Mason–Dixon Conference
Mason–Dixon Conference | |
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Classification | NCAA Division II |
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, 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, 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.[2] 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.[3] The Mason–Dixon Conference sought to "solidify small college athletics and to stimulate a competitive spirit."[1]
Member schools
[edit]Final members
[edit]Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[4] | Left | Current conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Baltimore | Baltimore, Maryland | 1925 | Public | 2,825 | Super Bees | 1936–37 | 1977–78[5] | N/A[a] |
Frostburg State College[b] | Frostburg, Maryland | 1898 | Public | 6,133 | Bobcats | 1977–78 | 1977–78 | Mountain East (NCAA D-II) |
George Mason University | Fairfax, Virginia | 1957 | Public | 35,047 | Patriots | 1972–73 | 1977–78 | Atlantic 10 (A-10) (NCAA D-I) |
Mount St. Mary's University | Emmitsburg, Maryland | 1808 | Catholic | 1,889 | Mountaineers | 1940–41 | 1977–78 | Metro Atlantic (MAAC) (NCAA D-I) |
Towson State University[c] | Towson, Maryland | 1866 | Public | 22,923 | Tigers | 1939–40 | 1977–78 | Coastal (CAA) (NCAA D-I) |
University of Maryland–Baltimore County | Catonsville, Maryland | 1966 | Public | 13,767 | Retrievers | 1972–73 | 1977–78 | America East (NCAA D-I) |
- Notes
Other members
[edit]- Notes
Membership timeline
[edit]Champions by sport
[edit]Men's basketball
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Football
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See also
[edit]- List of defunct college football conferences
- Chesapeake Conference
- Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)
References
[edit]- ^ 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 Leader". The Evening Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. December 1, 1847. p. 24. Retrieved April 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "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 .