College Football - Week 1

For those of you that are thinking the college football season kicks off the end of August, think again! The sights and sounds of the greatest sporting spectacle in the world actually commence this week.

Each year, there is a sense of anticipation for college football fans as the season draws near. For the past several years, EA Sports has treated us to an early start with the release of their newest game title in the NCAA Football series. This year's edition, NCAA Football 2004 is released on Thursday, July 17th and the technology has football fans clamoring to get the game in their hands so the season can begin.

EA Sports' college football title is near the top of the heap in the gaming world and for good reason. The realism of this game is unmatched and the developers have gone to new lengths this year adding authentic stadium chants and rowdy celebrations after big wins. Coupled with the digital sound and the amazing graphics, you start to feel like you're at the stadium and not in your living room.

The game-play of this game is real enough, but the real treat to any college football fan is the level of detail paid to the aesthetic portion of the game. The cheerleaders, mascots, stadiums and other pieces make this game tops for attention to detail category. The addition of online gaming between friends and the advent of the digital technology continue to stack up on the pros side on any football fan's list of pros and cons.

You can take your favorite team through its 2003 schedule and earn a bowl berth. You can create your own team to try to challenge the big boys. You can even play a smaller school through their conference and earn respect around the nation.

This title from EA Sports has added to the allure of college football. It's hard to capture the environment of a college football game without being there as a fan, but this game does quite a bit to take you from our easy chair to the sidelines. The best part about it is every year, some new aesthetic element is added to create the proper environment.

As much as this game has going for it, you'd think it would be hard to find room for improvement. However, if you have the college football sickness like I do, then you won't have to think too long to come up with the ultimate elements to the game.

For example, what if Joe "Pa" Paterno was seen running his team out on the field with that trademark trot and what if Jim Tressell was seen wearing the vest and tie as he paced the sidelines? Coaches were added several years ago to this game, but could you imagine how cool it would be if each team's coach was authentic. EA Sports has attempted to add to this feature by getting the girth and skin color accurate, but there is still much room to go in this category.

How about the halftime show being added with the appropriate band uniforms and a signature performance depending on the stadium you're playing in. I'm sure the Buckeye faithful would love to see the dotting of the I and the Badger fans would certainly like to see the 5th quarter.

How about stadium specific public address announcers? Who wouldn't want to hear the home team guy belt out, "Here comes the Hawkeyes!" as the black and gold take the field? I can almost hear the Memorial Stadium guy bellowing, "First and Ten Illini!" as they march down the field.

The mascots are in need of some action as well. Now I know this is a relatively new feature of this game, but just for arguments sake, let's say we could start up an Oklahoma vs. Colorado game in Boulder and see Ralphe storm on the field with his helpers or the Boomer Schooner taking to the turf with the OU fight song in the background.

If you want to get truly nuts, how about adding some tailgate activities from the local fans? I mean, what would college football be without crazy pre-game antics from the fans? Sound crazy? You can bet all this is down the pipe.

I know, I'm a fan who gets something really cool and starts asking for more. But college football is all about color and pageantry and the folks at EA Sports have spoiled me already. Kansas State and California may kick off the season on August 23rd, but my season begins Thursday as Iowa hosts Miami (OH) in legendary Kinnick Stadium. When and where does your season begin?