Mason–Dixon Conference
Introduction  '''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 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. 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.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 1936–37 1977–78 N/A '''Frostburg State College''' 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''' Towson, Maryland 1866 Public 22,923 Tigers 1939–40 1977–78 Coastal (CAA)(NCAA D-I)  Catonsville, Maryland 1966 Public 13,767 Retrievers 1972–73 1977–78 America East(NCAA D-I);Notes:===Other members=== Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Currentconference '''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)  Washington, D.C. 1887 Pontifical 5,771 Cardinals 1936–37 1975–76 Landmark(NCAA D-III)  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''' Baltimore, Maryland 1852 Catholic(Jesuit) 4,068 Greyhounds 1940–41 1976–77 Patriot(NCAA D-I) '''Lynchburg College''' 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''' 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 — 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''' Westminster, Maryland 1867 Nonsectarian 1,559 Green Terror 1936–37 1973–74 Centennial(NCAA D-III);Notes:===Membership timeline===DateFormat = yyyyImageSize  = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20Period     = from:1936 till:1978TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontalPlotArea   = 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"
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 – *1950 – *1951 – Western Maryland*1952 – *1953 – *1954 – *1955 – *1956 – *1957 – *1958 – *1959 – *1960 –  and *1961 – *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