Most of this was set-in-motion when the took the risk of leaving the SEC. They took the lead of trying to construct a "Ivy League of the South" called the Magnolia Conference. They petitioned Rice, SMU, Vandy, Duke, etc to formalize the conference. Much like the Ivyies, they wanted to minimize athletics (limited scholly $, smaller facilities, etc) and focus on the competing academically with the Ivyies. Duke didnt take the bait because they wanted to keep their rivalry with UNC. Rice and SMU stayed in the SWC (Texas probably made them) and Vandy saw the benefit of being the only private school in the SEC and stayed. It was a huge gamble that didnt pay off.

How does this affect enrollment? Tulane athletically never recovered. Call it the SEC mentality, but most southern students want a full college experience. They dont want to drive off campus to sit in a NFL dome stadium that is 1/5 full (and that generous). They lack of a campus culture didnt appeal to most southern student despite the high academic reputation. Northern students could give a rip about athletics/campus life, they literally only look at Tulane's academic rep.

I think the on-campus stadium is a game changer for their university in regards to regional relevancy. It is helping shape the university as a "college experience"that just happens to have good academics.

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Posted by OWLFAN86

The OT has made me richer

Member since Jun 2004

177340 posts

Posted on 7/2/16 at 9:50 am to MTB

quote:
Most of this was set-in-motion when the took the risk of leaving the SEC. They took the lead of trying to construct a "Ivy League of the South" called the Magnolia Conference. They petitioned Rice, SMU, Vandy, Duke, etc to formalize the conference. Much like the Ivyies, they wanted to minimize athletics (limited scholly $, smaller facilities, etc) and focus on the competing academically with the Ivyies. Duke didnt take the bait because they wanted to keep their rivalry with UNC. Rice and SMU stayed in the SWC (Texas probably made them) and Vandy saw the benefit of being the only private school in the SEC and stayed. It was a huge gamble that didnt pay off.

almost everything about this post is wrong, guess that's the Tulane education paying off.

I believe it was Vandy that first offered the ideas late 40's early 50'

Rice/SMU turned it down because they were competitive well into the 50's ( rice beat Bama in the 54 cotton bowl) there was no need to downgrade athletics for academics for Rice at the time

Duke would not have had to eliminate they're rivalry with UNC, there were non conference rivalries well into the 2000's Pitt Penn State, V tech vs UVA, Florida vs Florida state still exists) Texas and OU was a non conference rivalry at the time.

the decision was mostly based on travel costs and difficulty at a time air travel was fairly new and very expensive. Don't care what the public reasoning might be today , at the time it was cost the extra travel time involved ( really would have a impact on studies) and safety.

Plus racism , in the South some private schools had already admitted blacks even if they weren't seen, but people knew about them

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Posted by Breesus