I've heard a lot of different reasons, but if I had to guess it was because they felt like they needed to get out of a conference that allowed semi-pro team(s) and that they could be a "National" brand as an independent. They were right on the first (which hasn't changed at all), but miscalculated badly on the brand issue.
They are sandwhiched between Auburn, UT, Ugah and Bammer who couldn't care less if their recruits couldn't spell cat if you spotted them the c and the t. They have no chance even though they are right smack in the middle of a recruiting hotbed.
Good question about Tech leaving the SEC. My dad is a GT alum, and he lived through it. The Chick Graning incident played a big part as well, which happened in 61. Here's an article about the 62 game, which talks about the incident. It also talks about Dodd's interest in ending the GT/ Bama rivalry due to bama's dirty play. A ROUGH DAY FOR THE BEAR Here's a excerpt about the incident... Last year an Alabama player, Darwin Holt, had smashed Georgia Tech's Chick Graning in the face with his left elbow and forearm, in an unnecessary block when an Alabama teammate signaled for a fair catch on a punt. After the catch, though possibly before the referee's whistle had sounded. Holt hit Graning, rising off his feet as he drove his arm up under the taller Tech player's face guard. Graning was helped off the field with injuries diagnosed later as 1) fracture of the alveolar process (facial bones), 2) five missing upper front teeth, 3) fracture of the nasal bone, 4) fracture of the right maxillary sinus and the sinus filled with blood, 5) fracture of the right zygomatic process (bone beneath the right eye), 6) cerebral concussion and 7) possible fracture of the base of the skull. Here's a message board report of the incident with more details... https://www.secrant.com/rant/sec-football/fifty-years-ago-today---georgia-tech-vs-alabama/29843517/ Excerpt from this... Atlanta Constitution ran photos of the "brutalized young Graning lying in his hospital bed with his face smothered in bandages, and the papers called for Holt to be suspended for what was, to them, an obviously late and dirty hit" [3]. There was another reason why this game was very famous around the world. It was Coach Bryant. Despite the violation of sportsmanship, clearly recorded on film and in people's memories, Coach Bryant refused to announce a public apology and did not remove Holt from the team. In January 1962, Coach Dodd described Bryant’s behavior as the "expiration of the contract in 1964".
Will be interesting to see where goes for a new HC. Georgia Tech hires key Alabama executive athletic director J Batt as new AD, per reports
Thanks for posting that. I remember the incident very well but our memories sometimes become skewed over time. I always felt like Bobby Dodd felt like Tech was an outsider and not a fit for the SEC. He liked playing teams out of conference and I also think he recruited more out of state that most SEC schools. That could have been in part because of Techs academic standards. Dodd’s son, Bobby Dodd jr did play for Ray Graves at Florida as a backup QB to Larry Libertore. Dodd jr completed an important pass in the big 18-17 win over Tech in Graves first year at UF. He was a better passer than Libertore but, Libertore took most of the snaps.
Remember that Notre Dame was the marquee team back then, and it wasn't too long prior that the service academies were powers. All were independent and their lack of conference affiliation didn't hurt them. It probably helped them get noticed. So yes, GT left the SEC and then USCe left the ACC a few years later. It sounds crazy to us, but not so crazy back then.
Fifty years ago, Georgia Tech left the SEC Kronogator, the article says that Bear Bryant supported changing the rule but Alabama’s president (and ALL of the other 10 members) voted to keep it. It wasn’t just Bama.
Going out on a limb here for this poster but I'm gonna guess and say the blame lies with who ever put the disagree button so close to the agree button. Fat thumbs usually make themselves known once a day or more.
This article says the vote in 64 was 6-6. Why Georgia Tech left the SEC I have a hard time believing that it would be unanimous against, Ray Graves wouldn't have gone against his former boss and mentor. Also I don't trust what Bryant said, the UA president would have done what his football coach said.
I don’t know if he might be in line for a better job but I wonder if the bama connection will mean anything with Bill O’Brien
With Deion Sanders being mentioned for coaching opportunities, I wonder if the pressure gets turned up on Norvell in Tallahassee.
We got plenty of guys on the coaching staff with SEC experience. Don’t mind having him as an analyst, but he will probably be a DC for a P5 program like Manny Diaz after he got fired.
