Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, comprising 13 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States. The conference is headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, and its member schools are located in the Eastern United States, including institutions such as North Carolina A&T State University, South Carolina State University, and Florida A&M University. The conference was founded in 1970 by Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Morgan State University. The MEAC is a member of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and has partnerships with the National Football League (NFL) and the National Basketball Association (NBA).

● History

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has a rich history, dating back to its founding in 1970 by a group of HBCUs in the Mid-Atlantic region. The conference was established to provide a platform for its member schools to compete in intercollegiate athletics, with the goal of promoting academic and athletic excellence. Over the years, the MEAC has undergone several expansions, including the addition of Bethune-Cookman University in 1979, Florida A&M University in 1980, and North Carolina Central University in 2010. The conference has also had partnerships with other athletic conferences, such as the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The MEAC has produced several notable athletes, including NFL players like Terry Crews and Doug Williams, as well as NBA players like Charles Oakley and Sam Jones (basketball). The conference has also had success in other sports, including track and field, where athletes like Jesse Owens and Wilma Rudolph have competed.

● Member Schools

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference consists of 13 member schools, including Bethune-Cookman University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, South Carolina State University, Savannah State University, and Hampton University. These institutions are located in the Eastern United States, with a strong presence in the Mid-Atlantic region and the Southeastern United States. The member schools of the MEAC are also members of other organizations, such as the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO). The MEAC has partnerships with other conferences, including the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and has competed against teams from these conferences in various sports, including football and basketball.

● Championships

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has a strong tradition of competition, with championships awarded in several sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and track and field. The conference has produced several national champions, including the Florida A&M University football team, which won the 1978 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game. The MEAC has also had success in basketball, with teams like North Carolina A&T State University and Morgan State University competing in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. The conference has also produced several individual champions, including Olympic athletes like Jesse Owens and Wilma Rudolph, as well as NFL players like Terry Crews and Doug Williams. The MEAC has partnerships with other organizations, such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), to promote athletic excellence and provide opportunities for its student-athletes.

● Football

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a member of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and has a strong tradition of competition in football. The conference consists of 13 member schools, each with its own football team, including the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats, the Florida A&M University Rattlers, and the North Carolina A&T State University Aggies. The MEAC has produced several notable football players, including NFL players like Terry Crews and Doug Williams, as well as Canadian Football League (CFL) players like Donald Smith (Canadian football). The conference has also had success in football, with teams like Florida A&M University and North Carolina A&T State University competing in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game. The MEAC has partnerships with other conferences, including the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Pioneer Football League (PFL), to promote football excellence and provide opportunities for its student-athletes.

● Basketball

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has a strong tradition of competition in basketball, with championships awarded in both men's and women's basketball. The conference consists of 13 member schools, each with its own basketball team, including the Howard University Bison, the Morgan State University Bears, and the North Carolina Central University Eagles. The MEAC has produced several notable basketball players, including NBA players like Charles Oakley and Sam Jones (basketball), as well as Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) players like Andrea Stinson and DeLisha Milton-Jones. The conference has also had success in basketball, with teams like North Carolina A&T State University and Morgan State University competing in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. The MEAC has partnerships with other organizations, such as the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), to promote basketball excellence and provide opportunities for its student-athletes.