Here Are Some Big Names That Will Be In EA Sports College Football

College football fans and gamers alike can officially rejoice. After years of absence and speculation, the EA Sports NCAA College Football game is back. This time, it will feature some big names. From the best players in college football next season to the broadcast legends behind the mic, this new rendition seems to have it all.

It appears the past decade we had where this game was stopped may have been worth the wait. As you may recall, in 2013, a lawsuit was issued due to naming, image, and likeness issues. Ultimately, players who seemed to be featured in previous releases of the game reached a settlement. Then, over the past few years in college sports, NIL, the transfer portal, and new college player rules took over.

About three years ago, the idea of bringing back this fan-favorite video game started to circulate. After a some serious due diligence, EA Sports is expected to release the game publicly in the summer of 2024. One difference is that some of the top players in college football will be in the game. For example, Georgia quarterback, Carson Beck. "Every athlete who opts into the game and has his NIL used will get $600 and a copy of the game as a baseline payment with the potential for more lucrative NIL opportunities," ESPN said.

The clear recognition of the players is certainly part of the new experience. Besides Carson Beck, there's Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, and Colorado star, Travis Hunter.

As we know, the players in college football change so often. Of course, there's the option they have to go pro or some simply play out their eligibility and move on. Then, the next class comes in and the sport continues. Furthermore, the transfer portal creates another option now for players to change frequently. However, one area of college football that is consistent is the voices that call the games. Good news, they are in EA Sports new NCAA Football as well.

We are talking about Chris Fowler, Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, and Kirk Herbstreit. These are the personalities that fans appreciate to call all the big moments and are on set with College Game Day. They are a huge part of the mainstream college football experience in America, and now they too, are in the game. For a sneak peak, Chris Fowler recently gave fans a behind the scenes look on his Instagram.

There are many life lessons to be taken from coaching youth sports. Sometimes, they can be the same lessons your little players are also learning. Perhaps as an adult, you are simply learning these lessons again. Or you may just be interpreting them through a different lens.

This is the first memory I have as a kid playing basketball. It's a sentence I will never forget. My coach was a former standout at the University of South Carolina. He treated us as if he was the actual Division One South Carolina coach, and we were his 5-star recruit players about to enter March Madness. We were ten years old. It sounds intense, I understand, but herein lies the first rule of coaching youth sports. There are some values that are non-negotiable.

When you break it down, these values are all centered around respect. Respect for yourself and those around you. Respect becomes a way of life. It's how an athlete carries themselves and how they approach the game. Therefore, it's important as a coach to ask yourself if respect is present in the environment you and your team are creating. It has a way of applying to everything while also being an evolving process.

Speaking of which, more often than not, youth coaches are volunteers. This means that they are not paid. Sometimes, they never even played the sport they are coaching. However, they care enough to dedicate their time and attention to help make the sporting experience memorable for the youth program. So keep that in mind and cut them some slack. This is true of referees and umpires, as well.

Coaching youth sports can be a year-round commitment. We often end one season and immediately transition to the next sport. Here are five life lessons learned from coaching youth sports.

There’s no better feeling than working tirelessly for something you really want, and then accomplishing it. Especially if you are an underdog. You learn to enjoy the struggle. It makes the reward that much sweeter. The most valuable lesson from this piece is that once you dedicate yourself to putting in whatever it takes, this becomes a mindset. No win comes for free. You aren't entitled to playing time. Both of those must be earned. There's nothing wrong with reminding yourself of that while preaching to your kids about how to get playing time.

Your definition of exercise might be a sweaty cardio workout in the gym. But as a coach, exercise has a broad meaning. Certainly, getting yourself outside with a team and teaching them the importance of stretching and preparing your body is essential to physical success. Coaching a sport like football, for example, your two hours a day on the field are laser-focused on just that. There, you are giving yourself some mental exercise, taking a break from all the other work, stress, or life-circumstances. You can forget everything else when you hit the field, court, or rink.

Whether you manage a soccer team or a sales team, you're leading a collection of individuals. What makes your top performer tick is not the same as what makes a lesser player (or employee) with potential, tick. This lesson centers around relationship-building and listening. How you run your team is about you, and how your players apply these guidelines is about them.

...Nor are they getting a full scholarship offer to a top NCAA college at this age. You may see things in your kid or another on the team where your experience makes you think a certain player has a shot at the big time. But that time is not right now. Your coaching duty is to give the best experience possible to your players. How does creating an entire game plan around one super-talented 10-year old give the other 20 kids a fair chance? How does it give them a memorable experience? Or something to build off for next year. Or confidence. Again, those refereeing your games are most likely high school or college kids themselves. They're just trying to work and earn some money. Again, cut them some slack.

Your tone in addressing your players, the refs, and the other team matters, too. Be cognizant of how you deliver your messages. You may have an incredibly impactful point to make, but if you don't articulate it correctly, and cater to your audience, it can be useless. Coaching youth sports is about the overall experience, not the final score, and not the final record. Your stats don't matter, your voice does.