The Solid South

When Harvey Schiller was SEC commissioner in the 1980s, Host convinced him and the SEC athletic directors to adopt a corporate sponsorship program. This generated greater revenue to support the athletics programs at member institutions. When Roy Kramer became the new SEC commissioner, he immediately took steps to expand the conference. After football coach Bobby Bowden vetoed Florida State’s invitation to the SEC, Arkansas and South Carolina joined the conference. At the same time, Host was involved with a possible deal that would move UK to the Atlantic Coast Conference. As the SEC expanded, Host Communications did too, signing both the University of Tennessee and Alabama. Host acquired the rights to Auburn as well, but a disagreement with football coach Terry Bowden ended that partnership. Host also helped broker a deal to bring Jackie Sherrill to Mississippi State. All told, the SEC was vital to HCI’s success.