Could losing 'NCAA' from game be beneficial?

[grabursock55]

I know there are some threads about EA losing the NCAA logos and name and things of that nature, but this isnt so much about that. This thread is focused more on the possible positive outcomes of losing the NCAA watchdog.

I'm not suggesting that the game go the way of "blitz the league" with drug abuse and over the top gameplay, but more in the direction of being able to do things that the NCAA wouldnt let them do. The first thing that comes to mind is letting us go wild with the NCAA playoffs. No longer will people use the excuse "The NCAA dosent want them to add an extra option that isnt right on with real life." We have all heard that before, I'm sure. This also goes with why people say that player suspensions were taken out of the game. The NCAA didnt want to have any negative light shed on it, so they presumable asked EA sports to remove the feature from the game. But with the NCAA out of the picture, perhaps we will get these old features back!

What do you all think? I mean, I will be happy if we just get a game! Always positive.

[canesfins]

Now that I think of it. I would love to see the whole suspension system and probation's come back.

[dbpullman]

I thought I read last week that the NCAA and EA renewed their contract? I think I read it on USA Today (I can't post links or I'd find it and post it). I may be wrong...

[SultanOfSwag]

Quote: Originally Posted by dbpullman

I thought I read last week that the NCAA and EA renewed their contract? I think I read it on USA Today (I can't post links or I'd find it and post it). I may be wrong...

No, they did the exact opposite. Too many lawsuits for the NCAA, so they pulled the plug.

[BA2929]

Quote: Originally Posted by canesfins

Now that I think of it. I would love to see the whole suspension system and probation's come back.

If they bring it back (I highly doubt the individual universities will want it in anyway), they'd better have an option to turn it off because I hated that part of the game more than anything EA has ever introduced into this series ever.

[gatorman1050]

There were many features that were removed due to the NCAA not approving of them. The probation and suspension system, fans rushing the field (proposed but was cancelled due to NCAA), etc
I believe losing the NCAA label could be a blessing in that we may get more features. Some of these features over time the NCAA changed their mind and made EA remove. It will only be a plus IMO

[GGGswim]

IMO, getting 'new' things into the game might be even more difficult.

I'm not sure how it might have to work, but my understanding is that EA will have to engage College Licensing Corp. (CLC) in contract talks to get all the schools -- almost all if I recall from something I read -- that are signed on with CLC into the EA game, College Football '15.

1st problem I could foresee is a school like Miami (The U) says they'll agree to CLC's contract with EA if and only if aspects such as suspensions, discipline, are not part of the game. While some squeaky-clean program (I previously would have used Penn State as the example, but now...) has no problem with suspensions and discipline being part of '15.

I don't believe CLC would be given by each school the right to sign off for them on every characteristic of the game. That could mean anything new could take even longer to get in the game while CLC 'polls' all the involved schools.

Another problem I foresee -- if I'm, again, recalling correctly something from an article I read -- is that 'most' of the schools are signed on with CLC. Not all. Which could end up meaning we could see a Notre Dame vs. Ann Arbor matchup, or an Alabama vs. Tallahassee Sugar Bowl.

My 2-cents for the suspensions/discipline thing is that I would never be in favor of that unless there was an in-game method to offset or prevent them. I work in college athletics, and though it's hard to go a week without seeing several problems popping up in the media, athletic departments have tools in place to try and prevent those occurrences -- or it would be even worse!

[BA2929]

Quote: Originally Posted by GGGswim

IMO, getting 'new' things into the game might be even more difficult. I'm not sure how it might have to work, but my understanding is that EA will have to engage College Licensing Corp. (CLC) in contract talks to get all the schools -- almost all if I recall from something I read -- that are signed on with CLC into the EA game, College Football '15. 1st problem I could foresee is a school like Miami (The U) says they'll agree to CLC's contract with EA if and only if aspects such as suspensions, discipline, are not part of the game. While some squeaky-clean program (I previously would have used Penn State as the example, but now...) has no problem with suspensions and discipline being part of '15. I don't believe CLC would be given by each school the right to sign off for them on every characteristic of the game. That could mean anything new could take even longer to get in the game while CLC 'polls' all the involved schools. Another problem I foresee -- if I'm, again, recalling correctly something from an article I read -- is that 'most' of the schools are signed on with CLC. Not all. Which could end up meaning we could see a Notre Dame vs. Ann Arbor matchup, or an Alabama vs. Tallahassee Sugar Bowl. My 2-cents for the suspensions/discipline thing is that I would never be in favor of that unless there was an in-game method to offset or prevent them. I work in college athletics, and though it's hard to go a week without seeing several problems popping up in the media, athletic departments have tools in place to try and prevent those occurrences -- or it would be even worse!

Here's what I think I know:

EA already has a deal with the CLC. I believe they renegotiated a deal around the time the NCAA backed out. However, each school has the right to not give permission to EA to use their logos. They have that right with every company the CLC agrees to deal with. I could be wrong about this, but I believe the CLC is just like a publicist. They find the deals but the school has the right to say no to them if they choose. The schools not affiliated with the CLC have always had to negotiate a deal with EA on their own. Nothing has changed on that front. The only thing that will keep schools away is if there is a threat that they could be sued due to EA using likenesses of players in their game. And that's a pretty big threat right now.