Schools of the South host a different breed of pride. Whether you're a Florida Gator, an Auburn Tiger, or even a Georgia Bulldog, you still share the same love for the SEC. Everyone knows about the winning records, coaching changes, and can even name all of the mascots of every team. However, not many people are aware of the history of the SEC. Ladies and gents, here is your SEC history lesson.

Before the SEC: 

In 1894, the first collegiate athletic organization to include teams of the South was founded, and was known as the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA). Within this conference, there were four present-day SEC schools: Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Vanderbilt. Twenty-seven years later in 1921, 13 of the 20 SIAA members broke away after a dispute over the eligibility of freshmen players. This separation would lead to the formation of the Southern Conference. 

The SEC Is Born:

1932 would be the year. The year that our precious SEC was born. On December 9, 1932, The President of the University of Florida, John J. Tigert, publicly announced that 13 schools  would be leaving the Southern Conference to form the Southeastern Conference. With the formation of this conference, members included: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana State, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, Tulane, and Sewanee. They would see their first conference play in the 1933 season. 

LSU football team in the SEC inaugural season.

Three Teams Withdraw:

I know what you are thinking, "Since when were Georgia Tech, Tulane, and Sewanee in the SEC?" Well, Sewanee (also known as the University of the South) withdrew from the conference on December 13, 1940 after never winning a single match. It wouldn't be for another 20+ years that Georgia Tech and Tulane would withdraw. Georgia Tech would see its last day as a member of the SEC on June 1, 1964, and Tulane on June 1, 1966.  This put the SEC to a total of 10 members. 

South Carolina and Arkansas:

On May 31, 1990, the SEC presidents voted in favor of the expansion of the SEC. The six candidates to be decided between as new members during expansion included: Texas, Texas A&M, Florida State, Miami, South Carolina and Arkansas. This expansion would mean that the SEC would face less competition in the nearby area and would have a stronger leverage in negotiating television contracts (can you imagine a time college football wasn't on TV?).  Ultimately, South Carolina and Arkansas were chosen to be the new members and they would officially join in 1991. 

East v. West:

With the new expansion, the conference was divided into two separate divisions- East and West. It was then decided that the top contenders from each division would play for an SEC football title game at the end of the season. The very first SEC playoff game invited Alabama from the West and Florida from the East. The undefeated Alabama team defeated Florida 28-21. It is told throughout sports history that this is the game that put the SEC in the scope as a top-playing conference. After this game, Alabama went on to defeat the #1 Miami team in the Sugar Bowl, and then would reign national champions. 

First SEC playoff game: Florida vs. Alabama 

Texas A&M and Mizzou:

During the 2011 fall season, SEC leaders announced that Texas A&M would become a member of the SEC Western division, effective on July 1, 2012. Soon after, the SEC once again made an expansion announcement, that the University of Missouri (Mizzou) would be added into the SEC Eastern division effective the same date as Texas A&M. 

Today:

Since its founding, the SEC has won a combined total of 200 national championships between all 14 members in all participating sports. According to the SEC, "In the "big three" men's sports - football, basketball and baseball, the SEC has won 14 national championships during the last eight academic years. The league has won seven of the last eight football national championships."

To us students, this conference is our home. No matter what colors we sport every Saturday, or what cheer we yell from the stands, we are all bonded through a love for the Southeastern Conference. There is no Saturday like a Saturday in the SEC.