Marquette First Major Conference School to Add Varsity Esports

[oldwarrior81]

My beef is with the name.  These are not sports.  They are games, they are competitions, etc... but they are not sports.

What else is not a sport:
- anything you can do while holding a beer
- anything where the horse/dog/bull/other animal does most of the work
- anything that simulates a real sport

and as the AD at Clemson once said, when asked about adding crew as a potential varsity sport, "We aren't going to have a "sport" where you sit down and go backwards"

[McCormick Survivor]

We have to careful to avoid recruiting violations.  Instead of a situation where coaches used real sex workers to entice recruits, Marquette must now avoid providing links to on-line chat rooms. And don't get me started on the potential for a large bribery and corruption scheme over courting athletic company Addidas to provide apparel sponsorships. What esport kid wouldn't want new pocket protectors for himself and his family with three stripes on them?

[StillAWarrior]

Well, they might not act like one but they are.

Not sure how our press release got that wrong.

Hell, the ESPN link someone posted up-thread (dated March 2018) lists Ohio State among the varsity esports programs.  However one feels about them, it's pretty hard to argue that The BigTen and/or OSU aren't "major conference."  I can't believe that Marquette would have it so wrong in the release.  There must be a distinction that they're pointing to that makes it different from the others.  I'm guessing the "run by an athletics program," but I have no idea how OSU (or others) handle things.

[JakeBarnes]

My beef is with the name.  These are not sports.  They are games, they are competitions, etc... but they are not sports.

What else is not a sport:
- anything you can do while holding a beer
- anything where the horse/dog/bull/other animal does most of the work
- anything that simulates a real sport

What are your thoughts on Slamball?

[Warrior3211]

Hell, the ESPN link someone posted up-thread (dated March 2018) lists Ohio State among the varsity esports programs.  However one feels about them, it's pretty hard to argue that The BigTen and/or OSU aren't "major conference."  I can't believe that Marquette would have it so wrong in the release.  There must be a distinction that they're pointing to that makes it different from the others.  I'm guessing the "run by an athletics program," but I have no idea how OSU (or others) handle things.

you're spot on... it's that Marquette's team will be overseen by the athletics department.  That's why they are claiming the "first" title.

[DFW HOYA]

"Being named after an explorer means it's in Marquette's DNA to define the opportunities of tomorrow and ensure we're anticipating what future students will expect," said President Michael R. Lovell. "Marquette embraces new methods of teaching and areas of study, and esports and gaming in general have the potential to impact both, while also helping to strengthen our student recruitment prospects in an increasingly competitive environment."

Seems like a stretch.

[Osiris]

"Being named after an explorer means it's in Marquette's DNA to define the opportunities of tomorrow and ensure we're anticipating what future students will expect," said President Michael R. Lovell. "Marquette embraces new methods of teaching and areas of study, and esports and gaming in general have the potential to impact both, while also helping to strengthen our student recruitment prospects in an increasingly competitive environment."

Seems like a stretch.

Oh, I doubt they stretch.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Oh, I doubt they stretch.

This made me laugh....but....

https://www.pcgamer.com/easy-stretches-for-pc-gamers/

[Osiris]

This made me laugh....but....

https://www.pcgamer.com/easy-stretches-for-pc-gamers/

Huh.  Who knew?