Football: Players stay competitive off the field with video games

The 2011 LSU football team has more than a few trash talkers on the field. They stand over opponents after every play and jaw back and forth with rivals prior to each snap on Saturdays.

When the players step off the field, the talk doesn't stop. It carries on in the form of video game competitions.

From "NCAA Football 12" to "Madden 12" to "Gears of War 3," the LSU football team stays competitive from the field to the television screen.

"In the locker room, everybody talks about ‘NCAA,' competing about it," said sophomore running back Michael Ford. "That's all they do."

According to Ford and freshman punter Brad Wing, some of the players employ strategies when gaming and make sure they get the playing time they desire.

"I know [sophomore quarterback] Zach Mettenberger lives and dies by playing ‘NCAA 12' where he's the quarterback on the team," Wing said.

Ford also ensures that he sees a lot of time in the game and said he starts himself instead of sophomore running back Spencer Ware.

For Ford, it's a dream realized to see himself in the game.

"Seeing yourself on NCAA is breathtaking because in high school you used to always create yourself," he said. "When you get on the game, it's like, ‘Wow, I can't believe I'm really on the game.'"

Wing said he makes sure to play as LSU so he can beat his high school teammates who play with different collegiate programs.

"I have a good friend up at Michigan, [sophomore wide receiver] Drew Dileo, that I used to play with in high school," he said. "I usually beat Michigan with LSU, and he's not too happy with that."

The competition carries over to non-sports games as well.

Senior offensive guard Will Blackwell said he and fellow senior offensive guards T-Bob Hebert and Josh Dworaczyk are "hardcore into" third-person shooter "Gears of War 3," but will play first-person shooter "Battlefield 3" when it hits stores.

Blackwell admitted it's not easy to find time to play video games.

"Of course there's not much off-time for us with school and football," he said. "But when we do have some off-time, that's usually what we're doing."

According to Blackwell, Hebert is the best "Gears of War" player, but Blackwell said Hebert has an advantage because he has played since the first edition of the game came out.

"No one was more excited to get that game than he was," Blackwell said. "But I have to say I'm a little better than he is at the first-person shooters."

Those who don't spend their precious free time playing video games aren't able to avoid the criticism.

"I don't really play [video games]," said junior center P.J. Lonergan. "They make fun of me because I don't play."

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Contact Albert Burford at aburford@lsureveille.com