If a midnight black controller, a bean bag chair, and a PlayStation 5 are in the equation, this means South Carolina State quarterback Corey Fields is going to have a great day. If someone were to ask Fields this back in 2019, he might not agree after struggling to beat his teammate De’Montrez Burroughs game after game.
 
“I don’t think there was a single game in 2019 when I have ever beaten (Burroughs),” Fields said.
 
Fields explained although he may not have been able to come out on top while playing Burroughs, the serenity and peace Madden brings him is unmatched.
 
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is coming up on its fifth season of esports competition. In the first three seasons, Howard University reigned victorious. Morgan State built a history of being a close contender coming in as runner-up each season.
 
Morgan State then won the MEAC’s inaugural in-person tournament at the 2023 MEAC Basketball Tournament this past March, with the roles reversed, leaving Howard as the runner-up. Howard and Morgan State are amongst five other schools currently participating in MEAC esports: Norfolk State University, University of Maryland at Eastern Shore, Florida A&M University, North Carolina A&T State University, and North Carolina Central University.
 
In addition, the MEAC has implemented an annual Football Media Day Madden Tournament in the last two years. The tournament allows football student-athletes in town for their media obligations to regain balance while bringing awareness to esports.
 
In keeping with the theme of the last two years, Howard University defensive back Kenny Gallop, Jr. won the Madden tournament on Thursday, July 20, defeating North Carolina Central quarterback Davius Richard in the final.
 
Fields described the environment as one-of-a-kind, especially with some of his favorite music playing. He may not be able to sit his bean bag from home, but being around other MEAC football players makes him feel right at home.
 
“It’s actually great because a lot of us are coming from summer workouts, and we get to relax and get away from actual school,” Fields said. “We get to relax, meet new people, and have great experiences.”
 
While YouTube was being created in 2005, Fields was getting his hands on his first Madden game. Little would he know that YouTube and Twitch would end up being aids in enhancing his Madden skills.
 
“If I had to give myself a rating in Madden, I would give myself like an 8.5 or 9.3 on a good day,” Fields said.
 
One thing Richard and Fields both agree on when the helmets and pads come on for game days, it’s all about winning. But when it comes to Madden for these few hours, it’s about fellowship and relieving stress.
 
For many college football players, Madden allows them the opportunity to either create a player that resonates with them and their personality or use their imagination to create a player that is completely different from themselves.
 
Richard says for him, it’s the other way around. He wishes the player he is on the field transferred over to his controller.
 
“Madden is way different from real life,” Richard said. “You would expect that a quarterback can just hop on Madden and be good, but no, it does not relate.”
 
The game also allows college football players, and people in general, to sit in the comfort of their homes with some possible bragging rights after winning a one-on-one game.
 
There may not be a Rihanna performance involved, but Madden players can also play using franchise mode, a game feature dating back to 1999. In franchise mode, players have the opportunity to win a Super Bowl, coach games, and display general manager duties like trading and signing players.
 
Fields looked at the Madden tournament as a way to get a head start on his trash talking. He plans to use his photographic memory to remind opponents on game day about how he came out on top on the console.
 
Fields may have been the best trash talker in the room, even in losing his quarterfinal match-up against Richard, but Gallop ended the day as the champion.
 
On the other hand, this year was a comeback year for Richard; he was eliminated in the first round in 2022, but this year he sat comfortably in the final.
 
“A lot of my teammates like to get on Madden after a hard day of workouts,” Richard said. “I used to play against them early on, and they beat me a lot. It forced me to get better.”
 
Richard does not classify himself as a gamer, but he likes to “dibble and dabble” sometimes as a stress reliever. The NCCU standout also enjoys playing Apex Legends and Call of Duty.
 
“This event keeps you grounded and allows you to settle,’ Richard said. “I get to hang out with other members of the teams and just talk while having a good time. It allows me to reset to zero before things start to get hectic again.”
 
The MEAC currently has four schools with a dedicated esports lab: Howard, Morgan State, Norfolk State, and N.C. Central. The conference is now determining what it can do to aid universities that do not have labs.
 
Howard’s Smash Bros. team participated in the 2023 Collegiate Esports Champions Cup (CECC), the esports equivalent to an NCAA tournament, in Arlington, Texas. The students’ travel and housing were sponsored by McDonald’s of North Texas due to Howard’s high level of participation within the MEAC league.
 
After a long day of fellowship outside and inside the virtual world, Fields and Richard are ready to compete in a family atmosphere.
 
“I think it all comes down to the statement MEAC Strong,” Richard said. “I can confidently say that everyone inside of here truly believes outside of the competition, there is camaraderie. We really enjoy each other. We all have similar goals and a common purpose.”