ATLANTA(AP) — The Southeastern Conference paid tribute to former Commissioner Roy Kramer, who died on Thursday at 96, before Saturday's SEC Championship Game between No. 3 Georgia and No. 10 Alabama.

Kramer, a Vanderbilt athletic director before his time guiding the SEC from 1990-2002, reshaped college football by dreaming up the precursor to today’s playoff system — the Bowl Championship Series. He also championed the SEC title game.

There was a moment of silence for Kramer, who was referred to as the “father of the bowl championship series,” before the game.

Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Storey Lee said Kramer’s leadership role in college athletics was unique.

“There are very few people who played as large a role in the growth of college athletics as Roy Kramer,” Lee sai

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