Mason–Dixon Conference

The Mason–Dixon Conference was an NCAA Division II (former NCAA College Division) athletics conference, formed in 1936 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 Division II men's basketball in 1983–84 with three of the previous members (Mount St. Mary's University, Randolph–Macon College, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County) plus Longwood University, Liberty University and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

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.Student Athlete Handbook – Methodist University Athletics. Section 1, Part E: Mason Dixon Track & Field Conference. The conference 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.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. The Mason–Dixon Conference sought to "solidify small college athletics and to stimulate a competitive spirit."

Member schools Final members Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Currentconference Baltimore, Maryland 1925 Public 2,825 Super Bees 1936 1978 N/A Frostburg State College Frostburg, Maryland 1898 Public 6,133 Bobcats 1977 1978 Mountain East (MEC) George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia 1957 Public 35,047 Patriots 1972 1978 Atlantic 10 (A10) Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg, Maryland 1808 Catholic 1,889 Mountaineers 1940 1978 Metro Atlantic (MAAC) Towson State University Towson, Maryland 1866 Public 22,923 Tigers 1939 1978 Coastal (CAA) Catonsville, Maryland 1966 Public 13,767 Retrievers 1972 1978 America East (AmEast)

Notes

Other members Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Currentconference American University Washington, D.C. 1893 UnitedMethodist 6,028 Eagles 1936 1966 Patriot Bridgewater College Bridgewater, Virginia 1880 Church ofthe Brethren 1,690 Bridgewater 1941 1976 Old Dominion (ODAC) Washington, D.C. 1887 Pontifical 5,771 Cardinals 1936 1976 Landmark Newark, Delaware 1743 Public 23,281 Fightin'Blue Hens 1936 1947 Conf. USA (CUSA) Emory and Henry College Emory, Virginia 1836 UnitedMethodist 1,000 Wasps 1975 1976 South Atlantic (SAC) Gallaudet University Washington, D.C. 1864 Quasigovernmental 1,740 Bison 1936 1974 United East Hampden–Sydney College Hampden Sydney, Virginia 1775 Presbyterian 1,120 Tigers 1947 1976 Old Dominion (ODAC) Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland 1876 Nonsectarian 20,174 Blue Jays 1936 1974 Centennial Loyola College Maryland Baltimore, Maryland 1852 Catholic 4,068 Greyhounds 1940 1977 Patriot Lynchburg College Lynchburg, Virginia 1903 Disciplesof Christ 2,500 Hornets 1948 1969 Old Dominion (ODAC) Old Dominion University Norfolk, Virginia 1930 Public 24,176 Monarchs &Lady Monarchs 1962 1969 Sun Belt (SBC) Randolph–Macon College Ashland, Virginia 1830 UnitedMethodist 1,146 Yellow Jackets 1936 1975 Old Dominion (ODAC) Roanoke College Salem, Virginia 1842 Private 2,000 Maroons 1948 1976 Old Dominion (ODAC) Salisbury State College Salisbury, Maryland 1925 Public 7,383 Sea Gulls 1974 1977 Coast to Coast (C2C) St. John's College of Maryland Annapolis, Maryland 1784 Nonsectarian 775 — 1936 — N/A Shepherd University Shepherdstown, West Virginia 1871 Public 3,159 Rams 1964 1968 Pennsylvania (PSAC) Washington and Lee University Lexington, Virginia 1749 Nonsectarian 2,200 Generals 1975 1976 Old Dominion (ODAC) Washington College Chestertown, Maryland 1782 Nonsectarian 1,479 Shoremen &Shorewomen 1936 1972 Centennial Western Maryland College Westminster, Maryland 1867 Nonsectarian 1,559 Green Terror 1936 1974 Centennial

Notes

Membership timeline

Champions by sport Men's basketball

1941 – Western Maryland 1942 – Loyola 1943 – Gallaudet 1944 – Mount Saint Mary's 1945 – American 1946 – American 1947 – Loyola 1948 – Loyola 1949 – Loyola 1950 – American 1951 – American 1952 – Baltimore 1953 – Loyola

1954 – Mount Saint Mary's 1955 – Mount Saint Mary's 1956 – Mount Saint Mary's 1957 – Mount Saint Mary's 1958 – American 1959 – American 1960 – American and Mount Saint Mary's 1961 – Catholic and Mount Saint Mary's 1962 – Mount Saint Mary's 1963 – Mount Saint Mary's 1964 – Catholic 1965 – Randolph–Macon 1966 – Randolph–Macon

1967 – Mount Saint Mary's 1968 – Roanoke 1969 – Old Dominion 1970 – Roanoke 1971 – Loyola 1972 – Roanoke 1973 – Loyola 1974 – Randolph–Macon 1975 – Randolph–Macon 1976 – Baltimore 1977 – Towson State 1978 – Towson State

Football

1946 – Delaware 1947 – 1948 – 1949 – Western Maryland 1950 – 1951 – Western Maryland 1952 – 1953 – 1954 – 1955 –

1956 – 1957 – 1958 – 1959 – 1960 – and 1961 – Western Maryland 1962 – 1963 – 1964 – 1965 –

1966 – 1967 – 1968 – Randolph–Macon 1969 – 1970 – 1971 – 1972 – 1973 – 1974 –

See also List of defunct college football conferences Chesapeake Conference Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)

References