Mason–Dixon Conference
Mason–Dixon Conference | |
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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[]
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Football champions[]
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See also[]
- List of defunct college football conferences
- Chesapeake Conference
- Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)
References[]
- ^ a b c "American University Athletics Timeline". American University. 2009. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
- ^ Student Athlete Handbook – Methodist University Athletics. Archived 2012-01-14 at the Wayback Machine Section 1, Part E: Mason Dixon Track & Field Conference.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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 .
- ^ "Hopkins Defeats Terror Gridders". The Evening Sun. Hanover, Pennsylvania. November 23, 1959. p. 14. Retrieved October 23, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "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 .
- Mason–Dixon Conference
- 1936 establishments in the United States
- 1974 disestablishments in the United States