The Midwest Athletic Association (MWAA or MAA), also known as the Midwestern Athletic Association and the Mid-Western Athletic Association, was an intercollegiate athletic conference of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that existed from 1926 to 1970. It was later known as the Midwest Conference from 1962 to 1963 and as the Midwestern Conference from 1964 to 1970. The conference's membership was widespread due to the lack of HBCUs in the Midwest, with members located in Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Texas.
Lincoln University of Jefferson City, Missouri was admitted to the conference on December 10, 1932.
Members InstitutionLocationFoundedNicknameJoinedPreviousconferenceLeft ConferencejoinedCurrentconferenceBluefield State College1Bluefield, WV1895Big Blues1926Independents1932CIAACIAA(DII)Kentucky State College2Frankfort, KY1886Thorobreds1926Independents1970Independents(GLVC 1989)SIAC(DII)West Virginia State College3Institute, WV1891Yellow Jackets1926Independents1942CIAAMEC(DII)Wilberforce UniversityWilberforce, OH1856Bulldogs41926Independents1970Independents(AMEC 1999)HBCUAC(NAIA)Tennessee State University5Nashville, TN1912Tigers1934SIAC1966Independents(OVC 1986)OVC(D1)Louisville Municipal CollegeLouisville, KY1931Bantams1931none (new school)1951none (school closed)merged into LouisvilleLincoln UniversityJefferson City, MO1866Blue Tigers1932Independents1970MIAAGLVC(DII)Philander Smith CollegeLittle Rock, AR1877Panthers1940Independents1948SCACHBCUAC(NAIA)Central State University6Wilberforce, OH1887Marauders71947none (new school)1970Independents(AMEC 2000)SIAC(DII)Grambling CollegeGrambling, LA1901Tigers1952Independents1958SWACSWAC(DI)Jackson CollegeJackson, MS1877Tigers1952SCAC1958SWACSWAC(DI)Texas Southern UniversityHouston, TX1949Tigers1952Independents1954SWACSWAC(DI)Huston–Tillotson CollegeAustin, TX1875Rams1954SWAC1956Independents(GCAC 1957)HBCUAC(NAIA)
Known as Bluefield Institute until 1931. Known as Kentucky State Industrial College until 1938. Known as West Virginia Institute until 1929. Team name was Green Wave until 1947. Known as Tennessee A&I State College until 1968. Known as Wilberforce State College until 1951, and Central State College until 1965. Known as Green Wave until 1951.
Football champions Midwest Athletic Association
1926: 1927: Bluefield 1928: Bluefield 1929: 1930: 1931: Wilberforce 1932: Kentucky State 1933: 1934: Kentucky State 1935: 1936: West Virginia State 1937: Kentucky State
1938: 1939: 1940: 1941: 1942: 1943: No champion 1944: No champion 1945: Tennessee A&I 1946: Tennessee A&I 1947: Tennessee A&I 1948: Wilberforce State 1949: Tennessee A&I
1950: 1951: 1952: and Texas Southern 1953: Lincoln (MO) 1954: Tennessee A&I 1955: Grambling 1956: Tennessee A&I 1957: and Tennessee A&I 1958: 1959: Tennessee A&I 1960: Tennessee A&I 1961: Tennessee A&I
Midwest Conference 1962: 1963: Tennessee A&I
Midwestern Conference 1964: Tennessee A&I 1965: Tennessee A&I 1966: Tennessee A&I
See also List of defunct college football conferences
References