Mason–Dixon Conference

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Mason–Dixon Conference
Classification NCAA
Years of existence 1936–1978
Members 17 at height
Sports fielded Baseball, basketball, football, golf,
soccer, track, tennis, wrestling
Region South Atlantic States
States/districts Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina,
Virginia, Washington, D.C.

The Mason–Dixon Conference is a defunct NCAA Division II (former NCAA College Division) athletics conference, formed in 1936[1] and disbanded in October 1978. A track championship bearing the conference's name continued for several years after the demise of the all-sports league. Its members were predominantly from states bordering the eponymous Mason–Dixon line. A similarly named Mason-Dixon Athletic Conference began play in NCAA Division II men's basketball in 1983–84 with three of the previous members (Mount St. Mary's University, Randolph-Macon College, University of Maryland-Baltimore County) plus Longwood University, Radford University and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

Originally for track and field only, it was established in 1936 by and who both coached the sport at Johns Hopkins University and The Catholic University of America respectively. Its main purpose was to provide an annual championship meet for smaller colleges.[2] The circuit began with nine member schools. Besides the institutions for which the founders represented, the others were American University, Gallaudet University, Randolph–Macon College, University of Baltimore, University of Delaware, Washington College and Western Maryland College.

Within four years it began to include other sports. Men's basketball was added in 1940.[3] The Mason–Dixon Conference sought to "solidify small college athletics and to stimulate a competitive spirit."[1]

Founding members[]

School Joined[4] Left Location
American University 1936 1966 Washington, D.C.
The Catholic University of America 1936 1976[3] Washington, D.C.
Gallaudet University 1936 1974 Washington, D.C.
Johns Hopkins University 1936 1974 Baltimore, Maryland
Randolph–Macon College 1936 1975 Ashland, Virginia
University of Baltimore 1936 1978[5] Baltimore, Maryland
University of Delaware 1936 1947 Newark, Delaware
Washington College 1936 1972 Chestertown, Maryland
Western Maryland College 1936 1974 Westminster, Maryland

Other members[]

School Joined[4] Left Location
Bridgewater College 1941 1976 Bridgewater, Virginia
Emory & Henry College 1975 1976 Emory-Meadowview, Virginia
Frostburg State College 1977 1978 Frostburg, Maryland
George Mason University 1972 1978 Fairfax, Virginia
Hampden-Sydney College 1947 1976 Hampden-Sydney, Virginia
Loyola College 1940 1977 Baltimore, Maryland
Lynchburg College 1948 1969 Lynchburg, Virginia
Mount St. Mary's University 1940 1978 Emmitsburg, Maryland
Old Dominion University 1962 1969 Norfolk, Virginia
Salisbury State College 1974 1976 Salisbury, Maryland
St. John's College 1936[1] — Annapolis, Maryland
Shepherd University 1964 1968 Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Towson State Teachers 1939 1978 Towson, Maryland
University of Maryland, Baltimore County 1972 1978 Catonsville, Maryland
Washington & Lee University 1975 1976 Lexington, Virginia

Basketball champions[]

Football champions[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "American University Athletics Timeline". American University. 2009. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  2. ^ Student Athlete Handbook – Methodist University Athletics. Archived 2012-01-14 at the Wayback Machine Section 1, Part E: Mason Dixon Track & Field Conference.
  3. ^ a b McManes, Chris. "Flight of the Cardinals: A 100-year history of CUA men's basketball," The Catholic University of America Athletics, Monday, November 1, 2010.
  4. ^ a b Morse, Jon F. (2009). "OLD DOMINION (pre-1946-) MASON-DIXON (pre-1946-1974)". NCAA Division III Conference Alignments. jonfmorse.com. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  5. ^ McMullen, Paul. "With 8 in state taking plunge, UB was first to drown in Division I pool," The Baltimore Evening Sun, Tuesday, November 6, 1990.
  6. ^ "Mason-Dixon Crown To Hampden-Sydney". The Morning Herald. Hagerstown, Maryland. Associated Press. November 16, 1953. p. 11. Retrieved October 23, 2021 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  7. ^ "Hopkins Defeats Terror Gridders". The Evening Sun. Hanover, Pennsylvania. November 23, 1959. p. 14. Retrieved October 23, 2021 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  8. ^ "Terrors Beaten, 10-0, By Hopkins Blue Jays (continued)". The Evening Sun. Hanover, Pennsylvania. November 23, 1959. p. 15. Retrieved October 23, 2021 – via Newspapers.com open access.
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