NCAA Football 2009 Rules and Etiquette

By Joey Kaufman
July 13th, 2008 12:11 PM
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The highly anticipated NCAA Football 09 will be made available for purchase on Tuesday July 15th, and in honor of its release, I have decided to write the the ultimate NCAA guide for the rules and proper etiquette for the game.

Settings

Quarter Length: 3 or 5 minutes
Difficulty: All-American or Heisman
Penalty Frequency: Please keep normal. I know some guys who turn celebration penalties off, but I don’t want to see a dance after every single first down.

Picking Teams

The host always gets first choice when it comes to the selection of teams, determination of the home stadium, and weather.
You cannot play with the same teams. You are a major idiot if you even suggest such an idea.
Picking a non-BCS team like Hawaii or BYU means your soft. By doing so, you also fully admit that you’re lame.
Florida and USC are off limits. EA always makes either the Trojans or the Gators the best overall team. Therefore, you’re pathetic if you have to use either team to win. In order to show that you’re the superior player, use a good but not unstoppable team like Missouri, Oklahoma, or Virginia Tech.

Tyrod Taylor Rule

If you have a slow white guy at QB (Sean Glennon), and you have a faster, non-white guy as a backup (Tyrod Taylor), you can’t bring in the backup unless your starter gets injured or plays terribly after at least one full quarter. This is a cheap, cowardly move to just scramble with Vince Young-like players. Don’t do it!

Calvin Johnson Rule

If you have an impact receiver like Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree don’t throw it to him on every single play. Two years ago, I played a guy who played with Georgia Tech and threw it to Calvin Johnson on every single play. It makes you look like a seven year old if you have to throw it to your star receiver on every single play.

Other In-Game Rules

Don’t run the same blitz play every single down. This isn’t Madden 1996. You have more than one play.
On offense, feel free to use the same play over and over, but you’re going to be beaten badly if you do. So, it’s really your call.
No previewing your plays. I hate it when guys have to check their plays before the snap because it shows they aren’t prepared and it delays the game. Check the play before you select it.

Smack Talk and Celebrations

Feel free to talk trash as long as you want, but if you start losing don’t get upset if your buddy starts talking back.
As long as you don’t mind your buddy jumping for joy, you’re free to celebrate as much as you want.

Breaks/Timeouts

Do you really have to use the restroom or get a quick snack? Or, is this some way for you to stop your friend’s momentum and readjust your strategy? You can only take a break if it’s okay with both parties. However, at halftime, you’re more than welcome to leave the gaming area for a trip to the john or quick stop in the kitchen.

Leaving the Game

Are you getting killed? Down by 28 after the first quarter? You can whine all you want, but you’re in it until the other party gives up too. Expect to get routed.
If you’re good enough to build up a 28 point lead than feel free to celebrate ven after your tenth touchdown of the night.

There Are 11 Responses So Far. »

Comment by Justin Biehle on 13 July 2008:

I have to say (and this is coming from a basketball guy: NBA 2k….all day…) that I’ve been disappointed with the next gen installments of EA’s products as a whole. NBA Live has always been awful, but succeeded on the merit that it’s arcade roots and completely unrealistic gameplay won over fans that think they know what’s up. NCAA and Madden however, wee decent and good games that broke the cardinal rule of Game dev: “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. I have never been able to accept the new style of gameplay that the football games have brought to the table. It just doesn’t feel right.

That said, I do have a funny story to relay about Madden on the Wii. A ways back, when the Wii launched, my then roommate and Madden expert saw me playing the Wii installment of the franchise. After mocking the weird (and they were WEIRD) movements I was making, he decided that he was game to try a few plays. Fast forward thirty minutes and the second roommate and he are engaged in an epic bout of football/seizure, and the game is tight. On a crucial third down, each knew that a completed pass would likely determine the outcome of the game. Roommate A called for the snap and dropped back in the pocket while Roomie B settled into a fragile pass coverage. Upon seeing his receiver break free from coverage, Roomie A threw a bullet over the middle, wildly swinging his arm in the process. In a panic, and knowing that the game was on the line, Roomie B frantically switched to the nearest LB and swung his arms in an attempt to make his in game counterpart bat the pass away. Though the pass was completed, Roomie B won the consolation sweepstakes by swinging so hard that he actually knocked Roomie A’s front tooth out of his mouth. In the ensuing real life confusion, both forgot to pause the game, and the receiver stopped in the middle of the field, where he was tackled and subsequently fumbled. Roomie B’s team recovered, effectively sealing the win.

Fearing my own inability to ever top such an epic duel, I traded the game in the next day, and have never played a game off Wii Madden since. I likely never will…
Comment by Joey on 13 July 2008:

You’re absolutely right in regards to the NBA Live series on the 360. It’s horrible! Although, I did find March Madness 08 and NCAA Football 08 to be rock solid.
Comment by Matt on 13 July 2008:

Why the hate toward non-BCS school?
I’ll take you with Boise State… then we’ll see who’s soft and lame.
Comment by James on 14 July 2008:

ummm, how would using a non-BCS school be lame?? If you can win with one of those teams it just makes you a better player. And the next-gen madden and NCAA’s have been absolutely horrible compared to the engine that was on PS2. Its a sad day that they arent putting it out on PS2 anymore
Comment by Justin on 14 July 2008:

Whoever wrote this is an idiot. The “Tyrod Taylor rule”? You realize last season the Hokies rotated quarterbacks and likely will do it again this season right? That’s a stupid example.

Also, if I use a non-BCS team against you it probably means I like using different teams instead of OSU, Texas, VT all the time.

Based on your rules it sounds like playing with you would be really lame.
Comment by Mike on 14 July 2008:

Joey

Is it ok to use a hard count to get the defense to jump off sides?
Comment by Adam on 14 July 2008:

No 2 pt conversions if your up by 21 or more should be added to the list. I don’t mind a celebration after your 10th TD of the night, but going for 2 pts instead of the easy one is an F-You move and just pisses off the guy who doesn’t really care what play he is picking any more.
Comment by Joey on 14 July 2008:

I should have mentioned that Adam. Good idea.
Comment by Anonymous on 14 July 2008:

Sounds like you don’t know how to defend against VY-like players, or how to counter blitzes. Florida and USC aren’t that hard to beat on Heisman, you just have to know how to play. What’s lame is that you obviously have an inferiority complex about people who have beaten you with Nevada or Troy. You obviously don’t like it when people show their play to you, and still own you because you don’t know how to adjust to hot routes or how to switch from zone to man.

Maybe instead of complaining and making up a bunch of really specific, petty rules, perhaps you should play the game more so you can get better at it.
Comment by Kevin on 14 July 2008:

Joey, I agree with everything but the picking teams rule.
Also, what are you’re thoughts on a person being a touchdown ahead with most of the 4th left and running out the clock?

Justin, you’re right about NBA live 08. It’s great because its so arcade-like, but as a game based on reality, it’s horrible.
Comment by Dre on 15 July 2008:

When I play we have house rules, as a way to quickly end blowouts. My house if you’re down 28 game over, pass the stick to the left or forfiet (online). Most of my friends play that way too, but I’ve seen soe guys set House Rules at 21.