Mason–Dixon Conference

{{Short description|Defunct NCAA athletic conference}}

class="infobox"

! colspan="2" align=center bgcolor="#000000" | Mason–Dixon Conference

colspan="2" align=center |
ClassificationNCAA Division II
Years of existence1936–1978
Members17 at height
Sports fieldedBaseball, basketball, football, golf,
soccer, track, tennis, wrestling
RegionSouth Atlantic States
States/districtsDelaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C.

The Mason–Dixon Conference was a NCAA Division II{{Cite web |title=Series 4: Mason-Dixon Athletic Conference Records, 1936 - 1978 {{!}} ArchivesSpace Public Interface |url=https://gaarchives.gallaudet.edu/repositories/2/archival_objects/21069 |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=gaarchives.gallaudet.edu}} (former NCAA College Division) athletics conference, formed in 1936{{cite web |title = American University Athletics Timeline |publisher = American University |year = 2009 |url = http://www.aueagles.com/fan_central/history |accessdate = 28 December 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131118004949/http://aueagles.com/fan_central/history |archive-date = 18 November 2013 |url-status = dead }} 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.[http://www.methodist.edu/monarchs/s-a%20handbook.htm Student Athlete Handbook – Methodist University Athletics.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114033429/http://www.methodist.edu/monarchs/S-A%20Handbook.htm |date=2012-01-14 }} 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.[http://cua.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/releases/100_years_of_hoops_article 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=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

! Institution

! Location

! Founded

! Affiliation

! Enrollment

! Nickname

! Joined{{cite web |last = Morse |first = Jon F. |title = OLD DOMINION (pre-1946-) MASON-DIXON (pre-1946-1974) |work = NCAA Division III Conference Alignments |publisher = jonfmorse.com |year = 2009 |url = http://www.jonfmorse.com/level/sports/cfb/confs/d3.shtml#odac |accessdate = 28 December 2009}}

! Left

! Current
conference

{{sort|Baltimore|University of Baltimore}}

| Baltimore, Maryland

| 1925

| Public

| 2,825

| Super Bees

| 1936–37

| 1977–78[https://archive.today/20120701123951/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1990-11-06/sports/1990310183_1_mason-dixon-division-athletic-director 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.]

| N/A{{efn|group=founding|Baltimore discontinued its athletics program after the 1982–83 school year.}}

Frostburg State College{{efn|group=former|Currently known as Frostburg State University since 1987.}}

| Frostburg, Maryland

| 1898

| Public

| 6,133

| Bobcats

| 1977–78

| 1977–78

| Mountain East

George Mason University

| Fairfax, Virginia

| 1957

| Public

| 35,047

| Patriots

| 1972–73

| 1977–78

| Atlantic 10{{efn|group=former|name=D1|Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.}}

Mount St. Mary's University

| Emmitsburg, Maryland

| 1808

| Catholic

| 1,889

| Mountaineers

| 1940–41

| 1977–78

| MAAC{{efn|group=former|name=D1}}

Towson State University{{efn|group=former|Currently known as Towson University since 1997.}}

| Towson, Maryland

| 1866

| Public

| 22,923

| Tigers

| 1939–40

| 1977–78

| CAA{{efn|group=former|name=D1}}

{{sort|UMBC|University of Maryland–Baltimore County}}

| Catonsville, Maryland

| 1966

| Public

| 13,767

| Retrievers

| 1972–73

| 1977–78

| America East{{efn|group=former|name=D1}}

;Notes:

{{notelist|group=former}}

=Other members=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

! Institution

! Location

! Founded

! Affiliation

! Enrollment

! Nickname

! Joined{{cite web |last = Morse |first = Jon F. |title = OLD DOMINION (pre-1946-) MASON-DIXON (pre-1946-1974) |work = NCAA Division III Conference Alignments |publisher = jonfmorse.com |year = 2009 |url = http://www.jonfmorse.com/level/sports/cfb/confs/d3.shtml#odac |accessdate = 28 December 2009}}

! Left

! Current
conference

American University

| Washington, D.C.

| 1893

| United Methodist

| 6,028

| Eagles

| 1936–37

| 1965–66

| Patriot{{efn|group=former|name=D1|Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.}}

Bridgewater College

| Bridgewater, Virginia

| 1880

| Church of the Brethren

| 1,690

| Bridgewater

| 1941–42

| 1975–76

| ODAC{{efn|group=former|name=D3|Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.}}

{{sort|Catholic|The Catholic University of America}}

| Washington, D.C.

| 1887

| Pontifical

| 5,771

| Cardinals

| 1936–37

| 1975–76

| Landmark{{efn|group=former|name=D3}}

{{sort|Delaware|University of Delaware}}

| Newark, Delaware

| 1743

| Public

| 23,281

| Fightin' Blue Hens

| 1936–37

| 1946–47

| CAA{{efn|group=former|name=D1}}
{{small|(CUSA in 2025)}}

Emory and Henry College{{efn|group=former|Currently known as Emory and Henry University since 2024.}}

| Emory, Virginia

| 1836

| United Methodist

| 1,000

| Wasps

| 1975–76

| 1975–76

| SAC{{efn|group=former|name=D3}}

Gallaudet University

| Washington, D.C.

| 1864

| Quasigovernmental

| 1,740

| Bison

| 1936–37

| 1973–74

| United East{{efn|group=former|name=D3}}

Hampden–Sydney College

| Hampden Sydney, Virginia

| 1775

| Presbyterian

| 1,120

| Tigers

| 1947–48

| 1975–76

| ODAC{{efn|group=former|name=D3}}

Johns Hopkins University

| Baltimore, Maryland

| 1876

| Nonsectarian

| 20,174

| Blue Jays

| 1936–37

| 1973–74

| Centennial{{efn|group=former|name=D3}}

Loyola College Maryland{{efn|group=former|Currently known as Loyola University Maryland since 2009.}}

| Baltimore, Maryland

| 1852

| Catholic
(Jesuit)

| 4,068

| Greyhounds

| 1940–41

| 1976–77

| Patriot{{efn|group=former|name=D1}}

Lynchburg College{{efn|group=former|Currently known as the University of Lynchburg since 2018.}}

| Lynchburg, Virginia

| 1903

| Disciples of Christ

| 2,500

| Hornets

| 1948–49

| 1968–69

| ODAC{{efn|group=former|name=D3}}

Old Dominion University

| Norfolk, Virginia

| 1930

| Public

| 24,176

| Monarchs &
Lady Monarchs

| 1962–63

| 1968–69

| Sun Belt{{efn|group=former|name=D1}}

Randolph–Macon College

| Ashland, Virginia

| 1830

| United Methodist

| 1,146

| Yellow Jackets

| 1936–37

| 1974–75

| ODAC{{efn|group=former|name=D3}}

Roanoke College

| Salem, Virginia

| 1842

| Private

| 2,000

| Maroons

| 1948-49

| 1975–76

| ODAC{{efn|group=former|name=D3}}

Salisbury State College{{efn|group=former|Currently known as Salisbury University since 2001.}}

| Salisbury, Maryland

| 1925

| Public

| 7,383

| Sea Gulls

| 1974–75

| 1975–76

| Coast to Coast (C2C){{efn|group=former|name=D3}}

St. John's College of Maryland

| Annapolis, Maryland

| 1784

| Nonsectarian

| 775

| —

| 1936–37

| —

| N/A

Shepherd University

| Shepherdstown, West Virginia

| 1871

| Public

| 3,159

| Rams

| 1964–65

| 1967–68

| PSAC

Washington and Lee University

| Lexington, Virginia

| 1749

| Nonsectarian

| 2,200

| Generals

| 1975–76

| 1975–76

| ODAC{{efn|group=former|name=D3}}

Washington College

| Chestertown, Maryland

| 1782

| Nonsectarian

| 1,479

| Shoremen &
Shorewomen

| 1936–37

| 1971–72

| Centennial{{efn|group=former|name=D3}}

Western Maryland College{{efn|group=founding|Currently known as McDaniel College since 2002.}}

| Westminster, Maryland

| 1867

| Nonsectarian

| 1,559

| Green Terror

| 1936–37

| 1973–74

| Centennial{{efn|group=former|name=D3}}

;Notes:

{{notelist|group=former}}

=Membership timeline=

DateFormat = yyyy

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20

Period = from:1936 till:1978

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

PlotArea = right:20 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph, use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"<#

Colors =

id:barcolor value:rgb(0.99,0.7,0.7)

id:line value:black

id:bg value:white

id:Full value:rgb(0.742,0.727,0.852) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports

id:FullxF value:rgb(0.551,0.824,0.777) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football

id:AssocF value:rgb(0.98,0.5,0.445) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only

id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.5,0.691,0.824) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in some sports, but not all (consider identifying in legend or a footnote)

id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference

id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference where OtherC1 has already been used, to distinguish the two

PlotData=

width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

bar:1 color:Full from:1936 till:1966 text:American (1936–1966)

bar:2 color:Full from:1936 till:end text:Baltimore (1936–1978)

bar:3 color:Full from:1936 till:1976 text:Catholic (D.C.) (1936–1976)

bar:4 color:Full from:1936 till:1947 text:Delaware (1936–1947)

bar:5 color:Full from:1936 till:1974 text:Gallaudet (1936–1974)

bar:6 color:Full from:1936 till:1974 text:Johns Hopkins (1936–1974)

bar:7 color:Full from:1936 till:1975 text:Randolph–Macon (1936–1975)

bar:8 color:Full from:1936 till:1972 text:Washington (Md.) (1936–1972)

bar:9 color:Full from:1936 till:1974 text:Western Maryland (1936–1974)

bar:10 color:Full from:1936 till:1939 text:St. John's (Md.) (1936–1939?)

bar:11 color:Full from:1939 till:end text:Towson State (1939–1978)

bar:12 color:Full from:1940 till:1977 text:Loyola (Md.) (1940–1977)

bar:13 color:Full from:1940 till:end text:Mount St. Mary's (1940–1978)

bar:14 color:Full from:1941 till:1976 text:Bridgewater (1941–1976)

bar:15 color:Full from:1947 till:1976 text:Hampden–Sydney (1947–1976)

bar:16 color:Full from:1948 till:1969 text:Lynchburg (1948–1969)

bar:17 color:Full from:1948 till:1975 text:Roanoke (1948–1975)

bar:18 color:Full from:1962 till:1969 text:Old Dominion (1962–1969)

bar:19 color:Full from:1964 till:1968 text:Shepherd (1964–1968)

bar:20 color:Full from:1972 till:end text:George Mason (1972–1978)

bar:21 color:Full from:1972 till:end text:UMBC (1972–1978)

bar:22 shift:(-40) color:Full from:1974 till:1976 text:Salisbury State (1974–1976)

bar:23 shift:(-40) color:Full from:1974 till:1976 text:Emory & Henry (1974–1976)

bar:24 shift:(-80) color:Full from:1975 till:1976 text:Washington & Lee (1975–1976)

bar:25 shift:(-110) color:Full from:1977 till:end text:Frostburg State (1977–1978)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:2 start:1936

Champions by sport

=Men's basketball=

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

  • 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

{{col-break}}

  • 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

{{col-break}}

  • 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

{{col-end}}

=Football=

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

  • 1946 – Delaware
  • 1947 – {{cfb link|year=1947|team=Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets|title=Randolph–Macon}}{{cite news |author= |title=Mason-Dixon Leader |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-sun/123760292/ |newspaper=The Evening Sun |location=Baltimore, Maryland|date=December 1, 1847 |page=24 |access-date=April 29, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
  • 1948 – {{cfb link|year=1948|team=Johns Hopkins Blue Jays|title=Johns Hopkins}}
  • 1949 – Western Maryland
  • 1950 – {{cfb link|year=1950|team=Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets|title=Randolph–Macon}}
  • 1951 – Western Maryland
  • 1952 – {{cfb link|year=1952|team=Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets|title=Randolph–Macon}}
  • 1953 – {{cfb link|year=1953|team=Hampden–Sydney Tigers|title=Hampden–Sydney}}{{cite news |author= |title=Mason-Dixon Crown To Hampden-Sydney |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87592207/the-morning-herald/ |newspaper=The Morning Herald |location=Hagerstown, Maryland |agency=Associated Press |date=November 16, 1953 |page=11 |access-date=October 23, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
  • 1954 – {{cfb link|year=1954|team=Hampden–Sydney Tigers|title=Hampden–Sydney}}
  • 1955 – {{cfb link|year=1955|team=Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets|title=Randolph–Macon}}

{{col-break}}

  • 1956 – {{cfb link|year=1956|team=Johns Hopkins Blue Jays|title=Johns Hopkins}}
  • 1957 – {{cfb link|year=1957|team=Hampden–Sydney Tigers|title=Hampden–Sydney}}
  • 1958 – {{cfb link|year=1958|team=Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets|title=Randolph–Macon}}
  • 1959 – {{cfb link|year=1959|team=Johns Hopkins Blue Jays|title=Johns Hopkins}}{{cite news |author= |title=Hopkins Defeats Terror Gridders |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87624349/the-evening-sun/ |newspaper=The Evening Sun |location=Hanover, Pennsylvania |date=November 23, 1959 |page=14 |access-date=October 23, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |author= |title=Terrors Beaten, 10-0, By Hopkins Blue Jays (continued) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87624391/the-evening-sun/ |newspaper=The Evening Sun |location=Hanover, Pennsylvania |date=November 23, 1959 |page=15 |access-date=October 23, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
  • 1960 – {{cfb link|year=1960|team=Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets|title=Randolph–Macon}} and {{cfb link|year=1960|team=Western Maryland Green Terror|title=Western Maryland}}
  • 1961 – Western Maryland
  • 1962 – {{cfb link|year=1962|team=Western Maryland Green Terror|title=Western Maryland}}
  • 1963 – {{cfb link|year=1963|team=Western Maryland Green Terror|title=Western Maryland}}
  • 1964 – {{cfb link|year=1964|team=Hampden–Sydney Tigers|title=Hampden–Sydney}}
  • 1965 – {{cfb link|year=1965|team=Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets|title=Randolph–Macon}}

{{col-break}}

  • 1966 – {{cfb link|year=1966|team=Hampden–Sydney Tigers|title=Hampden–Sydney}}
  • 1967 – {{cfb link|year=1967|team=Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets|title=Randolph–Macon}}
  • 1968 – Randolph–Macon
  • 1969 – {{cfb link|year=1969|team=Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets|title=Randolph–Macon}}
  • 1970 – {{cfb link|year=1970|team=Hampden–Sydney Tigers|title=Hampden–Sydney}}
  • 1971 – {{cfb link|year=1971|team=Hampden–Sydney Tigers|title=Hampden–Sydney}}
  • 1972 – {{cfb link|year=1972|team=Hampden–Sydney Tigers|title=Hampden–Sydney}}
  • 1973 – {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Hampden–Sydney Tigers|title=Hampden–Sydney}}
  • 1974 – {{cfb link|year=1974|team=Towson State Tigers|title=Towson State}}

{{col-end}}

See also

References