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The Atlantic 10 Conference
By Matt Shetler

The Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) was established in 1976. It fields fifteen members that compete in twenty-one Division I sports. The A-10 headquarters are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the commissioner of the conference is Bernadette McGlade.
   
Most of the A-10 members are located in the Eastern, United States, but also has two schools in Ohio and one in Missouri. When founded, the A-10 was originally known as the Eastern 8 Conference. Charter members of the Eastern 8 included: Duquesne University, George Washington University, the University of Massachusetts, Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh, Rutgers University, Villanova University and West Virginia University.
  
The first changes in the A-10 came in 1981 when St Bonaventure, Rhode Island, St. Josephs and Temple replaced Pittsburgh and Villanova giving the conference ten members and changing its name to the Atlantic 10. In 1985, Xavier was added to the league, while Penn St., Rutgers and West Virginia departed.
Despite its name, the A-10 actually consists of fifteen members (14 full and 1 associate). The A-10 membership strengthened with the additions of Charlotte, Dayton, Fordham, La Salle, Richmond and St. Louis.
  
Primarily known for men’s basketball, where the A-10 send numerous teams to the NCAA Tournament, the A-10 began Division I football in 1997. The A-10 took on remaining members of the Yankee Conference (James Madison University, Boston University, the University of Connecticut and Delaware University). Boston University would drop football and Connecticut would complete a transition into the Big East Conference in all sports. In the last ten years, Massachusetts, Delaware and James Madison have captured national football championships at the I-AA level.
  
The Atlantic 10 would be forced to disband football after the 2006 season, due to the lack of programs competing in the sport. As of 2008, the A-10 is still one of the better basketball conferences in the nation. Programs such as Xavier, Temple and George Washington have made good runs through the tournament.
  
The best claim to fame for the A-10 occurred in 1996 when the U Mass Minutemen reached the Final Four. Led by coach John Calapari and National Player of the Year Marcus Camby, the Minutemen defeated the Georgetown Hoyas to reach the Final Four. The 2006 U Mass team won 26 consecutive games and achieved the number one ranking in the nation, finishing the season with a record of 35-2 . Their Final Four contest against the Kentucky Wildcats saw the largest television audience ever to watch a basketball game.
  

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