By Michelle Jamrisko Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Those expecting to find a shady spot to study or eat on the Newcomb patio yesterday afternoon may have been shocked to find the tent sheltering video game gurus, truants and several students simply looking for a good time.
The tent event was the 2004 NCAA Football Challenge, a 16-school video game tournament sponsored by gaming company EA Sports and organized by the University Program Council's Special Programs Committee. The winner of yesterday's tournament will be sent to Las Vegas to compete against other college students for a chance to win $10,000.
"I rushed through my psychology test and cut into prime drinking time to be here," third-year College student Paul Aiken said. "I made a couple of sacrifices ... besides that it was worth it."
Almost 130 students pre-registered for the tournament online and approximately 70 showed up for the 3 p.m. "kickoff." But despite the poor attendance among those who pre-registered, second-year College student Bijal Patel, who worked with EA Sports and UPC to put on the event, noted that the attendance has been the second highest of any of the five universities visited thus far.
EA Sports representative Jay Kennedy said the University was picked for its football enthusiasm.
"We just kind of pick big football schools along the path that we're going," Kennedy said.
Katie Trumbull, second-year College student and UPC Special Programs Committee member, noted that this selection reflects improvements in the athletic program.
"I'm sure the fact that they picked us ... says something about how far our football team has come," Trumbull said.
Charles Smith, EA Sports Commissioner of the 2004 Challenge, added that the University has "a lot of team spirit" and is a "football-tradition school."
Several of the students who took time to pound away at the controllers had no experience with the video game but didn't let that get in the way of their fun.
Third-year College student Travis Harris said he was happy to take part in the competition, despite losing his game in double overtime.
"I never would have thought they'd have something like this," he said.
EA Sports plans to expand the tournament to 32 schools next year. But for now, many just enjoyed the tournament's University debut.
"It's the first year we've hosted a tournament of this magnitude," Smith said. "It's history in the making."
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