Early History The Atlantic 10 Conference was founded in 1975 as the Eastern Collegiate Basketball League (ECBL) and began conference play in 1976. At that time, basketball was its only sport. After its first season, it added sports other than basketball and changed its name to the Eastern Athletic Association. However, despite its official names, it was popularly known as the Eastern 8, as it then had eight members (Villanova, Duquesne, Penn State, West Virginia, George Washington, Massachusetts, Pittsburgh, and Rutgers).
early history the atlantic 10 conference was founded in 1975 as the eastern collegiate basketball league (ecbl) and began conference play in 1976 at that time basketball was its only sport after its first season it added sports other than basketball and changed its name to the eastern athletic association however despite its official names it was popularly known as the eastern 8 as it then had eight members (villanova duquesne penn state west virginia george washington massachusetts pittsburgh and rutgers)