Virginia Conference
Encyclopedia
The Virginia Conference was an intercollegiate athletic
conference composed of member schools located in the state of Virginia
. The league existed from 1928 to 1935.
In 1933, Hampden–Sydney College and Randolph–Macon College left the Virginia Conference over a freshman
eligibility
rule and formed the Chesapeake Conference
alongside American University
and Bridgewater College
. By December 1935, conference membership had dwindled to four schools. A disagreement between The College of William & Mary and Emory and Henry College
over football
player eligibility prompted the two to cut relations in the sport and exacerbated what conference officials deemed a "rather serious" situation. At the same time, both William & Mary and the University of Richmond
were pursuing membership in the Southern Conference
. The following year, both were admitted to the Southern Conference, which marked the end of the Virginia Conference.
The following colleges held membership in the Virginia Conference:
College athletics
College athletics refers primarily to sports and athletic competition organized and funded by institutions of tertiary education . In the United States, college athletics is a two-tiered system. The first tier includes the sports that are sanctioned by one of the collegiate sport governing bodies...
conference composed of member schools located in the state of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. The league existed from 1928 to 1935.
In 1933, Hampden–Sydney College and Randolph–Macon College left the Virginia Conference over a freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
eligibility
Student athlete
A student athlete is a term used to describe a participant in an organized competitive sport sponsored by the educational institution in which he or she is enrolled, a term primarily used in the United States. It is used to describe the direct balance of a full-time student and a full-time athlete...
rule and formed the Chesapeake Conference
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....
alongside American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
and Bridgewater College
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater College, is a private, coeducational, four-year liberal-arts college located in Bridgewater, Virginia, a town in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States...
. By December 1935, conference membership had dwindled to four schools. A disagreement between The College of William & Mary and Emory and Henry College
Emory and Henry College
Emory & Henry College, known as E&H, Emory, or the College, is a private liberal arts college located in Emory, Virginia, United States. The campus comprises of Washington County, Virginia, which is part of the mountain region of Southwest Virginia...
over football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
player eligibility prompted the two to cut relations in the sport and exacerbated what conference officials deemed a "rather serious" situation. At the same time, both William & Mary and the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
were pursuing membership in the Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
. The following year, both were admitted to the Southern Conference, which marked the end of the Virginia Conference.
The following colleges held membership in the Virginia Conference:
- Bridgewater (1929?–1932)
- Emory and Henry (1928–1935)
- Hampden-Sydney (1929?–1932)
- Lynchburg (1929?–1932)
- Randolph–Macon (1929?–1932)
- RichmondRichmond SpidersThe Richmond Spiders represent the University of Richmond, a member of the NCAA's Division I and a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference for all sports except football and women's golf, which participate as members of the Colonial Athletic Association....
(1929?–1935) - Roanoke (1929?–1935)
- William & MaryWilliam & Mary TribeThe William & Mary Tribe are the athletic teams for the College of William & Mary. The name Tribe now refers to the unity and comradery that William & Mary student-athletes share when competing in the classroom and on the field. William & Mary has transitioned through several official nicknames...
(1929?–1935)