference had grown too large. The SEC began league play in 1933.

The Southern Conference continued on with ten institutions, and expanded to 17 member schools over the next 20 years. In 1937, UVa departed the conference and remained independent until 1954. In 1950, West Virginia joined the conference.

Another split occurred in May, 1953 when seven schools departed to form the Atlantic Coast Conference:
1- Clemson
2- Duke
3- Maryland
4- North Carolina
5- North Carolina State
6- South Carolina
7- Wake Forest

The ACC was formed to participate in (and receive revenue from) football bowl games and conduct round-robin play in revenue sports. The Southern Conference had become too large and the small schools were limiting the large schools. [In 1952, Maryland and Clemson were punished by the Southern Conference for participating in the Sugar Bowl (Md vs Tenn) and Gator Bowl (Clemson vs Miami).] Orange Bowl representatives attended the May 8, 1953 meeting where seven ACC schools seceded from the Southern Conference.

UVa accepted a June, 1953 offer to join the ACC on December 13. West Virginia and Virginia Tech were considered for ACC membership in 1953, but were not extended offers.
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