The video-game crystal ball tells all Halzle most successful signal caller on NCAA Football 2008 Halzle most successful signal caller on NCAA Football 2008
The EA Sports slogan says it all: If it's in the game, it's in the game.
Advertisement
But just how much is in the game? Could the answer to the biggest question on the minds of Oklahoma football fans be in the game?
If so, Sooner fans better break out the No. 15 jerseys to support Joey Halzle.
The Oklahoman conducted a series of simulated seasons on the EA Sports video game, NCAA Football 2008, placing each potential OU quarterback — Halzle, Sam Bradford and Keith Nichol — in the starting role for a full year against the Sooners' upcoming schedule.
Halzle produced the most success, taking OU to a 12-1 record and a final ranking of No. 4 in the nation after beating Les Miles' LSU team in the Cotton Bowl.
Bradford's Sooners finished 11-2, while Nichol managed only a 10-3 record, losing to both Oklahoma State and Texas.
Of course, the video game versions of Halzle, Bradford and Nichol are slightly altered by their status on the team.
Halzle, a junior, got higher ratings simply because he's been on the team the longest and being used as the first-team QB last spring, when the video-game makers did their research. Bradford and Nichol, as freshmen, were rated especially low in the "composure” category, while Halzle was much higher. So Bradford and Nichol were behind from the start.
The popular theory that OU needs only a quarterback who doesn't make big mistakes held true in the video game.
Halzle was responsible for 22 total turnovers and Bradford 23. Nichol threw 25 interceptions and fumbled five times.
And if the video game's prognostications carry any accuracy at all, Big 12 teams better watch out for Texas A&M and Colorado, which reached the conference title game twice each in the three seasons.
Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
Leave a comment.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).
uhhh did you read the article, it says they SIMULATED THE SEASONS!!
Ok, well...what if the Oklahoman staffers playing the game suck at NCAA? There are myriad reasons why Halzle ended up having the best record in the game, but I can gurantee you that real world QB ability is NOT one of them.
You sportwrites are pathetic! GET A LIFE and Go get a real story instead of using a VIDEO GAME to make up a story. Very sad! No wonder Bob Stoops gets annoyed by you guys.
well A&M looked good in NCAA becasue the latest version of the game favors strong run games, and is interception prone...jus look at the qb turnover ratios you have up above, 22-23-25, thats quite a few. That is another reason why ou did well in your sims,
The run game, to sum it up I wouldn't take too much from these results...
IMOO
Here's how the quarterbacks compare in player ratings on NCAA Football 2008.
Attribute
Joey Halzle
Sam Bradford
Keith Nichol
Overall
84
76
74
Speed
78
70
72
Awareness
72
52
59
Agility
74
68
74
Acceleration
80
70
74
Break tackles
65
56
68
Throwing power
87
91
84
Throwing accuracy
85
87
82
Stamina
86
88
82
Avoids injury
91
92
85
Related to this story
Articles
Simulated season highlights 08/15/2007 Wondering how each quaterback played? Here are some more details from the simulated seasons. Simulated Joey Halzle • Record: 12-1 • Postseason:...
OU football notebook 08/15/2007 Secret for cornerback's success hidden in his eyes When asked what makes corner Reggie Smith a special player, defensive backs coach Bobby Jack Wright...
OU's Patrick to appear on Sports Illustrated cover 08/15/2007 OU's Patrick to appear on Sports Illustrated cover Oklahoma running back Allen Patrick will be featured on one of five regional Sports Illustrated covers...
6
Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
The run game, to sum it up I wouldn't take too much from these results...
IMOO