Can the Hurricanes put it back together?

I agree that Georgia high schools fail in preparing students for the academic rigors at Tech but leaving the SEC in 1964-65 is what realy killed our program.

In football, it took 15 years (and joining the ACC) to get the ship righted. In the last 15 years we have 1 MNC, 2 ACC titles, numerous ACC runner ups, 9 straight bowls, 11 bowls (I think), top 10 finish.

If we had remained in the SEC we wouldn't have had the 1968-1984 disaster period. I have always liked Dodd as a game coach, leader, and person but not as AD. He just about sunk our ship. Thank God for Homer Rice.

If we had been in the SEC, in the last 15 years, our football would be stronger today than it is, IMO. If we joined the SEC today our football program would make significant strides, and our basketball program would deteriorate...
 
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If we had remained in the SEC we wouldn't have had the 1968-1984 disaster period. I have always liked Dodd as a game coach, leader, and person but not as AD. He just about sunk our ship. Thank God for Homer Rice.

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I agree with you about Dodd and Homer, but the dismal years you point out was due to far more factors than pulling out of the SEC. It may have been a contributing factor, but only one and probably not the most important one at that.
 
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I agree with you about Dodd and Homer, but the dismal years you point out was due to far more factors than pulling out of the SEC. It may have been a contributing factor, but only one and probably not the most important one at that.

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I totally disagree, i think it was 'the' factor. We lost a lot of our traditional rivals (or the games became meaningless), our recuriting base, and a lot of $$$$
 
Can anybody tell me why we left the SEC? Ever since I'v been alive we have been in the ACC and I have never heard the reasons as too why we left the SEC. Just my opinion, but I think the Acc is the more powerful conference of the two especially with UM, VT, & BC joining.
 
Re: Why did Tech get out of the SEC?

I heard Dodd tell this story in a speech in the mid 1980's:

The SEC was about to introduce a new rule limiting the number of scholarships given per sport. Hurt players would have their scholarships yanked, as the new rules were written. Dodd said that he could just not live with that. Dodd said he would pull Tech out of the conference if the new rule passed.

He got Vandy, KY, Miss St. and Ala to commit to voting our way (I think). He said UGA always voted against us. Ole Miss and Auburn (and I think LSU too)hated us becuase we always made them come to Atlanta to playa nd would never go to their stadiums. Also we had be the dominant football program (behind ALA) up to that point.

When the vote came down, it was tied and the deciding vote was Bear Bryant. Bear committed to vote our way the night be fore (to Dodd) and didn't show up at the meeting. Tech was voted down 4-3. Bear never explained to Dodd why he screwed us. Dodd alwasy reseneted Bear after that, I'm told.

I also believe that Dodd thought the future looked bleak for Tech athletics. With integration, Falcons football, Tech academics, and a full year of required calculus (those were his reasons) he didn't think Tech could compete. I beleive that had as much to do with us getting out of the SEC as anything.

In 1978 when we tried to get back in the SEC, UGAy said they would drop out if we were voted in. What a bunch of classy characters! GT was therefore voted down...
 
Re: Why did Tech get out of the SEC?

Would it be fair to say that the SEC "Went To The Dogs?"
 
Re: Why did Tech get out of the SEC?

that sounds like a great movie script!! I'm close to being an old timer myself and my recollection is that Dodd didn't really think he could compete on a recruiting basis with the "new" college football, i.e. post television when the glamour came in and college ball went "semi-pro". The big D certainly affected us but Pepper did a great job of getting the urban Black players to Tech.

When I was a frosh at Tech there were 4 blacks on the team, McAshan, Greg Horne, Joe Harris and Peewee who was a walk-on. Within two years Pepper had recruited David Sims, Lucious Sanford, Reggie Wilkes, Drew Hill amongst others, all NFL stars. Don't know what the takeaway is from that...
 
Pulling out of the SEC was THE factor that hurt us, and in more ways than just football. Yes, thank goodness for Homer.

Being back in the SEC, regardless of football record for first few years, would elevate our program in so many ways. There would no longer be any need to advertise tickets for starters.

I think in some peoples view the BB might deteriorate, but realistically how can that be when we look at our record, overall, vs say ugag over the last 10-15-20 years. And there are 2 SEC teams in the final four.

I think contrary to Dodd thinking anything about a new sphere of players or the pros coming to Atlanta, there seemed to be an almost arrogant assumption that we would "always sell 35,000 to 40,000 season tickets." And that is a quote from a GTAA official at the time.

And we all know that being in the SEC in baseball would not be a step down.
 
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