Chesapeake Conference

The Chesapeake Conference was an intercollegiate athletic conference composed of member schools located in the state of Virginia and Washington, D.C. The league existed from 1933 to 1937.^[1]

The Chesapeake Conference was formed on January 12, 1933 by American University, Bridgewater College, Lynchburg College, Hampden–Sydney College and Randolph–Macon College.^[2] The latter two defected from the Virginia Conference over a freshman eligibility rule.^[3] By 1935, both Hampden–Sydney and Randolph–Macon were dissatisfied and considered returning to the Virginia Conference.^[3] At that time, however, that league had dwindled to only four members, and the following year disbanded after two left for the Southern Conference.^[4] In January 1937, Hampden–Sydney and Randolph–Macon were invited to join a potential new conference centered upon the state of Virginia and the Carolinas alongside Catawba, Lenoir-Rhyne, Elon, Presbyterian, Wofford, Erskine, Newberry, and Emory and Henry, but declined admission.^[5] The Chesapeake Conference continued to exist through the 1937 spring sports season,^[2] but had disbanded before the football season.^[1]

The following colleges held membership in the Chesapeake Conference:

• American (1933–1937)^[6][7][2]
• Bridgewater (1933–1935?)^[6][8]
• Hampden-Sydney (1933–1935?)^[6][3]
• Lynchburg (1933–1935?)^[2][9]
• Randolph–Macon (1933–1936)^[6][1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Chesapeake Conference, College Football Data Warehouse, retrieved June 9, 2011.
2. ^ ^{a b c d} American University Athletics Timeline, American University, retrieved June 9, 2011.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Split Seen Fatal in Va. Conference, The Free Lance-Star, December 7, 1935.
4. ^ Fletcher Would End Subsidization Rule, Herald-Journal, November 8, 1936.
5. ^ Snyder is on Committee, Herald-Journal, January 23, 1937.
6. ^ ^{a b c d} Several Upsets Seen On Gridiron's Front, The Palm Beach Post, September 24, 1933.
7. ^ Catholic Hard Hit On Eve Of Battle With Bobcat Pack, The Free Lance-Star, November 8, 1935.
8. ^ American University Trims Bridgewater, The Sun (Baltimore), September 29, 1935.
9. ^ Men's Basketball – Team History, Lynchburg College, retrieved June 9, 2011.