ESPN/ABC Sports analyst Kirk Herbstreit is known to be a man of extreme convictions. Remember, Herbstreit moved from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, several years ago to Nashville because fans didn’t like some of the potshots he was taking at his alma mater, the Ohio State Buckeyes. So, it’s not a surprise that Herbstreit hasn’t forgotten the forces that led to the demise of his beloved NCAA Football video game. When asked recently by Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Alex Martin Smith about the return of the game, Herbstreit was demanding of the return of the game. “They better,” he told the AJC. “I can’t believe Ed O’Bannon took that game away from us.” Of course, Herbstreit is referrinig to “they” as NCAA, EA Sports and a coalition of former players headed by O’Bannon, a former UCLA and NBA forward who filed an antitrust class action lawsuit against the NCAA demanding payment for commercial use of amateur athletes’ images. Perhaps the biggest consequence of the settlement — at least for Herbstreit and other gamers — was the demise of the football game that had utilized tens of thousands of players’ likenesses during its run from 1993-2013. Herbstreit got his start playing the game while at Ohio State. Eventually, he was featured along with Brad Nessler and Lee Corso as analysts in the game. When the game was no longer played, Herbstreit was among the most disappointed. “I was probably as devastated or more devastated than anybody in the country,” he says. “I’ll do anything I can do to help be a part, to lead a cause, bring that game back.” Herbstreit believes the cost of the game wouldn’t be adversely affected by paying players for use of their likenesses. …
Continue Reading: Bitter Herbstreit says O’Bannon ‘ruined’ NCAA Football for gamers
