Matt Ryan is cover athlete for PS3 version of NCAA
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Apr 23rd 2008 at 5:00PM }
Click for high-resolution image.
This year's iteration of EA's annual NCAA Football franchise is pulling a Soulcalibur with its covers. Every platform (PS2, PSP, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii) will feature a unique cover athlete. Representing the PS3 this year is Matt Ryan, winner of the 2008 Manning Award -- an award that's reserved for the nation's top senior quarterback. The press release reminds us: "In his senior season, he helped lead the Eagles to an 11-3 record and a victory over Michigan State in the Champs Sports Bowl."
Maybe it's because we're fanboys, but we certainly think this is a better choice for a cover athlete than the Wii version (no, that's not a joke).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dan Davis @ Apr 23rd 2008 5:20PM
I may have to buy a copy of the Wii version just to burn it.
M GO BLUE! CLASS OF 2004!
wisconsinista @ Apr 23rd 2008 5:22PM
I made the accident of buying last years version. Never again will I be fooled. A rental at best.
Dan Davis @ Apr 23rd 2008 5:31PM
Yeah, me too. This year's version looks to be pretty good though:
Online dynasty
Real-time turf degredation
Authentic fields
Mini games
Alternate uniforms
Customizable soundtrack
and 60 FPS!!!
Funke, Tobias Dr. @ Apr 23rd 2008 9:15PM
Same here. For at least 5 years I bought NCAA on the first day it was out, and never rented before hand. Last years sucked so bad I sold it back and went back to playing 2007 on PS2. So did one of my friends.
I never cared about EA having an exclusive agreement with the NCAA until last year as things constantly improved. Last year was a major step back though. I can't stress this enough.
The Sound @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:48PM
They NEED to fix the play selection and make it like it was in '04,'05,'06 because no matter what they may say, having a highlighted icon of the play you're going to use is so easy to look at and cheat off your opponent.
Seriously, played the demo, and was like WTF?! Why would they do that?! It has to be the dumbest idea in a sports game yet..
reson8er @ Apr 23rd 2008 5:20PM
LMFAO
I was wondering why the hell you were posting this as its utterly pointless... and then I checked the Wii cover....classic.
Good one Andrew, good one.
kevin @ Apr 23rd 2008 5:12PM
see this shows that we get a real person in the cover cuz ps3 can handle those graphics on the other hand wii gets sparty which is some cartoon guy...
see what im sayin?
Bubs @ Apr 23rd 2008 5:36PM
Why not pick the Heisman Trophy winner EA ? Tebow can do it next year too , haha , damn that guy is good .
The Sound @ Apr 23rd 2008 8:42PM
They cannot pick any currently playing college players (like Tebow) because it's against NCAA rules, and qualifies as an endorsement I think, because these guys get paid to be on the cover.
BrokenMonkey @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:19PM
That sucks, I'm not buying an NCAA game until Tebow is on the cover (yes I'm a Gator)
wocyob @ Apr 23rd 2008 5:12PM
ewwww EA
Killswitch On @ Apr 23rd 2008 5:14PM
LMAO @ wiiiiiii version. That is some funny stuff. Funnier even more that its legit.
Dan Davis @ Apr 23rd 2008 5:28PM
Does this mean that since Matt Ryan beat Sparty = PS3 > Wii???
And BTW, beating a 7-6 MSU team in a crappy bowl game that nobody watched isn't exactly a stellar accomplishment to spotlight on Matt Ryan's résumé, EA.
Sparty SUCKS! M GO BLUE, CLASS OF 2004!
Seminole @ Apr 23rd 2008 5:26PM
Lets not forget that it was Florida State who knocked off B.C. and in one game ended B.C.'s national championship hopes as well as Ryan's Heisman hopes.
Gooo NOLES!
jq71586 @ Apr 23rd 2008 6:18PM
I hate Matt Ryan with every fiber of my being. I live in BC country where everyone is so infatuated with any player with any semblance of talent it makes me sick. BC produces offensive lineman and when a skill player has any sort of marginal success it gets blown up to such a degree. (William Green, anyone?)
The next closest big school around here is what? Syracuse? Penn State? People around here feel like they have no choice but to root for BC because there is no other big D-I school around here.
I'm going to buy this game just because of my love for college football and that EA has promised 60 fps (yeah I know, I'm naive), but I think I'm going to have to print out a new cover.
Bubs @ Apr 23rd 2008 6:34PM
I'm with you on printing out a new cover , gamestop.com usually has different screens for your picking so you can do just that .
dirkmagurk @ Apr 23rd 2008 7:13PM
if madden isn't 60fps this year I will go to EA studios myself and take a sh%t on their front door
Jove @ Apr 23rd 2008 7:11PM
you see? thats the reason developers and people dont take the 'wii' seriously. they dont. i mean damn... just damn...
DanMacMan @ Apr 23rd 2008 8:38PM
Go Blue!
And congrats to Jake Long!
Nick Stark @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:38PM
Matt Ryan..... really?
Thats the best they could do
19 interceptions... NO BCS game....pathetic
John @ Apr 24th 2008 4:51AM
This year's version looks nice. And I see the cover must be chosen from the photo series of Matt Ryan, for I have seen a similar card online: http://dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?deal_id=99200&ru=279 , but that is a good job. About Ryan, I think there is no doubt that this kid is gonna be a big time player but I wouldn't count on him going to KC. I think he's gonna go to the FALCONS at number 3 because Dorsey will end up going to St. Louis.
Nash @ Apr 24th 2008 10:01AM
Mock drafts seem to think Ryan is going to drop to 8 and be here in Baltimore, so I guess I'll pick this up and keep it next to my copy of Madden 05! I guess since Desmond Howard graced the cover in 06 it's too early to put some more BLUE on the cover...I'd rather see Jake Long on the cover AND in Baltimore to help our line since Ogden is outta here. Oh well, congrats to him anyway. GO BLUE!!!
Elliott @ Apr 24th 2008 10:09AM
Wow! There are comments from U of M fans that actually went to school there! Too bad you're still out numbered by the trash wearing the blue hats at Wal-Mart and trailer parks.
Dan Davis @ Apr 24th 2008 2:31PM
Yeah, unfortunately the maize "M" on a blue hat is a bit ubiquitous with the redneck population of America... kinda reminds me of how kids would "thug out" with Georgetown or Miami gear back in the 90's.
Otis @ Apr 24th 2008 7:55PM
Too bad Matt Ryan isn't even the best QB in this year's draft. That distinction belongs to Brian Brohm. It is hilarious that Brohm is penalized for playing on a team with an inept defense.
NAME CMP| ATT |YDS |CMP% |YDS/A |TD| INT |RAT
Matt Ryan 388 |654 |4507 |59.3 |6.89 |31 |19 |127.0
Brian Brohm 308 |473 |4024 |65.1 |8.51 |30 |12 |152.4