Chesapeake Conference

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 (1933–1937)[6][3][9]
• Lynchburg (1933–1935?)[2][10]
• Randolph–Macon (1933–1936)[6][1]