IlliniKrush

I should grab that one as well, i like the old logo Cubs suck stuff is fine if we are playing the Cubs, but if i see that when we are playing Cleveland....

I have to pick up the network adapter before i get down to school. Last year for whatever reason my roommate couldn't hook it up in our apartment. I think it had something to do with the connection, but who knows. I've never tried it before. This year, new apartment, hopefully i can get it to work. Steve if you want to help set it up, if you know what you are doing, you can help me out. How much is the network adapter? And is there anything else i need?

Western Mich is an 85? Damn...

In journalism you are taught to quote only when you can't say something better yourself - and only if it adds something new to the story. Otherwise, paraphrase/leave it out.

http://encarta.msn.com/column_questiontall...he_morning.html

I have a short farm system draft tonight for a fantasy league to fill spots vacated by moving guys up (this year for me, Blalock and Teixeira. I currently have Greinke, Floyd, and Harden on the farm still). I've been reading Baseball Prospectus and looking around Baseball America to get an idea of which few guys i want. I have a few guys in mind, I just wanted some opinions on who you think are THE top prospects in baseball, giving the nod to guys that will have an impact sooner than later, if needed. Thanks for any opinions on who to take.

Close call between NCAA and NHL. I gave the nod to NCAA just because i can play more epic head to head games vs other people and more people play it. But i enjoy both almost at the same level. I really don't like Madden all that much, last year's game was horrible IMO because you couldn't play pass defense at all. Spiff i'll have to give ESPN Hockey a test drive. I have NHL, and have had NHL since like 94.

LMAO

Happy bday to a much appreciated Hawks fan on the board

I-L-L

Alright, i can barely see the computer screen because i just played about 6 hours of this game with 'minor' breaks like the ncca booklet says to do....haha Observations and thoughts.... Alright i have to share my first TD story. I start out with Illinois vs NW, first quarter i get to the 12, throw a pass into the endzone. Hits a NW player in the head, off another NW players hands, off ANOTHER NW players hands, and i run and press triangle to catch it at the very side of the endzone. Ridiculous. The celebrations thing is hard for me right now. I keep getting fans going nuts...which is pretty cool, but i want to do player celebrations. I can get them to work sometimes on breakaway touchdowns, and that's about it. Home field advantage is just crazy. I played in the Big House with ND and my controller just rattled all game long. And if you turn the speakers up to just a normal volume, the stadium still seems loud. Don't try calling hot routes and audibles if the crowd is up to the max, players don't know what the hell is going on. Also, another cool thing, is if you are going out of the shotgun, when you press X to snap it, the QB lifts his leg...then a second or two later the snap takes place. Usually in any game you press X and the ball is immediately snapped. Not in this case...this game is so realistic. Kicking field goals on the road is hard as hell too, the screen is shaking and your hands are trembling along with the controller. It's major pressure. I've already missed a fair share from 35+ The big hit button is cool, it can help you pass defend by knocking the ball out of their hands. If you can time it right with your safeties, it's good to use (L2). Sprinting to the ball is good to do with secondary players but with linebackers you can get burned big time if the ball carrier makes one quick move. I've had more success running the ball than passing it. I thought i read somewhere in a producer interview where running up the middle would be easier if you have a good line. This is very true. You don't have to run everything to the outside anymore if you go where the hole is supposed to be. Passing has been tough because the secondary has made a lot of late hits on the receiver. The matchup stick stuff is real nice. You can check out the oline vs dline matchup, linebackers vs backfield, or secondary vs receivers. Gives you a green for good or red for bad rating, as well as a composure rating. Guys like Brady Quinn are rattled as hell playing in Michigan and have little composure...no wonder i threw some picks with him. This game is incredibly realistic in that sense. If you have a drive to win the game, you have to go to your go to guys, or your hot guys for that game. If you go to the ratings during the game, you will notice numbers in parentheses next to guys names, depending on how they are playing. If your receiver is having a huge game, he'll have his rating and then like a +4 or whatever. On offense, you want to get guys rolling. On defense, you have to try not to let their stud guys get hot. I haven't fumbled all that much in this game thus far, it's been similar to last year. Who knows though. Just been playing exhibition games for now, but i might start a dynasty soon. Anyway, this game has lived up to the hype, IMO...at least in the short time i've played it so far. Still have a lot of experimenting to do with different teams and stadiums and the whole dynasty mode. ********************************************** Ya, Steve and Keith, we should tailgate at a game soon. That Minne series could work out. I will try to get my umping schedule squared away ASAP, but that weekend against Detroit i should be at one of those and Minne possibly both night games. And Keith, i believe that game is called bean bag toss...lol.

Well i'm off to EB now to get the game. If i never talk to any of you ever again, have a nice life. Nah, i'll probly write my first take on this game sometime late tonight. Until then, happy gaming everyone

Count me in for this

You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk? Gonna be some epic games this fall.

Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce is on espn radio talking about this Nomar stuff now. Said they won't move any starting pitching whatsoever.

Well if you think NYY is the more talented team, then yes, we'd have a better chance in a 5 game series than a 7 games series. The shorter the series the easier it is for the upset.

Well i decided to look it up Nomar is a career .337 at home and .308 on the road, so not terrible. I know where you get this from, though, because last year's split was: Home, .359 Road, .243

I can't see 2 teams coming out of the NL West...but it's held up to this point in the season, right? Also, i don't think Texas will win the AL West

GO HAWKEYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #1!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, it's getting old, and fast...

Shouldn't Bracey be chucking a NBA style 3 in that screen? Or possibly getting BLOCKED BY NICK SMITH TO END THE GAME??? Never played MM cuz i heard it sucked. Plus i've never been much into basketball video games. But if i hear it's good from you guys i'll probly give it a whirl (or at least play ste...er, soxnbears game lol)

Soxnbears it is then... Memorial Stadium is a great stadium. No it's not the best place for a homefield advantage, but it's a nice stadium with great, great sightlines. I once heard a stat (and somehow if cwsox ends up reading this thread he could verify it, maybe, because i just heard it a few times) that Memorial Stadium has the most seats from endzone to endzone, which is really cool. Memorial stadium rocked during the Ohio St game in 2002 (hold on a minute while i reflect, sigh). Last year it was lame because every game pretty much got out of hand, though the Wisconsin game was intense early on (until the roughing the passer call) and because it was a night game.

No, it's perfectly fine. I just threw it out there to start up conversation about a possible deal, that's all. Instead of just making up rumors (i hate that), once i heard 'official' word talks were happening i figured that would make it 100 times more likely to happen than just fans WANTING it to happen. I understand what you are saying, and i know radio stuff is not 100% accurate to say the least.

Soxnbears (what's your real name) using Illinois this year will be fun, you'll have to build a program, like i talked about above.

I don't think Schilling would know about it or be at liberty to say anything about it, really I'm just telling you what i heard on espn, what bruce levine said. I guess they are talking now about a deal. Who knows how close it is to happening.

I think the whole recruiting this is just awesome - as long as you don't use a top power. Otherwise, you can get every damn recruit you want...and that's not that fun. Like at one point last year i started a dynasty with Duke, and tried to lure recruits to my school by winning a few games and trying to get on the map. It's fun actually trying to 'build' a program - not just reload