SC got along with UNC about as well as Arkansas got along with Texas in the SEC. Both were very toxic relationships. Something had to give.

(07-22-2020 05:50 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(07-21-2020 03:46 PM)johnintx Wrote:  Interesting story in this book!

This opens two alternative histories:
1) What if Penn went all-in on big-time athletics and joined the ACC when it was formed?
2) What if Georgia and Florida left the SEC for the ACC when it was formed?

1. Penn becomes the Northeast's version of Southern Cal but eventually leaves the ACC over segregation because the other schools won't play them as black players are added to the Penn roster. The ACC gives thought to expanding with William & Mary, but settles on four time SoCon champion West Virginia instead.

2. There would be no reason for Georgia and Florida to consider it. The ACC had no bowl tie-ins and the Sugar Bowl was a powerful draw for recruits. Georgia would not leave the SEC (the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry with Auburn and its rivalry with the Ramblin Wreck) to travel to the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland.

As for Maryland, they eventually tire of the Big Four's dominance of the conference and coach Tom Nugent campaigns for Maryland to leave for football independence and a new conference of the East's top basketball schools, to be known as the "Big East." The list of schools includes Holy Cross, Providence, St. John's, NYU, Rutgers, St. Joseph's, and Villanova.

Fixed it for you. Not only was Georgia Tech a big rival back then but Auburn was and still is also a big rival.

(07-22-2020 07:25 PM)sctvman Wrote:  Yup. It would have been a long shot. Clemson already had national notoriety with Frank Howard and had an 11-0 season in 1948. Clemson’s last game here was 1953, S. Carolina’s last one was 1954.

Their last relatively big time home opponent was East Carolina in 1973. West Virginia played here in ‘68. Then somehow they hosted Navy in 1988 (and won).

A lot of the Citadel folks are still stuck in the 1950s and 1960s with their program. No field turf until this year, just cutting off half of their stadium without building new bleachers (which probably cost us the bowl game that went to Conway). They could have easily merged with CofC in the early 50s.

CofC was a municipal college until 1970, with no more than 500 students. Merging with them would have changed Charleston completely.

Imagine peninsular Charleston being a college town. That is what would have happened. They would have grown slowly through the 60s, and maybe got to Wake Forest size by the 70s (4-5K). Maybe by now they’re at 20,000. Probably a Sun Belt or C-USA school.

Add MUSC and you would have had a school that would be playing in the American by now. They would have snagged Tulsa's spot.

(07-23-2020 01:17 AM)DawgNBama Wrote:  

(07-22-2020 05:50 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(07-21-2020 03:46 PM)johnintx Wrote:  Interesting story in this book!

This opens two alternative histories:
1) What if Penn went all-in on big-time athletics and joined the ACC when it was formed?
2) What if Georgia and Florida left the SEC for the ACC when it was formed?

1. Penn becomes the Northeast's version of Southern Cal but eventually leaves the ACC over segregation because the other schools won't play them as black players are added to the Penn roster. The ACC gives thought to expanding with William & Mary, but settles on four time SoCon champion West Virginia instead.

2. There would be no reason for Georgia and Florida to consider it. The ACC had no bowl tie-ins and the Sugar Bowl was a powerful draw for recruits. Georgia would not leave the SEC (the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry with Auburn and its rivalry with the Ramblin Wreck) to travel to the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland.

As for Maryland, they eventually tire of the Big Four's dominance of the conference and coach Tom Nugent campaigns for Maryland to leave for football independence and a new conference of the East's top basketball schools, to be known as the "Big East." The list of schools includes Holy Cross, Providence, St. John's, NYU, Rutgers, St. Joseph's, and Villanova.

Fixed it for you. Not only was Georgia Tech a big rival back then but Auburn was and still is also a big rival.

Update:. Also, Florida was a big rival back then too.

Georgia vs Auburn history: http://www.winsipedia.com/games/georgia/vs/auburn

Georgia vs Florida history: http://www.winsipedia.com/games/georgia/vs/florida

Georgia vs Georgia Tech history: http://www.winsipedia.com/games/georgia/vs/georgia-tech