penalized Maryland and Clemson for 1951 bowl games. That along with a debate over freshman eligibility(among other things) stoked the flames. Yes, UVA was already essentially a bystander having left the SoCon in 1936. They were also enjoying what, at least up until George Welsh, was possibly the apex of their football program. There were a whole lot of things going on among a lot of schools, not unlike what happened fifty years later in 2003, and nothing is ever as simple as it might seem on the surface. Bottom line is in spring 1953 in a backroom at Sedgefield Country Club, and eerily reminiscent of the way a lot of business would get done for the next 50 years in the ACC, a league was born with seven members. Seven months later, along with a lot more behind the scenes going on, UVA would make it eight and, it would remain that way until the Gamecocks feathers were sufficiently ruffled in 1971. The Hoos were fortunate they made the right decision on the most important matter affecting their athletic future because, prior to that and in certain years subsequent to that, their administration would demonstrate a penchant for shooting their athletic operations in the foot. Enjoyed the walk down memory lane. Thanks for the discussion.
[Post edited by 2hhoop3 at 07/24/2021 3:20PM]