It’s in the game.
The college football season kicks off Saturday, August 29, with a handful of games scheduled for what is known as Week 0. This includes Memphis playing a nationally televised tilt at UNLV, in what should be a good test for us to find out exactly what kind of team Charles Huff has put together for his first season in the 901. Until then, we wait, as the anticipation builds.
Unless, of course, you are playing EA Sports’ “College Football 27,” which dropped a few weeks ago. I am currently in the midst of two concurrent seasons on “College Football 27,” a dynasty mode where I am attempting to guide the Memphis Tigers into the College Football Playoffs, as well as a Road To Glory campaign, where after sitting out a redshirt season, my created quarterback named Cameron Boozer is beginning his freshman season at the University of Georgia as the starter.
Each of these modes present their own unique challenges. I’ve spent hours scouting high school prospects and ranking the various players by how likely it is I can sway them to enroll at Memphis. At the same time, Boozer has posted a 3.4 GPA while leading the Dawgs to a 10-2 regular season record. It hasn’t been easy, balancing academics and athletics, but we’ve made it work.
The thing I like least about the actual football season is that it only lasts about half the year. This also might be why football is so popular when the season is upon us—absence makes our hearts grow fonder, or some such. I find EA’s “College Football” and “Madden” games a useful stopgap, a way to keep us connected during the months when we are without the game we love.
Video games can be an easy distraction, a way to escape our everyday lives for a few hours at a time. They can also be a way to simulate what we want our lives to be. I never played or coached college football, but sitting on my couch, I certainly believe I could have, given the opportunity. (This is similar to the way I feel when I watch “American Ninja Warrior” and convince myself that given the proper time to train, I, too, could complete the obstacle course. Or at least the part where you jump from platform to platform.)
Is this all just misguided confidence? Probably! People who are great in the world of college football are actually special athletes and leaders who have worked hard at developing their skill since a young age. I may have missed my opportunity to find out if football was where I could excel, but if “College Football 27” is as close as I can get, I’ll take it.
