Kelvin Dean, a standout running back for Florida A&M, couldn’t contain his excitement.

“I was beyond excited. I even brought my PlayStation from home to here, just so I can get the opportunity to be one of the first people on the game when they download it,” he said. Dean’s anticipation was palpable, even though no HBCUs or non-FBS teams were included natively in the game.

“I paid $100 – I got the early version,” Dean told HBCU Gameday. “So, I wish we could have been on there. Hopefully, some update or something puts us on their TeamBuilder or whatever ideas they got going. But yeah man, it’s crazy. It’s been 10 or 11 years since that game’s came out, so, it’s really exciting to get the opportunity to try to play it and redo that again since it’s been so long.”

Evan Henry, an offensive lineman from Jackson State, echoed similar sentiments during SWAC media day. 

“I would be playing right now if, you know, we wasn’t at SWAC Media Day. I already downloaded it. I’m waiting to get back to the crib so I can play me some NCAA,” he said, eagerly anticipating his first game.

Grambling State’s defensive back, Quintin Talley, confessed his eagerness to dive into the game. But he didn’t pay the extra $30, so he has to wait a few days. 

“I’m a gamer. I look forward to playing it. I know the early drop just happened. I gotta wait my three days before I can play, but I look forward to playing.”

Florida A&M defensive back Kendall Bohelr, however, didn’t hesitate to splurge on the early version of College Football 2025 either.

“When that came out, I instantly got the $100 version. I had to play it early,” he shared with a grin.

Those gamers wanting to play with HBCUs will have to create them from scratch using a “Team Builder” option. This has been the case since the series moved to Playstation III two decades ago.

Alabama A&M’s running back Donovan Eaglin voiced a collective hope among HBCU athletes that this won’t be the case much longer.

“I wish HBCUs was on there, but soon – maybe soon – a couple years from now, hopefully they add FCS schools, even though I’m not going to be on it, hopefully they’ll add FCS schools, but it’s a great game.”

Jackson State head coach T.C. Taylor reminisced about his own gaming days. “

My kids been blowing me up about it, trying to get me on the sticks. I told ’em, – it’s been a long time,” he said with a laugh, fondly recalling his days as ‘the don’ of the game.

Even for those who aren’t avid gamers, like Jackson State’s defensive back Esaias Guthrie, the excitement for College Football 25 is infectious.

“I’m not a gamer, but I do like sitting back and just watching guys play the game and it just being in the back and just talking my stuff, and just getting guys upset. That’s my thing. I love that,” Guthrie said.

The buzz around the EA Sports College Football 2025 EA Sports video game highlights a shared dream among HBCU players–to see their teams and talents represented in future editions, standing shoulder to shoulder with FBS schools.

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The tournament, which kicked off November 9, 2022, culminated with a live event in Atlanta, the MTN DEW Ultimate Game, with a final showdown between the nation’s top four HBCU student teams where Howard University’s Cold Steel esports team was crowned champion and took home a first-place prize of $80,000. 

For the final phase, MTN DEW will identify four all-stars from the tournament, based on their individual performance and sportsmanship, as the MTN DEW Real Change Challenge All-Stars. Each All-Star will receive $50,000, as well as mentorship and unrivaled exposure to esports pros.

“Unfortunately, Black representation within esports and the gaming industry is disproportionally low. MTN DEW recognizes the opportunity gap that Black gamers face as they explore gaming as a viable career path, and we’re trying to close that gap with the MTN DEW Real Change Challenge,” says Pat O’Toole, chief marketing officer, MTN DEW. “We are continuing our commitment to make a tangible investment in the Black gamers of tomorrow, as well as continuing our ongoing support of HBCUs, by rallying around them to showcase their skills and take their place in the gaming industry. MTN DEW is proud to fuel these competitors on their journey through the Real Change Challenge and provide much-needed resources and funding to empower the next generation.”

Cxmmunity Media and MTN DEW’s alliance is an example of impactful brand acts that are driving more inclusion and access within the gaming sector to level the playing field.

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NEW YORK, NY –The National Football League today unveiled its plans for the top HBCU student finalists who participated in the 2nd annual Madden NFL 22 x HBCU Tournament with a once-in-a-lifetime experience during Super Bowl LVI week. Students will journey to Los Angeles for a week filled with job shadowing opportunities and events with the NFL as well as the finals competition of the Madden NFL 22 x HBCU tournament. To conclude the week, each student finalist will receive a ticket to attend Super Bowl LVI, on February 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium. The Madden NFL 22 x HBCU Tournament is driven by the NFL’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility in both traditional sports and esports.

Throughout the week, the NFL Football Development team will host the student finalists inviting them to learn the business side of football at a variety of events and activations, including the Play Football Stakeholders Breakfast, the High School Girls NFL FLAG Exhibition, the Play Football Family Festival, and Super Bowl Experience. Students will receive valuable career advice from NFL executives and key stakeholders while also participating in immersive job training.

As a lead up to the finals competition, Eric “ThatGuyDJ” Minor from Claflin University and Rodney “RockoTuff” McKay from Virginia Union University will appear on NFL Total Access during the program’s February 8 broadcast at 7:00 PM ET on NFL Network to talk about their experience in the tournament.

Fans are encouraged to tune in on February 12 at 3:00 PM ET on the NFL YouTube or Twitch channels to find out if Eric “ThatGuyDJ” Minor or Rodney “RockoTuff” McKay will take home the Madden NFL 22 x HBCU title. Eric and Rodney will be competing for the Championship title from the NFL’s west coast headquarters located next to SoFi Stadium in Hollywood Park, home of Super Bowl LVI.

This year’s tournament features NFL partner prizing including Microsoft Surface Pro X tablets, in addition to other official League product.

Madden NFL 22 HBCU Top Student Finalists

The NFL partnered with GCN (Gaming Community Network), a GameSquare Esports company who manages the online qualifiers, including registration and online tournament execution, player communications, competitive integrity, and the professional broadcast on February 12.

About the NFL HBCU Initiative
In May 2016, the NFL launched Strength of HBCUs, Impacting Pro Football Since 1948 in partnership with two prominent HBCU athletic conferences – the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The initiative has since expanded to also include other conferences and schools to recognize and strengthen its relationships with HBCUs across the country. Through these relationships, the NFL has developed several HBCU-focused programs to educate and connect students to careers in football administration and the sports industry at large.

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Morris Brown’s President, Dr. Kevin James, is looking forward to beginning the program. He said, “building this eSports lab is just a phenomenal opportunity for us to lead, not only with the degree component but also having the hands-on piece as well where students can come and compete, learn, teaching, etc., so we’re very excited about this.”

Competitive video gaming non-profit Pharaoh’s Conclave is Georgia’s leading organization in the gaming industry and creates opportunities for minorities in STEM professions. 

Its founder and Morris Brown graduate, Erich Thomas, approached James to create the Ronald Floyd Thomas Center for eSports and Innovation, and the rest is history. 

He told HBCU Gameday, “we started talking about it and conceptualizing it towards the end of the year. That’s when we first met Dr. James. When we first talked about it, and then we came in and looked at the space, and did the wall breaking [ceremony] shortly thereafter.”

Inspired by a Real Sports with Bryant Gumble segment in 2011, Thomas was intrigued by the growing appeal of this new sport and said, “wow, this is awesome.”

Lack of Diversity

But when he saw the competitors, he noticed a major flaw– no Black people present. He quickly realized that the winners were all White or Asian men. 

Thomas knew if he was going to change the narrative, he would need to build a collegiate-level program from the ground up and do it at a Historically Black College. 

“When I did a little further digging regarding eSports,” said James, “we found out that there were no HBCUs that had a degree in this, and so while we were rewriting the whole program, we said ‘hey, we want to be the first to do it,” and so we’re the first Black college to have a degree program in eSports and also have a certificate in eSports and we’re very excited about it.”

Receiving donations from major computer companies like Microsoft, Apple, Google, and Doordash, Pharaoh’s Conclave began working on the lab equipped with gaming consoles, a virtual reality race car simulator, and a 3-D printer, among other things, to start the program. 

Hard Reset

As Morris Brown is going through what James calls “the hard reset,” leading up to the recent accreditation candidacy from the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), he said, “it was a perfect opportunity for us to reassess and recalibrate what our academic offerings were while we’re working on the accreditation.” 

Morris Brown’s eSports Performance Certification program consists of a 24-hour curriculum that will prepare its students for employment in private businesses, government agencies and continuing their education after completion. 

This spring semester, Thomas will instruct Wolverines with Introduction to eSports and Introduction to Business Modeling to begin their matriculation. 

James added that MBC would also create a dual degree program for high school students looking to get a head start in their certification. 

“High school juniors and seniors,” he said, “who are interested in eSports can take the certificate, graduate high school and come straight here to Morris Brown and finish their degree, or they can go into the workforce.”

Morris Brown is currently accepting applications for the eSports Performance certification program, which will begin in January of next year. 

To find out more, log onto their website. 

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Registration officially opened today through Dec. 3, 2021, with limited slots for an online single-elimination qualifier tournament on December 5, 2021 with the top 16 finalists advancing to compete in the NFL Madden x HBCU Showcase during Super Bowl Week in Los Angeles. Players can register to compete in the tournament at http://hbcutournament.nfl.com/.

The 16 finalists will also participate in an “experienceship” by spending time with the EA staff to engage them in various departments, and they will tour the NFL’s new west coast headquarters and shadow NFL leaders for a day to provide development and networking experiences to the students.

The top two finalists will be playing for cash prizes at the NFL’s west coast headquarters located next to SoFi Stadium in Hollywood Park, home of Super Bowl LVI. Their match up will be available to watch on both the NFL YouTube and Twitch channels on February 12, 2022.

“We are so thrilled to bring back this tournament for HBCU students and offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience to come to Los Angeles during Super Bowl LVI Week,” said Natara Holloway, Vice President, Football Strategy at the NFL. “We want to expand the League’s efforts to create inclusive opportunities for the next generation of talent with partners like EA providing not only a chance for students to compete, but also the chance to learn the business of football through practical learning and shadowing experiences.”

The NFL will partner with GCN, Inc. (Gaming Community Network), part of the GameSquare Esports group of companies, who will manage all operations including registration, online tournament execution, player communications, competitive integrity and a professional broadcast during the week of Super Bowl LVI.

“We are so honored to be working with the NFL on this incredibly important initiative to capture the passion of gaming among HBCU students,” said Chris Kindt, CMO for GCN. “We are confident our team with deep roots in esports and gaming will deliver an exciting tournament capped off by the exhilaration of competing during Super Bowl LVI.”

About the NFL HBCU Initiative

In May 2016, the NFL launched Strength of HBCUs, Impacting Pro Football Since 1948 in partnership with two prominent HBCU athletic conferences – the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The initiative has since expanded to also include other conferences and schools to recognize and strengthen its relationships with HBCUs across the country. Through these relationships, the NFL has developed several HBCU-focused programs to educate and connect students to careers in football administration and the sports industry at large.

About Gaming Community Network

GCN, Inc. (Gaming Community Network) is the only independent media group completely dedicated to gaming and esports across community sites, content producers, influencers and tournament/event operators. Bridging the gap between traditional media and gaming with a “Gamer First” promise, GCN’s aggregated & integrated proprietary media network reaches 65M+ MAU’s in the US (115M+ MAUs globally) driving scale for premium content designed to provoke and share conversations. GCN builds bespoke strategy solutions from content creation to full-scale tournaments for any endpoint be it social, broadcast TV or live stream. As a GameSquare Esports Inc. (stock: GSQ, Canadian Stock Exchange) subsidiary, GCN collaborates with its partners to deliver memorable experiences for gamers and brands. To learn more, visit GCN.gg or follow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/GamingCommunityNetwork/

About GameSquare Esports Inc.

GameSquare Esports Inc. is an international gaming and esports company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The Company is seeking to acquire additional assets and entities serving the gaming and esports markets and, more broadly, in sports and entertainment. GameSquare’s acquisition of Code Red Esports Ltd. (“Code Red”), an esports talent agency, provided an initial foothold in Europe through its UK operations. Code Red represents leading on-screen talent, players and influencers and works with leading global brands to develop influencer campaigns and esports marketing strategies. The Company’s second acquisition of Reciprocity Corp. provides access to Asia, Latin America and North America. Its gaming and esports assets include: a CrossFire franchise in China that it owns with its partner LGD Gaming, a 40% interest in a League of Legends team that competes in Latin America, and its wholly owned subsidiary corporation, GCN, a digital media company focusing on the gaming and esports audience based in Los Angeles. GameSquare continued building a global esports powerhouse when it acquired Complexity Gaming, one of America’s premier and longest standing esports organizations. With access to GameSquare’s content creation, sales, marketing, and branding expertise, Complexity will be able to expand the franchise’s international footprint.

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The 22-week schedule to be aired on Twitch.tv/cxmmunity will begin on Aug. 18, 2021 at 7:00 PM EST, and conclude on April 6, 2022, featuring 25 HBCUs who will compete in Madden and NBA2K.

“We’re incredibly proud to bring the HBCU Esports League back for its second season with the support of Twitch, Verizon, and Discover,” said Ryan Johnson, co-founder and executive director for Cxmmunity. “This will continue building competition and galvanizing the community across our partner colleges and universities.”

“While 83% of Black teens play video games, opportunities are scarce for them to pursue careers in gaming, esports, and STEM when they enroll in college. We hope our Esports League will further their passion and desire to engage in these areas as they navigate their academic journeys at their respective schools,” remarked Johnson.

The participating HBCUs include Alabama A&M University, Claflin University, Clark Atlanta University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Fayetteville State University, Fort Valley State University, Hampton University, Howard University, Johnson C. Smith University, Langston University, Morehouse College, Morgan State University, Morris Brown College, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Oakwood University, Shaw University, South Carolina State University, Southern University, Tennessee State University, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore and Wilberforce University.

Verizon Returns as Sponsor

Verizon returns as a season partner, which includes its owned branded segment and a Celebrity Pro-Am Tournament to be determined in the coming weeks. The event will feature professional athletes, entertainers and content creators who will compete with select HBCU students. In June, Verizon announced that it had committed $1 million to increase female representation in gaming and STEM through the creation of the Verizon Game Forward Scholarship for female students at HBCUs; and the creation of tech centers on the campuses to benefit these students. The program is being facilitated by Cxmmunity.

Discover Joins Cxmmunity to Present the “Discover Bowl”
Discover, one of the most recognizable brands in financial services joins the season as a new partner and will present the first-ever “Discover Bowl,” a Madden tournament to be held during the college football bowl season.

Along with the “Discover Bowl,” Discover will also sponsor its own branded segment, “Discover’s Cxmmunity Leader of the Week.” The feature will highlight an HBCU student achieving exceptional accomplishments both on and off-campus.

“By partnering with Cxmmunity and Twitch to support the HBCU 2021 Esports League, Discover is committing to Cxmmunity’s mission of increasing the participation and representation of young minorities within the esports and video game industries. This partnership also allows Discover to continue to engage with college students and provide them with the products and knowledge to encourage financially responsible habits,” said Kate Manfred, Chief Marketing Officer at Discover.  “We look forward to highlighting Cxmmunity student leaders’ every week, and culminating the season at the ‘Discover Bowl.’”

Inaugural Season Successes

In the inaugural season of HBCU Esports League in 2020:
22 students from 18 participating schools competed with students from Fayetteville State University and Claflin University, winning the championships.
Captured more than 14 million live views on Twitch.
Produced over 600,000 hours of viewed HBCU Esports League content.
Garnered 15,000 average concurrent viewers with 32,000 maximum concurrent viewers.

Cxmmunity also built two esports labs at Oakwood University and North Carolina Central University. Cxmmunity is currently working with Verizon to open additional esports labs at Delaware State University, Dillard University, Howard University, Morgan State University and Texas Southern University.

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SALISBURY — A state-of-the-art esports complex is coming to Livingstone College this fall. 

Under the leadership of President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., Livingstone College has taken the progressive and bold steps to enter into the esports arena by establishing the Livingstone College Athletics Esports Facility, to be located inside its School of Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts at 530 Jake Alexander Blvd. South.  

The venue, projected to be completed in September 2021, will comprise five components: competitive esports; simulation golf; iRacing; broadcasting; and an abundance of space for social gatherings. Upon completion, Livingstone esports anticipates an active schedule and has already established facility hosting plans for 100-plus events annually.  

Livingstone has contracted with Ohio-based Meridian HD to develop the estimated $1.3M project that will include a more compact facility in the Walls Center at its West Monroe Street campus, designated for students only. The larger off-campus venue will be open to the public as well as students. 

Livingstone esports will include 16 competitive gaming stations; 16 social play stations; a pre-game strategy and coaching room; two golf simulation stations; a broadcasting center; two iRacing simulation units positioned in the College’s pit room; uniquely-designed esports hotel suites; and a concessions/beverage bar. 

The facility will include overnight hotel rentals; large gathering halls for community and professional association meetings; and expanded athletic boarding for the College’s existing athletic programming.   

“In collaboration with Meridian HD and the leadership of Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., we have an exciting concept that no other HBCU, or any other college for that matter, has conceptualized,” said Lamonte Massie-Sampson, Livingstone’s athletic director. “This combination of education, competition and revenue generation sets Livingstone College Athletics years ahead in this new initiative.” 

After almost a year of design planning, Massie-Sampson said he is excited to know that Livingstone’s esports program will be the model for many others to follow. In addition, this type of facility will allow the college to recruit the best esports’ competitors to matriculate and graduate from Livingstone College.  

“We have also dedicated scholarship money to ensure we are competing not only against other state-of-the art facilities, but with scholarships as well,” Massie-Sampson said. “When this project is completed, Livingstone will be competing and leading in the esports industry.” 

There are also plans for a student-centered curriculum incorporating STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and preparing students for career opportunities that derive from esports including, but not limited to: commercial and defense drone operators; computer programming; sports journalism and broadcasting; audio/visual entertainment professionals; content creators; and hospitality and event planning management.  

“The launch of our state-of-the-art esports program this fall is demonstrative of Livingstone’s commitment to remain progressive and relevant with the programs we offer,” Jenkin said. “We are also excited for this inaugural partnership with Meridian HD as we deliver on a competitive and cutting edge esports program.”  

For more information about the esports program or esports scholarships, email Lamonte Massie-Sampson at lmassie-sampson@livingstone.edu. 

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Playing under the moniker VSportss, Henderson won the title for Xbox after finishing with an 8-1 record and avenging his only loss of the season during a successful postseason run.

“My experience in the HBCU Esports League was honestly new to me. Instead of playing NBA 2k against friends and family I was playing against different people throughout different HBCUs in the country. I was not only playing for myself, but I also was representing my school, Claflin University,” said Henderson.

Moore, known as Nightcrawler to the HBCU Esports League community, secured the crown for PlayStation after a perfect 12-0 record on his way to the NBA 2K championship and was also named series MVP.

“Being a part of the HBCU Esports League was definitely really fun! But, I wasn’t really looking to win for any form of praise or anything. I was pushing to win the championship to hopefully inspire more African Americans to participate so that they can receive the incredible benefits,” stated Moore. “I’m extremely grateful for Fayetteville State University, and to all of my family and friends that supported me.”

Both Henderson and Moore will receive trophies and $1,000 each in scholarship money as a result of their victories.

The HBCU Esports League is hosted by CIAA esports partner Cxmmunity and sponsored by Verizon.The inaugural season was streamed weekly on Twitch over the past several months and had over 14 million views, including nearly 700,000 on championship night.

“Season 1 was an eye-opening experience for the HBCU Esports team. We knew when we started we were creating something special, but to see the actual reaction of the faculty, advisors, and students brought it all to life,” explained Ryan Johnson, Executive Director & co-Founder of Cxmmunity.

For Moore and Henderson as well as the programs at FSU and CU, this is only the beginning of their esports and gaming journey.

“Now that I am the official first ever Esports League Champion I feel that my time playing NBA 2k over the years paid has off, but I feel as though I still have something to prove,” exclaimed Henderson. “So, I will return for season 2.”

Moore added, “I’m just grateful that I finally have place where I can compete and have fun with the rest of my esports teammates.”

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Registered players will participate in a single-elimination qualifier tournament for their school’s conference with the top four from each conference — a total of 16 players —advancing to the NFL Madden x HBCU Showcase Super Bowl week. This inaugural tournament is just one of several programs the NFL has implemented to recognize and strengthen its relationships with HBCUs across the country.

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Season-long tournament

“This tournament is all about engaging student bodies across Historically Black Colleges and Universities” Rachel Hoagland, Head of Gaming & eSports at the NFL. “We are committed to providing opportunities and fostering a welcoming environment for students who are passionate about games like Madden NFL 21. Throughout the year we have collaborated with the four conferences on several initiates and are looking forward to further enhancing our relationship. This tournament is a unique opportunity for students who are passionate about games like Madden NFL 21 to engage with the NFL and we are excited to work with Nerd Street Gamers.”

Nerd Street Gamers will be responsible for creating a seamless experience for all players and participants for this season-long tournament. The company will lead all operations including registration, online tournament execution, player communications, competitive integrity, and a live broadcast during the week of the Super Bowl.  

“We’re honored to lead operations for this inaugural tournament,” said John Fazio, founder and CEO of Nerd Street Gamers. “Our HBCU tournaments are pillars of progress that stand for the empowerment of equality and we’re proud to be aligned in the effort to make esports more inclusive. Partnering with a prestigious organization like the NFL ensures that this opportunity will have a positive and lasting impact. I can’t wait for the competitions!” 

Players can register to compete in the tournament for free with a chance to win cash prizes. Registration opens today at nerdstgamers.com/hbcu.

Fans can follow along

The schedule for the qualifiers is as follows: 

MEAC & SIAC:  Saturday, November 14th, 2020, 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT 

SWAC & CIAA:  Sunday, November 15th, 2020, 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT

For the final tournament rounds during Super Bowl week, Nerd Street Gamers will leverage its expertise in esports production and management to execute compelling live programming for the final competition featuring the top players in a live broadcast. 

Fans can tune in for the broadcast on Nerd Street Gamers’ Twitch; the tournament will also be streamed on NFL Twitch and YouTube.

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The CIAA and Cxmmunity will work together to develop the conference’s esports ecosystem through strategic partnerships with industry leaders that focus on providing educational opportunities and career pathways for its students and membership.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Cxmmunity to help provide access to resources within the esports and gaming industry,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams. “Survey results from our campuses show a high level of interest in this sector at every level and our goal is to further establish pipelines throughout the STEM field that offer career opportunities, scholarships, and educational programming for our students and member institutions.”

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Additionally, through its HBCU eSports League, Cxmmunity will provide competitive gaming opportunities for CIAA membership, offering participants the chance to earn scholarships, while also assisting the conference with establishing its own branded esports programming.

“We are extremely excited to partner with the CIAA to bring esports and educational opportunities to their member institutions. Our goal is to foster a community that encourages competitive esports matches and assists the CIAA in developing an esports framework that exposes their students to scholarships, internships, and full-time jobs,” says Ryan Johnson, Founder and Executive Director of Cxmmunity.

A relationship initially fostered through conference member Johnson C. Smith University, the CIAA and Cxmmunity partnership is the first in a series of developments to introduce esports and gaming as a conference initiative. Earlier this year, JCSU became the first historically black college and university to offer an Esports and Gaming Management program to undergraduate students.

For the latest information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com. You can also like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. To learn more about Cxmmunity and its mission, visit https://www.cxmmunity.co/. 

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“Esports is the fastest growing sport in the world and we feel it would enhance the overall student experience and offer an exciting opportunity for our students,” said Cyrus Russ, assistant vice president for athletic compliance and academic services at Alcorn State University. “We formed an esports advisory committee which is charged with developing an esports program that offers our students the opportunity to pursue their passion for gaming while learning the esports industry.”

“Nearly 100 high schools in Mississippi now offer esports,” added Russ. “There is huge interest from students who are enthusiastic about gaming.” The MHSAA (Mississippi High School Activities Association) has completed its second year of state-sanctioned esports and it is the fastest-growing school-sanctioned activity in the state.

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On campuses, esports is organized team-based, multiplayer online video gaming with nearly 500 colleges and universities in the U.S. offering club esports. There are 175 schools, along with 3,000-plus student-athletes, belonging to the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) with officially recognized collegiate varsity esports programs.

Other Mississippi universities also offer club esports, including Mississippi State University, University of Mississippi, and the University of Southern Mississippi. As interest in the sport expanded nationwide, Ohio State University recently opened an esports arena, in addition to Boise State University and the University of California at Irvine. At Ohio State, an esports and game studies undergraduate major is in the works.

“We are excited any time we can entertain the possibility of offering our students more opportunities to represent their schools in competition,” said Dr. Felecia M. Nave, president of Alcorn State University. “We know that students benefit in the short- and long-term when they are involved in an activity or sport. Esports presents us with a chance to expand our mission by creating another new and unique activity for students.”

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Last year Alcorn State University created an avenue for engagement and student involvement and for students who are involved in gaming, to be part of a school-organized activity that provides a number of positive benefits that are often attributed to collegiate athletics.

The virtues of teamwork, comradery, leadership, critical thinking, and goal setting were on full display as student body members and advisor Cyrus Russ formed Geekology and the Braves eSports clubs on campus. After a successful first season, Russ added, “The clubs are looking forward to transitioning from a club activity to a collegiate esports team in the upcoming academic year.”

During the semester, Geekology and Braves eSports sponsored game nights and built a strong nucleus of forty students. The students represented a full cross-section of the campus diversity and are led by club president, senior Te’yah Nicholle.

“The world is changing and we as young innovators are a reflection of that change by exposing our community on the deeper meaning of what it means to be a geek and a gamer on a collegiate level,” said Nicholle.

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NORFOLK, Va. — Registration for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Esports League, in conjunction with Blaze Fire Games, opened on July 21, 2020. As schools continue to evaluate the conditions attributed to COVID-19, the MEAC Esports League will allow for students, alumni and prospects to stay connected and engaged through online gaming competition.

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Registration is $40 and will cover all of fall 2020 (July 20-Dec. 20) for the MEAC Esports League. The first e-series will run from Aug. 10-Sept. 14, with players able to participate in competitions for such games as NBA2K19, FIFA 20, Madden NFL, Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
 
Registration for the MEAC Esports League includes access to all five games, with players able to select up to three game concurrently.
 
The online nature of esports will allow for players to engage with one another safely from their own homes until all universities return to normal campus activity, at which point the esports program will include on-campus components.

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In order to facilitate the online competition, the MEAC and Blaze Fire Games have selected GYO Score as their technology and league management platform partner. Through GYO Score, students will be able to participate in regularly-scheduled matches and directly challenge each other in ladder-style competitions that will promote a fun and competitive atmosphere.
 
Blaze Fire Games is a licensed digital content provider which taps into a variety of creative talent and skills across the globe. The company aims to connect a diverse group of participants by introducing them to a career path where they will learn to compete in a gaming environment. 
To register, visit www.meacesports.com.
 

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Online tournaments will be hosted through Blaze Fire Games, and participants will battle against each other in games such as Rocket League, NBA2K, Madden and Super Smash Bros. These opportunities are available to all 11 MEAC member institutions, and any current student, alum or university staff member can participate. Virtual learning opportunities will also be available in subjects such as Intro to Esports, Esports Production Management, Esports Digital Marketing, Competitive Gaming Analytics and Esports Coaching.

Blaze Fire Games is a licensed digital content provider which taps into a variety of creative talent and skills across the globe. The company aims to connect a diverse group of participants by introducing them to a career path where they will learn to compete in a gaming environment.

Covid-19 provides MEAC opportunity

“The MEAC has a long, storied history when it comes to forward-thinking and innovation,” Blaze Fire Games CEO and co-founder Isiah Reese said. “There was a huge opportunity to partner, introduce and insert the Blaze Fire Games esports program and resources in the states of South Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Maryland and North Carolina, as well as Washington, D.C., at one time. There’s really no time like the present to focus on this esports industry because of these changing times we are living in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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Blaze Fire Games engages in cross-cultural experiences by offering entertainment events in the esports industry, including education career pathway certifications, a multi-player team league and individual player competitive esports tournaments.

Esports is comprised of teams and individuals who compete head-to-head in live, online competitions. According to industry experts, esports has generated over $1.1 billion in revenue and appeals to a multitude of people across generation, race, gender and ethnicity demographics.

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During the 2020 football championship weekend, the SWAC will award a winner from its inaugural Madden football tournament. Students from all ten member institutions will participate in the tournament.

This new initiative is in conjunction with a sponsorship between the conference and the United States Air Force beginning this fall. The agreement allows for other gaming opportunities for league fans, student-athletes, and supporters at select SWAC events.

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Other tournaments and events will feature titles such as FIFA Soccer, Fortnite, Overwatch, Rocket League and Smash Bros.

An NBA2k basketball tournament will also be a part of the 2020-2021 SWAC Basketball Championships.

“We’re extremely excited to partner with the United States Air Force in this new venture that will bring exciting on site activations of eSports platforms to our league,” said SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland. 

More than just fun and games

For the Armed Forces, eSports is more than just fun and games. It’s a recruiting tool being utilized by all of the service branches. The Army credits it as a reason it hit its 2019 recruiting goals. In fact, the USAF is fielding its first-ever eSports team at EVO 2020. The event is the largest and longest-running online fighting game tournament in the world.

“Our success is dependent on the quality of our Airmen and their strong mental, moral and physical character,” said Major Ross McKnight, Chief of National Events. “The more diverse and widely represented team we have that live the Air Force Core Values, the more effective we will be at our mission. It is our goal to use this platform to connect with the highly motivated fans and student athletes that have the grit and determination to lead this change and succeed in the Air Force. It is our honor to partner with the SWAC and inspire the nation’s next generation of leaders.”

For the SWAC this opportunity is more than just an added venue attraction.

Dr. McClelland tells HBCU Gameday that there could be more in the near future. The commissioner sees the next logical step in this partnership as the addition of eSports curriculum and clubs at each SWAC member institution.

These programs, if put into place, would be an important recruiting tool for prospective students. Clubs have been rapidly popping up at schools across the country, including HBCUs like LeMoyne-Owen, Lincoln (Pa.) and Hampton.

The gaming industry supports more than just being a professional player. Students have opportunities to join the eSports ecosystem and get involved in announcing, marketing, and production.

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If the SWAC pushes this project forward it will become the first HBCU conference with a league wide eSports platform.

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HAMPTON, Va. (July 25, 2019) — The Hampton University Department of Sports Management secured a $340,658 technology grant from the Department of Homeland Security to create an Esports lab, offering courses in Esports to students.

“This is a great example of how Hampton University continues to be ahead of the game. We always provide students with the best opportunities to excel and advance in whatever profession they choose. We are excited to see the elevation of this new addition to our campus,” Hampton University President, Dr. William R. Harvey said.

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Esports or electronic sports is a competition using video games, taking the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players, individually or as teams. Fortnite, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, Overwatch and Madden NFL are the most popular at-home video games for gamers. The gamers are watched as they play and followed by millions of fans all over the world. Fans attend live events or tune in on TV or online.

“Esports is the newest thing in sports management. Since 2016, there has been $16 million allocated for Esports Scholarships. Many African Americans have not been afforded these opportunities. There is a void in diversity between HBCUs and the history of the white institution level. I’m looking to increase the diversity in Esports and also have a revenue opportunity for this institution at the same time,” said David C. Hughes, Instructor of Sports Management .

With this technology grant, Mr. Hughes will create an Esports lab on campus and spearhead the curriculum change that will allow Hampton University to offer courses.

“The first thing we have to do is create a lab, then we’ll offer a concentration in Esports at the graduate level. In the lab, we’ll have TV’s, video games, computers, and people can practice their craft of playing video games,” said Hughes. “They can learn how to play a video game, play with each other and against each other. The lab will be on the fifth floor of the library. We have a goal to kick things off summer 2020.”

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From the outside looking in the innovation center may appear to be a place where kids from LOC and the community are playing video games all day. That wouldn’t be entirely false but there are more layers to this project than just joysticks and graphics.

The center will feature a premium video game lounge along with a start-of-the-art eSports arena but there are business and commerce components as well.

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The plan calls for an eSports academy, merchandise retail store, student video game development training facility, private investors ideation pitch room, entrepreneurial training center, workspace, and a financial literacy center.

So this isn’t your father’s era of hopelessly blowing into the cartridge so you can save the princess on Mario Brothers. The business of eSports has taken America, and the world, by storm.

Billion with a “B”

According to a market report released in February by gaming research firm Newzoo, the global eSports economy is expected to top $1 Billion for the first time in history. According to the report that’s a 26 percent jump from the previous year. That’s just for eSports and the ecosystem that surrounds the community of competitive gaming. A bulk of that economy comes from media rights, advertising, and sponsorship.

Competitive gaming has become such a thing in the last few years that Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs is following the industry’s growth. The firm has predicted that by 2022, the audience for esports will grow to 276 million people.

Technology consulting firm Activate suggests that by 2020, 70 million people will watch a single eSports final. That number is higher than the viewership for U.S. professional baseball, soccer, and hockey finals.

On the consumer side, customers in the United States generated $43.4 Billion in revenue in 2018 according to a study by the NPD group.

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The Stars are in

The potential of the eSports market has drawn investors from all over including professional athletes and entertainers. Recognizable names like Michael Jordan, Drake, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Jennifer Lopez have all invested heavily in the sport.

With the context of those numbers in mind, the center is expected to generate a lot of fun but it’s more than just a game. On the micro level, the center is projected to generate $15 million in economic growth in the South Memphis and Downtown areas.

On the macro level, the partnership with the LeMoyne-Owen College CDC can prepare people for a career in the video gaming industry.

“Having been actively involved in the promotion and development of the
Soulsville community for nearly 20 years, I’ve never seen a project with this much potential to impact both the people and property of our community. We see this effort as an opportunity to develop the next “big thing” in gaming in the heart of one of the poorer census tracts in Memphis,” said Michael Q. Minor, board chair of the LeMoyne-Owen College CDC.

The HBCU Connection

One of the central figures bringing the forward-thinking project to this HBCU community is South Carolina State alum, Isiah Reese. He is a former football player for the Bulldogs who has gone on to have huge success in corporate America. In the past Reese has worked for Microsoft, Walt Disney, Coca-Cola as well as others.

Reese is a co-founder of the project along with Dustin Mack,
chief executive officer of BraveDog Games. Reese is also a current board member of BraveDog Games.

“It is no secret that technology has been transforming many different industries. Today’s economy demands a workforce that has creative and innovative risk-takers and critical thinkers in the 21st century,” Reese said.

“Our community youth are looking for opportunities to excel in life other than being a professional athlete or resorting to less than desirable activities. This project will give them that opportunity. With the existing momentum in our community, this project will be a catalyst for additional development,” added Minor.

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