Southern States Conference

Not to be confused with Southern States Athletic Conference.

Southern States ConferenceFormerly|

* Alabama Intercollegiate Conference (1938–1959)
* Alabama Collegiate Conference (1959–1972)
* Southern States Conference (1972–1997)

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Conference| NAIA
Founded| 1938
Ceased| 1997
Commissioner| Larry Maples (1996–1997)
Headquarters| Marion, Alabama
Region| Southern United States
Locations

The Southern States Conference (SSC) was an affiliate of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) 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]

## Member schools

[edit]

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Nickname  | Joined[a] | Left[b] | Current
conference  | Ref.

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Alabama Christian College /
Faulkner University | Montgomery, Alabama | 1942  | Eagles | 1981  | 1997  | Southern States (SSAC) | [7][10]
Alabama College /
University of Montevallo | Montevallo, Alabama | 1896  | Falcons | 1960  | 1995  | Gulf South (GSC)[c] | [7]
University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, Alabama | 1950  | Chargers | 1973  | 1993  | Gulf South (GSC)[c] | [11]
Athens College | Athens, Alabama | 1822  | Bears | 1948  | 1997  | N/A  | [12]
Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, Alabama | 1967  | Warhawks | 1975  | 1997  | Gulf South (GSC)[c] | [7][13]
Belhaven College | Jackson, Mississippi | 1883  | Blazers | 1974  | 1981  | C.C. South (CCS)[d] | [11][14][15]
Birmingham–Southern College | Birmingham, Alabama | 1856  | Panthers | 1977  | 1996  | Closed in 2024  | [7][16][17]
Columbus College | Columbus, Georgia | 1958  | Cougars | 1972  | 1973  | Peach Belt (PBC)[c] | [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  | Atlantic Sun (ASUN)[e]
(United (UAC)[e] in 2026) | [22][23]
Huntingdon College | Montgomery, Alabama | 1854  | Hawks | 1960  | 1995  | C.C. South (CCS)[d] | [7]
Jacksonville State Teachers College /
Jacksonville State College /
Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, Alabama | 1883  | Gamecocks | 1938  | 1970  | Conf. USA (C-USA)[e] | [1][24][25]
Life College | Marietta, Georgia | 1974  | Running Eagles | 1996  | 1997  | Southern States (SSAC) | [8]
Livingston State Teachers College /
Livingston State College | Livingston, Alabama | 1835  | Tigers | 1938  | 1970  | Gulf South (GSC)[c] | [1][25]
Marion Military Institute | Marion, Alabama | 1842  | Tigers | 1938  | 1956  | Alabama (ACCC)[f] | [1][26]
Saint Bernard College /
Southern Benedictine College | Cullman, Alabama | 1929  | Saints | 1938  | 1979  | N/A  | [1][27]
Selma University | Selma, Alabama | 1878  | Bulldogs | c. 1990 | 1997  | N/A  | [7][28][29]
Snead State Junior College | Boaz, Alabama | 1898  | Parsons | 1938  | 1956  | Alabama (ACCC)[f] | [1][26]
Southern Union Junior College | Wadley, Alabama | 1922  | Bison | 1940  | 1956  | Alabama (ACCC)[f] | [26][30][31]
Spring Hill College | Mobile, Alabama | 1830  | Badgers | 1942  | 1981  | Southern (SIAC)[c] | [6][32]
Talladega College | Talladega, Alabama | 1867  | Tornadoes | c. 1982 | 1997  | HBCU (HBCUAC) | [7]
Thomas College | Thomasville, Georgia | 1950  | Night Hawks | 1996  | 1997  | Southern States (SSAC) | [8]
Troy State Teachers College /
Troy State College /
Troy State University | Troy, Alabama | 1887  | Trojans | 1938  | 1972  | Sun Belt (SBC) | [1][6]
William Carey College | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | 1892  | Crusaders | 1972  | 1981  | Southern States (SSAC) | [33][34]
University of West Florida | Pensacola, Florida | 1963  | Argonauts | 1975  | 1994  | Gulf South (GSC)[c] | [7][13]

Notes

1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
3. ^ a b c d e f g Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
4. ^ a b Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
5. ^ a b c Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
6. ^ a b c Currently an NJCAA athletic conference.

## Champions

[edit]

### Football

[edit]

* 1939 – Troy State[35]
* 1940 – Livingston State[36]
* 1941 – Troy State[37]
* 1942–1946 – None (WWII)[4]
* 1947 – Jacksonville State
* 1948 – Jacksonville State[38]
* 1949 – Livingston State,[39] Troy State[40]
* 1950 – Livingston State
* 1951 – Livingston State

* 1952 – Florence State
* 1953 – Florence State
* 1954 – Florence State[41]
* 1955 – Florence State
* 1956 – Florence State
* 1957 – Florence State, Jacksonville State
* 1958 – Florence State
* 1959 – Florence State, Jacksonville State
* 1960 – Florence State[42]

* 1961 – Florence State[43]
* 1962 – Florence State,[44] Jacksonville State[44]
* 1963 – Florence State,[45] Jacksonville State[45]
* 1964 – Jacksonville State[46]
* 1965 – Jacksonville State[46]
* 1966 – Jacksonville State[47]
* 1967 – Troy State[48]
* 1968 – Troy State[49]
* 1969 – Troy State[50]

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## 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 .
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. ^ "Athens finds itself leading the league". The Huntsville Times. Huntsville, Alabama. January 30, 1991. p. 30. Retrieved July 19, 2025 - via Newspapers.com. "Selma is an associate member of the Southern States Conference and will be eligible for the title next season."
29. ^ "BSC / Selma University". The Birmingham News. Birmingham, Alabama. February 13, 1992. p. 185. Retrieved July 19, 2025 - via Newspapers.com. "Selma (3–15, 1–6) has struggled this year in only its first year as a Southern States Conference member..."
30. ^ "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.
31. ^ "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.
32. ^ 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.
33. ^ "O'Keefe is pleased with roundball practice". Hattiesburg American. Hattiesburg, Mississippi. October 25, 1972. p. 12. Retrieved December 30, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
34. ^ 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.
35. ^ "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.
36. ^ "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.
37. ^ 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.
38. ^ 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.
39. ^ "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.
40. ^ "Mancha Greets 75 Candidates As Livingston Opens Practice". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. September 7, 1950. p. 16. Retrieved January 16, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
41. ^ "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.
42. ^ "Heavy Action Among Small Colleges Sat". The Decatur Daily. Decatur, Alabama. November 17, 1960. p. 10. Retrieved January 19, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
43. ^ "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.
44. ^ a b Dean, Lester (December 17, 1962). "Jax Wins Conference". Collegian. Jacksonville, Alabama. p. 4. Retrieved January 18, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
45. ^ a b "Jax, Lions Tie For Lead". Collegian. Jacksonville, Alabama. November 25, 1963. p. 4. Retrieved January 18, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
46. ^ a b "Gamecocks Down the Lions 6–0". Collegian. Jacksonville, Alabama. December 14, 1965. p. 16. Retrieved January 18, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
47. ^ 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.
48. ^ "ACC Champs Battle NW In Louisiana". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. October 28, 1967. p. 10. Retrieved January 18, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
49. ^ "Top NAIA Grid Honors Go To Troy State". The Progress. Clearfield, Pennsylvania. December 31, 1968. p. 6. Retrieved January 18, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
50. ^ "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.

*[c.]: circa