re: What moron decided that Tulane should leave the SEC in 1966?

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I was a junior in high school then and as I recall, it was a combination of professor revolt for more emphasis on academics, the procession of losing seasons, and the desire to be associated with the great so called intellectual type of university. The largest reason was the realization that since the demise of single platoon football where players played offense and defense, you would need to recruit more athletes.

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The biggest reason was that the other SEC schools started spending more and more money on their football programs and coaches. The mid 60s was the real beginning of the hippie generation and the violence on the field wasn't favorably viewed upon by the "educated elite".

Tulane thought of themselves as the "Harvard of the South" and they shouldn't try to increase spending that was needed to stay competitive with the big boys in the conference. The professors at the university seized the opportunity to gather student support to down-size the athletic program and redirect money to academics. Last, but not least, Tulane thought they had a national following and that they could survive as an independent...which they did for a few years.