Over The Pylon

In the past few weeks, I’ve had the privilege of meeting some self-proclaimed gamers. We’re not talking about people who kill some time and relieve some stress by popping on the XBOX. We’re talking about Gamers. With a capital G. The kinds of people who stay up all night, forget about worldly things like commitments and hygiene, and blinking be damned, game for hours on end. Let us not be confused with those folks, but the OTP leadership does enjoy some virtual entertainment from time to time. Most notably of the college football variety. So it’s a no-brainer that we would look to our digital overlords to predict what to expect from the 2012 Cardinals.

Any college football fan who also considers themselves of the gaming persuasion always looks forward to summer when EA Sports helps us fill the void of football-less days with digital football instead with their NCAA Football franchise. I’m not saying I take a vacation day from work when the game comes out, I’m not saying I don’t. I’m just saying for some people, it’s a big deal. So with game in hand, plasma on HD mode, and hungry for some nuggets of optimism I decided to see how NCAA 2013 sees this season playing out for our beloved Cardinal and White. In order to have some good methodology, three seasons were simulated.

SEASON 1
Record: 4-8 (2-6 MAC)
In what I would classify as “disappointing”, the Cardinals struggled to get off the ground in this particular season. Though they did beat IU. Well played, EA Sports. Jamill Smith, Austin Holtz, and Barrington Scott were all injured for the majority of the season as well, which I’m sure contributed to the 4-8 ledger. Miami beat Northern Illinois for the conference championship, LSU won the national championship, Rex Burkhead won the Heisman, and there was exactly zero BSU players on the 1st or 2nd team All MAC teams. Stellar. The stats leaders…

Passing: Wenning 190-411, 2311 yards, 13 TDs, 14 INTs
Rushing: Edwards 163 attempts, 813 yards, 6 TDs
Receiving: Tomlinson 53 catches, 802 yards, 5 TDs
Tackles: Martin 80
Sacks: Miles 5.5
Tackles for Loss: Miles 15
Interceptions: Pinkston 2

SEASON 2
Record: 4-8 (3-5 MAC)
Record remains the same, but the MAC record improves. The lone out of conference win? The IU Hoosiers. Which makes me smile. The injuries continued in simulation 2.0, as Willie Snead, Zane Fakes, and Jonathan Newsome all spent considerable time on the injury report. Toledo beat Miami in the virtual MAC Championship and in true SEC trolling fashion, Georgia wins the national championship. Orwin Smith from Georgia Tech takes home the Heisman, and yet again no BSU players landed on the first or second team All-MAC rosters. Stat leaders for 2.0…

Passing: Wenning 191-399, 2596 yards, 18 TDs, 22 INTs
Rushing: Edwards 180 attempts, 932 yards, 4 TDs
Receiving: Smith 66 catches, 826 yards, 6 TDs
Tackles: Freeman 43
Sacks: Hinton 5
Tackles for Loss: Ollie 17
Interceptions: Pinkston 5

SEASON 3
Record: 6-7 (4-4 MAC)
BOWL: Military Bowl vs. Navy (L)
It would be all too fitting for me if this is actually how 2012 plays out as I have relocated from the Washington DC area. Surprisingly, though, I wouldn’t at all be shocked as the various what have you’s about this simulation seem the most plausible. Miami beats Toledo for the MAC Championship and USC hoists the big hardware. Denard Robinson adds to the legend of Brady Hoke with a Heisman. Jahwan Edwards and Jason Pinkston are selected first team All MAC and Kitt O’Brien is a second team selection. The stats…

Passing: Wenning 193-429, 2359 yards, 12 TDs, 14 INTs
Rushing: Edwards 197 attempts, 1117 yards, 11 TDs
Receiving: Smith 54 catches, 765 yards, 3 TDs
Tackles: Freeman 34
Sacks: Miles 5
Tackles for Loss: Ollie 15
Interceptions: Pinkston 8

Now, what does all this tell us, other than that I have far too much free time on my hands? Not much of course. But the thing that gives me a little bit of hope is the third and final simulation had the most realistic non-BSU outcomes and they had the Cards going bowling. I’ll take it! Looks like the Cardinals are going for the digital Rise Up.

Filed under: BallStateFootball, Gaming |