Mason-Dixon Conference

Mason-Dixon Conference
Classification NCAA Division II
Years of Existence 1936–1974
Members 10–15
Sports fielded Baseball, Basketball, Football,
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 athletics conference, formed in 1936[1] and disbanded in 1974.

Originally for track and field only, it was established in 1936 by Waldo Hamilton and Dorsey Griffith 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[3]

Within four years it began to include other sports. Men's basketball was added in 1940.[4] The Mason-Dixon Conference sought to "solidify small college athletics and to stimulate a competitive spirit."[1]

Contents

Founding members

School Joined[5] Left Location
American University 1936 — Washington, D.C.
The Catholic University of America 1936 1976[4] Washington, D.C.
Gallaudet University 1936 1974 Washington, D.C.
Johns Hopkins University 1936 1974 Baltimore, Maryland
Randolph–Macon College 1936 1950 Ashland, Virginia
University of Baltimore 1936 1978[6] Baltimore, Maryland
University of Delaware 1936 1947 Newark, Delaware
Washington College 1936 1950 Chestertown, Maryland
Western Maryland College 1936 1974 Westminster, Maryland

Other members

School Joined[5] Left Location
Bridgewater College 1948 (?) — Bridgewater, Virginia
Emory & Henry College 1975 — Emory-Meadowview, Virginia
Guilford College 1991 — Greensboro, North Carolina
Hampden-Sydney College pre-1946 — Hampden-Sydney, Virginia
Loyola College 1940 1977 Baltimore, Maryland
Maryville College 1980 1987 Baltimore, Maryland
Mount St. Mary's University 1948 (?) 1974 Emmitsburg, Maryland
St. John's College 1936[1] — Annapolis, Maryland
Shepherd University 1964 1968 Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Towson State College 1969 1974 Towson, Maryland
University of Maryland, Baltimore County 1972 1978 Catonsville, Maryland
Washington and Lee University 1975 — Lexington, Virginia

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "American University Athletics Timeline". American University. 2009. http://www.aueagles.com/fan_central/history. Retrieved 28 December 2009. 
  2. ^ Student Athlete Handbook – Methodist University Athletics. Section 1, Part E: Mason Dixon Track & Field Conference.
  3. ^ Conference History – The Mason Dixon Track and Field/Cross Country Conference.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b Morse, Jon F. (2009). "OLD DOMINION (pre-1946-) MASON-DIXON (pre-1946-1974)". NCAA Division III Conference Alignments. jonfmorse.com. http://www.jonfmorse.com/level/sports/cfb/confs/d3.shtml#odac. Retrieved 28 December 2009. 
  6. ^ 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.