EA Fesses Up And Pledges “Extras” For South Alabama
Mock-up of Kendall Houston on the cover of NCAA Football 13. But it would be just as good if it were NCAA Football 14.
EA Sports, the publisher of the NCAA Football video game franchise, informed the University of South Alabama that they would make up for their oversight in leaving the Jaguars out of the 2013 edition of the game.
About two weeks ago EA released a preview of the game and, much to South Alabama fan’s dismay, the Jaguars had been left out. South Alabama, who made it known all the way back in 2009 that they were going to take the most immediate route from program inception to joining the FBS division of sports. However the University of Texas-San Antonio, Texas State and UMass were all included in this years game even though they announced their transition to FBS after South Alabama.
This set off a bit of a firestorm from South Alabama fans. They took their complaint online to websites and social media only to be rebuffed with a short statement from their communication manager.
“South Alabama was a provisional member of FBS last year and did not play a full FBS schedule. We did not receive confirmation that they were changing to a full FBS schedule this year until it was too late for inclusion in NCAA Football 13. South Alabama will be included in NCAA Football 14.“
Their cries of #FreeSouthAlabama were heard and posted about by many other websites mentioned in a previous article on this website.
EA Sports officials have contacted the University officials and administrators and has informed them that the Jaguars are going to be part of NCAA Football 14 with a list of extras.
- EA Sports will video the team and cheerleaders running out onto the field and will try to replicate the run out as make it as realistic as possible.
- EA Sports will record the crowd at a South Alabama game this year and use that to replicate the stadium sound effects and crowd chants.
- EA Sports will work closely with the South Alabama athletic department in developing the South Alabama team introductions that ESPN announcers Brad Nessler, Rece Davis and Kirk Herbstreit will voice at the start of each Jaguar game.
- EA Sports will be adding South Paw into the game and have him on the sidelines during the game. He will also be part of the “Mascot Mash-Up” game mode included in the game.
- EA Sports wants to meet with the Jaguar Football coaches to replicate the playbook and make it as realistic as possible to match what the team uses during the 2014 season.
- EA Sports is already looking into licensing the rights to use Ladd-Peebles Stadium so they can perform a “Stadium Scan” and get the most authentic stadium for South Alabama’s home.
These things are typically reserved for “the biggest and highest profile teams in the country” not just the latest school on the FBS block. If this does not get your heart pounding, then you may need a defibrillator because your heart just skipped a beat (like mine).
The fans did a great job continuing to keep this story going and EA listened.
But just as importantly, thanks to EA Sports for recognizing this oversight and going above and beyond what many expected to rectify the situation. Now the South Alabama family can help lobby to get that video of the team running out onto the field included as part of the opening montage.
If someone at EA is reading this, the mock-up cover with Kendall Houston would make an awesome cover for NCAA Football 14, or at least a great special edition for South Alabama fans. I would fork over some extra cash for it. It might even be a great fundraiser for charity.
GO JAGS!!