Football Players Compete As Themselves In Video Game

By Leroy Bridges
Sports Editor

Just imagine playing a video game as yourself. Or playing on a football team that you on. Or playing the entire schedule for the upcoming season and winning every game.
This is what a lot of Purdue and Big Ten players have done over the past months, since the release of NCAA Football '06.
In fact, two Boilermakers, junior offensive guard Uche Nwaneri and junior wide receiver Andre Chattams, are rivals when it comes to the game. According to Nwaneri, this is because no one else on the team is as good as him except for "Dre Chat."
"We go at it in that game, man," Nwaneri said. "We get some real good competition going when we turn that game on. There is a rivalry between us now."
But who gets to play with Purdue?
"The first one to bring them up, gets them," Nwaneri said. "And, of course, the other person gets mad and has to pick another team."
But no matter the team, Nwaneri's playing style is logical: run the football. As an offensive lineman, that choice is obvious. Chattams likes to run the option with junior quarterback Brandon Kirsch and, of course, throw the ball.
"I love to air it out in that game," Chattams said. "It's so much fun. Especially, when the the throw is to yourself."
Other than playing the game as yourself, many players, including highly-touted Michigan wide receiver Steve Breaston, get the game just to check their player ratings.
"I got the game and starting looking at my speed, catching and awareness," Breaston said. "And I think I got some pretty good love in the game.
"I am an impact player, so I am happy."
Impact players are those that play at a higher level than others throughout the game.
Illinois middle linebacker Morris Virgil said that being an impact player for the Illini is fun because he can harass other guys on the team about it.
"It is fun to brag about it because EA Sports knows you are good," Virgil said. "I really get on some of the guys because Steve (Weatherford), our kicker, is an impact player.
"And he's a kicker."
Whether it is playing an entire season to see your team win the National Championship or just for the fun, the '06 version of NCAA Football has become a must have for many college football players.

Published in the Purdue Exponent on Aug. 25, 2005