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Mason–Dixon Conference
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 ,
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 ,
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 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]
Member schools
Final members
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 Teachers College
[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
^ Baltimore discontinued its athletics program after the 1982–83 school year.
^ Currently known as Frostburg State University since 1987.
^ Currently known as Towson University since 1997.
Other members
Institution
Location
Founded
Affiliation
Enrollment
Nickname
Joined
[4]
Left
Current conference
American University
Washington, D.C.
1893
United Methodist
6,028
Eagles
1936–37
1965–66
Patriot (NCAA D-I)
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, Virginia
1880
Church of the Brethren
1,690
Bridgewater
1941–42
1975–76
Old Dominion (ODAC) (NCAA D-III)
The Catholic University of America
Washington, D.C.
1887
Pontifical
5,771
Cardinals
1936–37
1975–76
[3]
Landmark (NCAA D-III)
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware
1743
Public
23,281
Fightin' Blue Hens
1936–37
1946–47
Colonial (CAA) (NCAA D-I)
Emory and Henry College
Emory, Virginia
1836
United Methodist
1,000
Wasps
1975–76
1975–76
South Atlantic (SAC) (NCAA D-II)
Gallaudet University
Washington, D.C.
1864
Quasigovernmental
1,740
Bison
1936–37
1973–74
United East (NCAA D-III)
Hampden–Sydney College
Hampden Sydney, Virginia
1775
Presbyterian
1,120
Tigers
1947–48
1975–76
Old Dominion (ODAC) (NCAA D-III)
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland
1876
Nonsectarian
20,174
Blue Jays
1936–37
1973–74
Centennial (NCAA D-III)
Loyola College Maryland
[a]
Baltimore, Maryland
1852
Catholic (
Jesuit )
4,068
Greyhounds
1940–41
1976–77
Patriot (NCAA D-I)
Lynchburg College
[b]
Lynchburg, Virginia
1903
Disciples of Christ
2,500
Hornets
1948–49
1968–69
Old Dominion (ODAC) (NCAA D-III)
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia
1930
Public
24,176
Monarchs &
Lady Monarchs
1962–63
1968–69
Sun Belt
Randolph–Macon College
Ashland, Virginia
1830
United Methodist
1,146
Yellow Jackets
1936–37
1974–75
Old Dominion (ODAC) (NCAA D-III)
Roanoke College
Salem, Virginia
1842
Private
2,000
Maroons
1948-49
1975–76
Old Dominion (ODAC) (NCAA D-III)
Salisbury State College
[c]
Salisbury, Maryland
1925
Public
7,383
Sea Gulls
1974–75
1975–76
Coast to Coast (C2C) (NCAA D-III)
St. John's College of Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
1784
Nonsectarian
775
?
1936–37
[1]
—
N/A
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, West Virginia
1871
Public
3,159
Rams
1964–65
1967–68
Pennsylvania (PSAC) (NCAA D-II)
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia
1749
Nonsectarian
2,200
Generals
1975–76
1975–76
Old Dominion (ODAC) (NCAA D-III)
Washington College
Chestertown, Maryland
1782
Nonsectarian
1,479
Shoremen &
Shorewomen
1936–37
1971–72
Centennial (NCAA D-III)
Western Maryland College
[d]
Westminster, Maryland
1867
Nonsectarian
1,559
Green Terror
1936–37
1973–74
Centennial (NCAA D-III)
Notes
^ Currently known as Loyola University Maryland since 2009.
^ Currently known as the University of Lynchburg since 2018.
^ Currently known as Salisbury University since 2001.
^ Currently known as McDaniel College since 2002.
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
See also
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 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
.