Today was an important day for GSU Football

We've basically put the cabash on FBS talk on PantherTalk.com message boards recently and for good reason.  It was getting just plain nuts.  Many of those (including your humble blogger) who know how we are building and the potential is there.

So the title of this post indicates that today is especially important.  I'll tell you why in a second.

I recently said the next 12-24 months will be extremely fascinating for those who follow our program.  We are building and preparing for the CAA in 2012.  There is some debate whether there will be a conference to join because of the expected pending move of Rhode Island to the NEC and Villanova to the Big East.

Speaking of the Big East (see I told you I'd get to the point): Today the conference presidents voted to go forward with an expansion plan that would increase the football playing membership from eight to 10 teams. From ESPN.com: "The cheers you heard were from athletic directors and coaches at the football schools, who long had wanted to add teams to help with scheduling. The Big East has survived as an eight-team league since 2005, but as the Big Ten and Pac-10 have expanded and more possible conference re-alignment in the future looms, the conference knew it had to get bigger or face extinction." 
Read more via the ESPN.com Link

So you ask yourself, self what could this mean?  Is Georgia State headed to the Big East?  Not so fast, my friend (as the Sunshine Scooter Lee Corso would say). 

First in line is likely the aforementioned Villanova. They have the plan in place and are the only non-football members of the Big East that is prepared to dive in head first.  The next spot would be for the most attractive. There are rumors about TCU making a bid (leaving the WAC),  Houston or Central Florida (leaving Conference USA) or even Temple (leaving the MAC).  I believe it will likely be Temple as they are a hot team right now and have locked up another winning season after taking over a greasefire. 

So then what?  CAA football loses a member (likely 2 with URI moving on) and so does the MAC (which is not an attractive landing spot).  What happens in 2014 when the current BCS agreement expires?  I believe the Plus One game (1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3 and the winner in the BCS Title game the following week) is all but a formality.  Again, what does that has to do with us?

The Big East will absolutely want to expand either to 12 or 16 teams by the time the BCS agreement is up.  Whether that want develops into a plan, is another question but this is only the first step.  If they look into emerging programs from Conference USA or the Sun Belt to fill those spots, guess what just opened up?  Yep.  Spots on the board.  You do the math but I believe once again, patience is our best friend.