I do hope you know the reason Tech is not in the SEC has mostly to do with Alabama. Dodd took us out for 3 reasons. 1. At the time, we were the best team in the SEC, we had the highest attendance (61k avg) and we were the only atlanta sports team. 2. Scholarship limitations put on the SEC. Dodd said that he wouldn't have a player committ to playing for Tech and then take away his scholarship once he got into school to get the numbers down to the requirement. He said if the player made a committment to the school, the school should return the favor. Tech had huge squads back then because of this. 3) the Holt/Graning incident...you'll hear different stories about this, so I'll let you research what it is, but in short, One of the bear's players cheap shotted one of ours, and it was drawn out in the Atlanta and Birmingham papers.

Here's the story from a book called Dodd's luck:

Bobby Dodd insisted there was no other reason he left the SEC, other than the 140 Rule. The 140 Rule stated a college program could only have 140 football and basketball players on scholarship at any one time. The teams were allowed to sign up to 45 players a year, but could not exceed the 140 Rule.

Dodd would not allow any of the football players choosing Tech to be dismissed from Tech, because they were not good players. Dodd said, “it is not the recruits fault for not making the squad, it was the coaches fault for misjudging their talents”. If a recruit came to Tech, he would stay on a football scholarship until he graduated.

Dodd would sign about 30-32 players a year to meet the guidelines, but the other schools in the SEC were offering 45 scholarships a year. Those players, not good enough to fall under the 140 Rule, had their scholarships withdrawn and sent packing before the end of each year. Dodd insisted, the recruiting of athletes by this method amounted to nothing more than a tryout for a scholarship.

Dodd thought it unfair and would not withdraw scholarships from his players. He wanted the SEC to limit the amount of scholarships to about 32 per year. This would keep the other schools from offering 45 scholarships, picking the best, and sending the rest packing.

A vote was to be taken by the presidents of the colleges on the issue, and Dodd made it clear, Tech would have to leave the SEC unless the rule was changed. Dodd said he would live with 10, 20, 30, 40, or even 50 recruits per year as long as he did not have to chase any of his players off.

The presidents were split six for Dodd’s position and six against. Bear had promised Dodd he would get his president to vote for Dodd’s position, which would have changed the rule.

When the meeting was held, Bryant did not show up and the Alabama president voted against Dodd’s position and the 140 Rule was upheld. Tech’s president immediately walked to the podium and announced Tech was withdrawing from the SEC. Bryant never told Dodd why he reneged on his promise.

Some year’s later there was a movement to get Tech back into the SEC, but the two main schools to fight it the most and keep Tech from re-entering the SEC were Georgia and Auburn.

The ACC immediately offered Tech the opportunity to join its conference, but Dodd thought Tech could not compete in basketball in the ACC. Dodd decided to try the independent route as Notre Dame, Miami, and Penn State were faring well as independents. Tech was well known as a football power at that time, so Dodd figured the independent route would be the best for Tech.