I’m so Glad I went to Howard U

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Since early November, people have been disrespecting my favorite holiday by decorating their houses, advertising their sales and getting in the Christmas spirit. I only thought it fitting that I bring it back to focus.
Friends and family flock for a fabulous feast of food while following the festivities of football.
This is my Thanksgiving alliteration because the only preparing done in the 11th month should be for the last Thursday in November revolving around the 4Fs – friends, family, food and football. The friends, the family and the food are great, but for me, Thanksgiving means nothing without football.
The retirement of John Madden also meant the retiring of a timeless Thanksgiving Day tradition: the turducken. An eight-legged chicken, stuffed inside a duck, stuffed inside a turkey made NFL Thanksgiving Thursday special. I sure miss that turducken. Maybe the Madden turducken should be revived at the Superdome for the festivities at the Bayou Classic.
As a Historically Black College or University alumnus, I feel I might not be living up to my end of the bargain. Sadly, I never made the trip from Howard in D.C. to New Orleans for the staple of the Southwestern Atlantic Conference (SWAC): the annual battle between Grambling State University and Southern University. Maybe this year will be different. Maybe I can live the Bayou Classic experience from the comfort of my own couch. I am not talking about watching it on NBC at 1 pm CST on Saturday, November 28, 2009; I am talking about Xperiencing it.
Doug Williams – a graduate of Grambling State, the MVP of Super Bowl XXII and 1st black QB to win a SuperBowl – and Nerjyzed Entertainment teamed up to bring the Black College Football Xperience to the XBOX 360. The only bad thing: the game is exclusive for the wrong platform. I am a PS3 man.
Aside from their one flaw, I think this might be the most complete football game ever. Before I get backlash from Madden Otakus everywhere, let me clarify:
I am a Madden otaku myself. I played Madden (only 98 and only with the Broncos) when it was on SEGA. Then I picked it back up my freshman year when Madden 2001 debuted on PS2. As much as I enjoyed Madden, I was conflicted. The football I was used to seeing every Saturday at William H. Greene Stadium was not represented in any videogame.
The BCFX is a game that finally represents where I come from. Despite the historical relevance of BCFX, the gaming community has been complaining about the “racism” of the game:
This game is clearly racist. Obviously, the game is all black football players...

I think this is a joke, its gotta be...
- gamermonkey
September 6, 2007 Joystiq.com
it just seems like to me that the point of equality is just that...everyone is on equal footing. to single out black people for their own game is basically saying "well we have our madden, but black people need their own game". thats just dumb and counterproductive.
- hulkster081
September 6, 2007 Kotaku.com
I don't understand how ethnic groups can claim they want equality when games like this are allowed
- Pinworm
November 29, 2008 Gamepolitics.com
This is freaking ridiculous. Yes I am white, and no I am not racist. But, this is just plain wrong. There are so many double standards in the US society it sometimes makes me sick.
- AlexNC
September 6, 2007 Kotaku.com
So...reading the linked article, why didn't they change the name to something that would possibly appeal to the uninformed 'white' gamer?
- Wolvenmoon
November 29, 2008 Gamepolitics.com
Whats makes it racist is how it subtly implies that somehow this game is going to be different because its from a "Black college's" perspective.
- ZenGaijin
September 6, 2007 Joystiq.com
I hardly think that segregation should be promoted, which is what this game does… the average Joe or Jane walking by this game on the shelf will see a game that says "Black College Football: The Experience" and, unless they are familiar with the subject, will assume what most other people have. "Why do they feel the need to say that it is BLACK colleges?"
- Flamespeak
November 30, 2008 Gamepolitics.com
I'm still not completely convinced that this isn't ethnic centrist in some way.
- SykoSilver
December 5, 2008 Kotaku.com
I believe stuff like this is just prolonging racism… It maybe helping a race in short term, but also encourage separation, and prolong racism.
- KayleL
November 29, 2008 Gamepolitics.com
Did you even watch the trailer? "This is how we play!" A little pro-black? I don't find this to be a necessity at all in a video game. Sure they could have a PBS show talking about it but don't make a video game where the characters are bolstering their race. Let's make a White college football game then, there were white colleges back then too right?
- todde7
September 6, 2007 Kotaku.com
Personally, I think it's your friend who is overreacting. While black colleges were once necessary, they aren't anymore. I think they subtly encourage segregation, or at least a subconsciously segregating frame of mind. If we are supposed to be equal, shouldn't we all be in the same schools? In the same video games? I don't think this does anything positive, much in the same way that people like Al Sharpton can overplay their hand and do more damage than good. Essentially, I feel there are double standards at play, here. I'm tired of this nonsense. It's 2007 and we don't need this anymore.
- Sharpless
September 15, 2007 Gamepolitics.com
Of course this calls for an "ALL WHITE" football game to be published!! doesnt it? oh wait we arent allowed to do that that would be wrong.....so the story goes. *sigh*
- gimp
September 6, 2007 Joystiq.com
Uh...where to begin, where to begin...Look, I am no racist. But it even strikes me as a little biased that it only features black players...If it was supposed to be a part of the game, and didn't involve anything to do with making a statement about race, I apologize for the misunderstanding. But the developer has said nothing about why there are no white players in the game, so naturally, the mind assumes these things.
Do I think I'm a racist? No. I think that I'm a rational person, who's trying to figure out why they'd done this, be it a choice in how to develop the game, or a statement on race.
- Final_Assassin_42
September 15, 2007 Gamepolitics.com
This is absurdly racist...Even the idea that there are "black colleges" blows my mind
- TheTriarii
December 1, 2008 Kotaku.com
Personally I think everyone should be offended by something titled Black College Football: The Xperience. But maybe that's just me. I mean, okay, historically they used to be black colleges. I can dig that. Is the game set in the 1950s? Oh, it's not?! You mean they aren't really black colleges anymore?! Then what is the point of the title.
- Baramos
September 15, 2007 Gamepolitics.com
See, I had never even HEARD of the term HBCU before this thread. The title of the game was poorly chosen. Maybe it should be HBCU Football Experience? Looses the racially charged edge and gives the fans more of a connection with the reality that its a game aimed at them.
- KaneTaker
September 6, 2007 Kotaku.com
I know this was a bit much, but I wanted to show the "diversity" of gamers' rants. Critics like these have been directing their "rants" toward black QBs - Rush Limbaugh’s remarks about Donovan McNabb, the “lack of field maturity” of The Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor and many others - who do not fit the pedigree of the traditional QB role.
Mainstream society does not understand the significance of Black College Football. If they did, EA Sports would have already franchised and licensed a HBCU game. Though, I am sure a game not coming from the perspective of a HBCU alumnus would lack some authenticity.
The game looks like what every HBCU student, parent, graduate and supporter would envision in a Black College Football game: classic rivalries (I am sure it will have all 45 of the Classics), authentic stadiums and the main event at Black College Football games: a Battle of the Band. Yes, it is Drumline meets Rock Band in a mini game where compete for the bragging rights of your living room.
BCFX has been generating hype while touring the country and come Saturday their media blitz will air six commercials during the Bayou Classic.
With Doug Williams getting backed by Nerjyzed Entertainment to represent the culture of Black College Football and Tom Joyner – maintaining his commitment to underfunded HBCUs – partnering up with Ford to donate $250,000 to HBCUs around the country, this has been a great year for Historically Black Colleges.
When I do get a chance to visit my local Ford dealer, I might be more inclined to turn my Taurus SHO test-drive into a purchase if Ford bundled it with a XBOX 360 and BCFX game.

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