Southern States Conference

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Not to be confused with Southern States Athletic Conference.
Southern States Conference
Formerly
  • Alabama Intercollegiate Conference (1938–1959)
  • Alabama Collegiate Conference (1959–1972)
  • Southern States Conference (1972–1997)
ConferenceNAIA
Founded1938
Ceased1997
CommissionerLarry Maples (since 1996)
HeadquartersMarion, Alabama
RegionSouthern United States
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

The Southern States Conference (SSC) was an affiliate of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics that included member institutions in the U.S. states of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida.[1][2] The league existed from 1938 to 1997.[2]

History[edit]

The league was established in December 1938 as the Alabama Intercollegiate Conference (AIC), comprising schools from just that state. The six charter members were: Jacksonville State Teachers College, Saint Bernard College, Troy State Teachers College, Snead Junior College, Livingston State Teachers College, and Marion Military Institute.[1][3] The league ceased operations in 1942 because of World War II and because several member schools dropped their intercollegiate athletics programs.[4] The AIC was reformed again in January 1948 after a five year lapse.[4] In 1959 it was renamed the Alabama Collegiate Conference (ACC),[5] and then in May 1972, the league was rebranded as Southern States Conference.[6]

At the conclusion of the 1994–95 school year, two schools left the SSC, causing league membership to dip below the six required to have an NAIA championship in every sport except basketball.[7] The SSC then existed in 1995–96 as a basketball-only conference.[7][8] It returned to an all-sports conference for 1996–97 before dissolving.[9]

Members[edit]

Institution Location Founded Nickname Joined Left Current
conference 		Ref.
Alabama Christian College /
Faulkner University 		Montgomery, Alabama 1942 Eagles 1981 1997 Southern States Athletic [7][10]
Alabama College /
University of Montevallo 		Montevallo, Alabama 1896 Falcons 1960 1995 Gulf South [7]
University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville, Alabama 1950 Chargers 1973 1993 Gulf South [11]
Athens College Athens, Alabama 1822 Bears 1948 1997 N/A [12]
Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery, Alabama 1967 Warhawks 1975 1997 Gulf South [7][13]
Belhaven College Jackson, Mississippi 1883 Blazers 1974 1981 Collegiate Conference of the South [11][14][15]
Birmingham–Southern College Birmingham, Alabama 1856 Panthers 1977 1996 Southern Athletic Association [7][16][17]
Columbus College Columbus, Georgia 1958 Cougars 1972 1973 Peach Belt [6][14]
Eldridge Baptist Academy /
Eldridge Junior College 		Eldridge, Alabama 1890 1939 1940 N/A [18][19]
[20][21]
Florence State Teachers College /
University of North Alabama 		Florence, Alabama 1830 Lions 1949 1971 ASUN [22][23]
Huntingdon College Montgomery, Alabama 1854 Hawks 1960 1995 Collegiate Conference of the South [7]
Jacksonville State Teachers College /
Jacksonville State College /
Jacksonville State University 		Jacksonville, Alabama 1883 Gamecocks 1938 1970 Conference USA [1][24][25]
Life College Marietta, Georgia 1974 Running Eagles 1996 1997 Southern States Athletic [8]
Livingston State Teachers College /
Livingston State College 		Livingston, Alabama 1835 Tigers 1938 1970 Gulf South [1][25]
Marion Military Institute Marion, Alabama 1842 Tigers 1938 1956 ACCC [1][26]
Saint Bernard College /
Southern Benedictine College 		Cullman, Alabama 1929 Saints 1938 1979 N/A [1][27]
Selma University Selma, Alabama 1878 Bulldogs 1997 N/A [7]
Snead State Junior College Boaz, Alabama 1898 Parsons 1938 1956 ACCC [1][26]
Southern Union Junior College Wadley, Alabama 1922 Bison 1940 1956 ACCC [26][28][29]
Spring Hill College Mobile, Alabama 1830 Badgers 1942 1981 SIAC [6][30]
Talladega College Talladega, Alabama 1867 Tornadoes c. 1982 1997 Continental Athletic Conference [7]
Thomas College Thomasville, Georgia 1950 Night Hawks 1996 1997 Southern States Athletic [8]
Troy State Teachers College /
Troy State College /
Troy State University 		Troy, Alabama 1887 Trojans 1938 1972 Sun Belt [1][6]
William Carey College Hattiesburg, Mississippi 1892 Crusaders 1972 1981 Southern States Athletic [31][32]
University of West Florida Pensacola, Florida 1963 Argonauts 1975 1994 Gulf South [7][13]

Champions[edit]

Football[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Six small Alabama colleges form intercollegiate conference at meeting". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. December 11, 1938. Retrieved August 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Sims, Kelvin (October 23, 1996). "Alabama–Huntsville harvests Duncan, Jones". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. p. 39. Retrieved December 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Key, Raiford (December 15, 1938). "Member Of New A. I. Conference". The Troy Messenger. Troy, Alabama. p. 6. Retrieved November 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  4. ^ a b c "State Intercollegiate Conference Reforms After Five-Year Lapse". The Troy Messenger. Troy, Alabama. January 28, 1948. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Dr. Boyd Chosen As Group Prexy". The Troy Messenger. Troy, Alabama. December 9, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d Mitchell, Alan (May 4, 1972). "ACC changes name, adds two members". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. p. 45. Retrieved December 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Sims, Kelvin (June 16, 1995). "Southern States Conference down but not out". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. p. 37. Retrieved December 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b c Sims, Kelvin (October 23, 1996). "Instant contender: Bohannon's return earns AUM respect in polls". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. p. 39. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Sims, Kelvin (April 23, 1996). "It's official – Southern States Conference has new Life". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Eagles Announce '81-'82 Schedule". Alabama Journal. Montgomery, Alabama. June 24, 1981. p. 44. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b "Carey kicks off season No. 25 against Bethel". Hattiesburg American. Hattiesburg, Mississippi. November 14, 1974. p. 17. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Alabama's Intercollegiate Conference". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. January 16, 1948. p. 24. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b Ingram, Junior (October 9, 1975). "Montevallo Tipoff Tourney Initiates Argos' 9th Season". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. p. 33. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b "SSC Names Officials Head". Alabama Journal. Montgomery, Alabama. May 3, 1973. p. 37. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Blazer coach hopes to reverse losing trend". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. March 10, 1982. p. 108. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "'Southern Eyes Championships In Three Varsity Sports". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. October 9, 1977. p. 82. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "TranSouth Athletic Conference Closes after 17 Seasons". Victory Sports Network. July 31, 2013.
  18. ^ Kaetz, James P. "Eldridge". encyclopediaofalabama.org. Encyclopedia of Alabama. The first school, the Eldridge Baptist Academy, was built in 1890, and the Eldridge Normal School opened in 1897. The town prospered until the onset of the Great Depression in 1929. The Eldridge Baptist Academy became a junior college in an attempt to remain open but eventually failed. Eldridge incorporated in 1972.
  19. ^ "Eldridge Added to Minor League". The Huntsville Times. Huntsville, Alabama. December 10, 1939. p. 10. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Choate and Key Named on Alabama Intercollegiate Loop". The Huntsville Times. Huntsville, Alabama. January 11, 1940. p. 3. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Marion Cadets Possibly Have An Open Date". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. October 14, 1940. p. 6. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Final ACC Statistics – Standings". Alabama Journal. Montgomery, Alabama. May 26, 1971. p. 34. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Mitchell, Alan (February 6, 1972). "Alabama State Needs Wins As Tourney Draws Nearer". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. p. 47. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Smith, George (February 21, 1971). "ACC future is up in air". The Anniston Star. Anniston, Alabama. p. 19. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ a b Thomas, Roy (July 12, 1971). "ACC on Rocky Ground". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. p. 13. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b c "Snead Joins Junior College Loop". The Albertville Herald. Albertville, Alabama. October 25, 1956. p. 2. Retrieved January 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Benedictine Drops Sports". Alabama Journal. Montgomery, Alabama. March 14, 1979. p. 50. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "State Collegiate Conference Court Meet Goes to Troy". The Birmingham News. Birmingham, Alabama. February 10, 1941. p. 14. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Captain Murfee Is Reelected Officer Of AIA Conference". Selma Times-Journal. Selma, Alabama. December 8, 1940. p. 17. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Blackburn, Doug (November 19, 1981). "Jock in Mind & Professor in Body". The Town Talk. Alexandria, Louisiana. p. 17. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "O'Keefe is pleased with roundball practice". Hattiesburg American. Hattiesburg, Mississippi. October 25, 1972. p. 12. Retrieved December 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ Phelps, Gene (November 24, 1981). "Carey jumps out to big lead, rips outmanned SUNO". Hattiesburg American. Hattiesburg, Mississippi. p. 13. Retrieved December 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Troy looks forward to winning sixth game of season". Dothan Eagle. Dothan, Alabama. November 28, 1939. p. 5. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Bud Moss Is Member Livingston State Squad". The Clarke County Democrat. Grove Hill, Alabama. November 21, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ House, Jack (December 2, 1941). "Harmony Is Keynote On State Commission; Guercio Reappointed". The Birmingham News. Birmingham, Alabama. p. 28. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ Hutto, Earl (December 13, 1948). "Red Wave Drills Hard For Game With Jacksonville In Paper Bowl". The Troy Messenger. Troy, Alabama. p. 13. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Livingston State To Meet Jacksonville In Paper Bowl". The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. December 11, 1949. p. 62. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "Mancha Greets 75 Candidates As Livingston Opens Practice". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. September 7, 1950. p. 16. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "F.S.T.C. Football Squad Is Honored". The Florence Herald. Florence, Alabama. December 2, 1954. p. 2. Retrieved March 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Heavy Action Among Small Colleges Sat". The Decatur Daily. Decatur, Alabama. November 17, 1960. p. 10. Retrieved January 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ "FSU Footballers Feted At Supper". The Advertiser and Marion County News-Journal. Haleyville, Alabama. December 20, 1961. p. 7. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ a b Dean, Lester (December 17, 1962). "Jax Wins Conference". Collegian. Jacksonville, Alabama. p. 4. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ a b "Jax, Lions Tie For Lead". Collegian. Jacksonville, Alabama. November 25, 1963. p. 4. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ a b "Gamecocks Down the Lions 6–0". Collegian. Jacksonville, Alabama. December 14, 1965. p. 16. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ Adams, Sam (December 31, 1966). "National Title For Crimson Tide Highlights Alabama's Sports Year". Alabama Journal. Montgomery, Alabama. p. 16. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ "ACC Champs Battle NW In Louisiana". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. October 28, 1967. p. 10. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ "Top NAIA Grid Honors Go To Troy State". The Progress. Clearfield, Pennsylvania. December 31, 1968. p. 6. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ "Troy Dominates All-ACC Picks With 8 Players". Selma Times-Journal. Selma, Alabama. December 12, 1969. p. 7. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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