Boston University will leave the America East Conference and join the Patriot League effective July 2013. Boston University was a founding member of the America East Conference in 1974 and amassed 40 conference titles in 14 sports. With the addition of Boston University, the Patriot League will have nine full members and football-only members Fordham, Georgetown and Towson. The league was football-only from its establishment in 1986 before expanding to all sports in 1990. \"We are very impressed by the academic quality of the institutions in the Patriot League and by the League\'s commitment to student-athletes while effectively competing at the NCAA Division I level,\" said Boston University President Robert A. Brown. \"We believe that the philosophy of the League is a good match for Boston University and that the schools in the League will give our athletes a rich competitive environment.\" Other teams in the Patriot League are: Army, Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh, Navy and American University.