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GNT: The return of NCAA football, the video game?

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Brian Shoemaker

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Gamecock Nation Today
- Thursday, May 16, 2019 -


Good morning from Gamecock Central.

Yesterday: The men's golf team advanced to the NCAA Championship.

Today: The baseball team plays at Mississippi State at 7:30 pm ET.

Reminder: The SC Legends Baseball Camp is Saturday (info)

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Connor Shaw

1. The return of NCAA football, the video game?

If you spent your formative years playing your Playstation as quarterback No. 13 or quarterback No. 14 - all of us knowing full-well that those video game characters were really representing Syvelle Newton and Connor Shaw, respectively - then there may be a ray of hope for a return to the days of video game national championships.

Those days of playing EA Sport's NCAA Football video game, of course, ended in 2013 following the infamous O'Bannon Case. Former UCLA basketball player Ed O'Bannon sued the NCAA and EA for using players' likenesses without compensation, effectively ending the game and any like it.

But the door may all of a sudden be open again for the return of the game - and more importantly - for college athletes to use their likenesses to profit.

Here's what we know so far:

• The NCAA announced on Tuesday that it has created a working group to "examine issues … related to student-athlete name, image and likeness." College athletes, of course, currently don't have the ability to use their own likeness to profit while in college, which seems silly to even type out.

The statement from the NCAA went on to say that the committee will "examine the NCAA’s position on name, image and likeness benefits and potentially propose rule modifications tethered to education. We believe the time is right for these discussions and look forward to a thorough assessment of the many complexities involved in this area."

• The group is co-chaired by Big East commissioner Val Ackerman and Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, but will also feature 17 other panel members, including three current student-athletes who haven't yet been named.

• One of college football's top ambassadors Kirk Herbstreit, who used to provide audio commentary for the game, spoke out on Twitter in support of its return:

"So @OSU_AD (Gene Smith) if all goes well is there a chance we get our NCAA Football video game back?!? Just asking for a few 100k friends that have missed the game desperately for 5 years—including former and current players. Haha!! Be a hero!"

• So what does it all really mean?

Fans - and the athletes too - would certainly cheer the return of the game, but the real story here is that the NCAA may finally be open to a system that would allow players to receive some type of compensation and maintain their amateur status, though the statement is clear to point out that the group “will not consider any concepts that could be construed as payment for participation in college sports."

That is to say that the universities aren't going to be directly paying players any time soon. But college football players are certainly famous and there's a broad range of other revenue streams they could pursue if not for the NCAA's current limitations.

This could be the first major step towards the NCAA allowing those players to profit from their likeness via autographs, apparel sales, endorsements, and - yes - video games.

Who knows, in the not-too-distant future you could be throwing passes from video game Ryan Hilinski to video game Shi Smith. And, more importantly, they could be profiting from it.

Wes Mitchell

2. ⚾ USC travels to Starkville

Who: South Carolina (27-25 7-20 SEC) vs. No. 5 Mississippi State (43-10, 18-9 SEC)
Where: Dudy Noble Stadium (Starkville, Miss.)

• Thursday, 7:30 p.m., SECN+, radio
• Friday, 7:30 p.m., SECN+, radio
• Saturday, 2 p.m., SECN+, radio

Probable starting pitchers:
USC: RHP Cam Tringali (2-3, 4.22), RHP Reid Morgan (4-5, 3.79), TBA
MSU: LHP Ethan Small (7-1, 1.73), RHP J.T. Ginn (8-3, 3.13), RHP Peyton Plumlee (5-3, 3.68)

This is a huge series for the Gamecocks, who are trying to get into the SEC Tournament. They’ll need to win one more game than Alabama and do the same, if not better, than Kentucky. There’s no scenario where the Gamecocks win a three-team tiebreaker.

They’ll have to do it against a really good Mississippi State team, which is 8-1 over its last three SEC series and coming off a sweep of No. 15 Ole Miss. They’ll host South Carolina almost guaranteed to be a national seed in the NCAA Tournament and in the thick of the SEC title race.

Up next: If South Carolina makes the SEC Tournament, they’ll get in as a No. 12 seed and play the late game Tuesday night in a single-elimination game.

Baseball Links: News | Roster | Schedule | SEC Standings | Polls

Collyn Taylor

3. This, that, and the other

Football: The next step for Shi Smith - After a solid first two seasons in Columbia, wide receiver Shi Smith will look to become a much bigger part of the South Carolina offense in year 3. (link)

Football: Non-conference game announced - Akron announced that the Zips will play the Gamecocks in Columbia on Sept. 21, 2024.

Baseball: 10 Gamecocks land on Baseball America draft rankings - The MLB Draft is quickly approaching, and it's no surprise that a few Gamecock commitments - and one player - find themselves on a prominent prospect list. (link)

Football Recruiting: Canadian wideout lands Gamecock offer, could visit - Malick Meiga's camp performances have drawn offers from college coaches, including South Carolina. What's the latest? (subscription)

Football Recruiting: Gamecock football recruiting board watch (offensive line) - In this series, GamecockCentral.com takes a look at many of the relevant names to know position by position, on South Carolina's 2020 recruiting board. We continue with a closer look at the offensive line. (subscription)

Football Recruiting: Several SEC programs chasing Rivals100 LB - A major linebacker prospect now has plans to be in Columbia. (subscription)

Basketball Recruiting: Notes on incoming hoops class enrolling, Lawson - When the Gamecocks expect to get on campus this Summer. (subscription)

Baseball: Shook named to the SEC Community Service Team - Pitcher TJ Shook was named to the SEC's Community Service Team. (link)

Softball: Around the Horn with Beverly Smith - USC softball coach Beverly Smith is not a stranger to the postseason as the ninth-year head coach leads the Gamecocks to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh consecutive year. (link)

Gamecock Club: Staff changes in fundraising announced - The USC Athletics Department is excited to announce a number of changes within its fundraising staff. (link)

Jackson Fields

4. ⌚ Plan your schedule

Thursday, May 16
7:30 pm - Baseball: at Mississippi State, SECN+, radio

Friday, May 17
12 pm - Softball: vs South Florida, NCAA Regional, SECN
7 pm - Women's Tennis: vs Duke, NCAA Regional, video
7:30 pm - Baseball: at Mississippi State, SECN+, radio

Saturday, May 18
TBD - Softball: vs TBD, NCAA Regional
2 pm - Baseball: at Mississippi State, SECN+, radio

Jackson Fields

5. This Date in Gamecock History

May 16, 1982 – The Gamecocks opened the final regular-season series of the year by knocking off Clemson, 11-5.

  • Carolina jumped on the Tigers early as Phillip Wilson singled to open the first, stole second and scored on a double by Larry Hernandez.
  • Hernandez scored on a single by John Sullivan, who came home on a double by Greg Morhardt.
  • USC continued to light up the scoreboard, as Morhardt added a home run in the fifth and finished the day with four RBI while Wilson had four hits and Chris Boyle also homered.
  • Don Gordon picked up his ninth win of the year in 12 decisions by pitchIng 4.2 innings of relief.

John Parker, gamecockarchives.com

6. Birthdays!

Todd Ellis - Ellis chose South Carolina over Stanford, LSU, North Carolina and Georgia. He redshirted in 1985, took over as the starter in 1986 and held that position for the rest of his career. Following the '86 season, he was named a second-team All-American by The Sporting News, who also named him to its Freshman All-America team. He broke NCAA records for most passing yards, touchdowns and total offense by a freshman. He led the country in passing yards and was second only to Heisman winner Vinny Testaverde in touchdown passes. He was a co-captain of the 1989 squad and was off to a strong start when a knee injury against N.C. State sidelined him in the season’s eighth game and finished his USC playing career. Professionally, Ellis was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1990 and spent time with them in camp that year as well as playing with the Sacramento Surge of the World League in 1991.

Bill Bradshaw (football/wide receiver, 1981-84)
Mark Kingston (baseball/head coach, 2018-19)
JD Moon (soccer/midfielder, 2004-07)
Tina Roy (women's basketball/guard, 2011-16)
Boosie Whitlow (football/defensive end, 2015-16)
Curtis Williams (football/running back, 1965-67)

John Parker, gamecockarchives.com

7. ⌚ Key Events (Countdown)

• May 17 – NCAA Softball Regionals (1 day)
• May 18 – SC Legends Baseball Camp (2)
• May 21 – SEC Baseball Tourney (5)
• June 3 – MLB Draft begins (18)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days begins (60)
• July 20 – Ladies Football Clinic (65)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (107)
 
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