While they exulted in Fort Worth, Texas, yesterday over Texas Christian’s announced move from the Mountain West Conference to the Big East Conference — and you could almost hear the cheers of the Railhead Smokehouse here — Manoa can’t have been far behind.

Nothing against the Horned Frogs, you understand, it is just that their impending departure should help ensure Hawaii’s entry into the MWC.

What was portrayed as a "strong agreement in principle" between UH and the MWC two weeks ago just got a whole lot stronger and understandable.

While in general, not to mention financial, terms, UH would welcome TCU remaining in the MWC, the Horned Frogs’ exit for distant pastures gives heightened urgency to the MWC’s in-motion expansion considerations and comfort to the Warriors’ admission hopes.

Had TCU stayed put, the MWC would have been at 10 members for 2012-13 and the need to beckon UH as No. 11 not quite as pressing. But as things now stand, the MWC is back in the expansion mode and likely at the bulk rate.

Or, as MWC commissioner Craig Thompson put it yesterday, "We look forward to shaping the future of the conference in the coming months."

A likely size 12, from the looks of it.

The handwriting on the Big East wall has been apparent for some time, and TCU’s dalliance is likely what warmed the MWC to UH in the first place after 12 years of "don’t call us, we’ll call you" rebuffs.

Much like Utah’s cozying up to the Pac-10 opened the MWC doors to Boise State in June and Brigham Young’s departure set things in motion for Nevada and Fresno State in August, TCU moseying on now signals UH’s best opportunity.

The whole game of musical conferences is about the TV money and Bowl Championship Series positioning, hence the Big East not only taking TCU but agreeing to do it on the Horned Frogs’ all-sports-or-nothing terms.

The Big East is the lagging member of the six-conference cabal that enjoys monopoly, oops, automatic qualifying status and the beaucoup bucks that go with it. Adding TCU’s resume, damn the geography, helps assure the Big East will stay at the BCS table while weakening the MWC’s case as an adversary all in one swift move.

Meanwhile, the MWC, which had been knocking on the BCS’ door six months ago, has plenty of shoring up to do after defections by Utah, BYU and, now, TCU.

Which is why, you suspect, Thompson said the MWC Board of Directors and conference athletic directors "… will continue to analyze the landscape and chart our course in the context of ongoing changes. That includes conversations already under way with potential future members as well as related discussions with our television and bowl partners."

Never mind the calculated cover and deliberate obtuseness in the phrase "potential future members."

Be assured, in the wake of TCU’s announcement, UH got the message and it was poetry to the Warriors’ ears yesterday.