Southern Conference
Data
Classification	NCAA Division I FCS
Established	1921
Members	11
Sports fielded	19 (10 men's, 9 women's)
Region	Southern United States
States	4 - Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
Headquarters	Spartanburg, South Carolina
Commissioner	John Iamarino
Locations

The Southern Conference (or SoCon) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. SoCon football teams compete in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as I-AA). Member institutions are located in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Formed in 1921 as a result of a split from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Southern Conference ranks as the fourth oldest major college athletic conference in the United States.

Charter members were Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisiana State, Maryland, Mississippi, Mississippi State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Sewanee, South Carolina, Tennessee, Tulane, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Washington & Lee.

The SoCon is particularly notable for having spawned two other major conferences. In 1933, 13 schools located south and west of the Appalachians (Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Sewanee, Tennessee, Tulane, and Vanderbilt) departed the SoCon to form the Southeastern Conference. In 1952 and 1953, seven schools (Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, NC State, South Carolina, and Wake Forest) withdrew from the SoCon to form the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Other former members (in addition to those listed above) were East Carolina (1964-1976), East Tennessee State (1978-2005), George Washington (1936-1970), Marshall (1976-1997), Richmond (1936-1976), Virginia (1921-1937), VMI (1924-2003), Virginia Tech (1921-1965), Washington & Lee (1921-1958), William & Mary (1936-1977), and West Virginia (1950-1968).

On March 15 2007, it was announced that Samford would be leaving the Ohio Valley Conference and joining the Southern Conference for the 2008 season.[1]

Current members

There are eleven full member schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Joined	Nicknames
Appalachian State University	Boone, North Carolina	1899	Public	14,653	1971	Mountaineers
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga	Chattanooga, Tennessee	1886	Public	8,689	1977	Mocs and Lady Mocs
The Citadel	Charleston, South Carolina	1842	Public/Federal	3,138	1936	Bulldogs
College of Charleston	Charleston, South Carolina	1770	Public	11,320	1998	Cougars
Davidson College[1]	Davidson, North Carolina	1837	Private/Presbyterian	1,700	1936	Wildcats and Lady Wildcats
Elon University	Elon, North Carolina	1889	Private/United Church of Christ	5,230	2003	Phoenix
Furman University	Greenville, South Carolina	1826	Private/Non-sectarian	3,100	1936	Paladins and Lady Paladins
Georgia Southern University	Statesboro, Georgia	1906	Public	16,500	1992	Eagles and Lady Eagles
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro	Greensboro, North Carolina	1891	Public	16,100	1997	Spartans
Western Carolina University	Cullowhee, North Carolina	1889	Public	8,396	1977	Catamounts and Lady Catamounts
Wofford College	Spartanburg, South Carolina	1854	Private/Methodist	1,133	1997	Terriers

Associate members

There is one associate member school (wrestling only):

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nicknames
Virginia Military Institute[2]	Lexington, Virginia	1839	Public	1,377	Keydets

Future members

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Joining	Nickname
Samford University	Homewood, Alabama	1841	Private/Baptist	4,440	2008	Bulldogs

Conference champions

Commissioner's and Germann Cups

The Commissioner's and Germann Cups are awarded each year to the top men's and women's program in the conference. The Commissioner's Cup was inaugurated in 1970. The Germann Cup, named for former Southern Conference Commissioner Ken Germann, was first awarded in 1987.

Conference facilities

School	Football Stadium	Capacity	Basketball Arena	Capacity
Appalachian State	Kidd Brewer Stadium	16,650	Holmes Center	8,325
Chattanooga	Finley Stadium	20,668	McKenzie Arena	11,218
The Citadel	Johnson Hagood Stadium	21,000	McAlister Field House	6,000
College of Charleston	Non-football School	N/A	John Kresse Arena	5,600
Davidson	Richardson Stadium[1]	6,000	Belk Arena	6,000
Elon	Rhodes Stadium	11,250	Alumni Gym	1,585
Furman	Paladin Stadium	16,000	Timmons Arena	5,000
Georgia Southern	Paulson Stadium	18,000	Hanner Fieldhouse	4,358
UNC Greensboro	Non-football School	N/A	Fleming Gymnasium	2,320
Western Carolina	Whitmire Stadium	12,000	Ramsey Center	7,826
Wofford	Gibbs Stadium	13,000	Benjamin Johnson Arena	3,500

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Davidson does not compete in the SoCon for football. Instead, they compete in the Pioneer Football League.
2. ^ VMI competes in the Big South Conference for all other sports.

External links

• Official site of the Southern Conference

Southern Conference
Appalachian State • Chattanooga • The Citadel • College of Charleston • Davidson • Elon • Furman • Georgia Southern • UNC Greensboro • Western Carolina • Wofford

NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Conferences

Big Sky Conference • Big South Conference • Colonial Athletic Association • Gateway Football Conference • Great West Football Conference • Ivy League • Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference • Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference • Northeast Conference • Ohio Valley Conference • Patriot League • Pioneer Football League • Southern Conference • Southland Conference • Southwestern Athletic Conference • Independents

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