Notre Dame’s highly debatable decision not to allow itself in the next edition of EA Sports NCAA Football continues to have the desired ripple effect. Tulane announced Friday that it also was pulling out of participation in the revived video game franchise. Athletic director Troy Dannen made the following announcement:
We will ALWAYS be the biggest advocates for our student-athletes.
A message from @Tulane_AD on the return of @EASports NCAA Football. #RollWave pic.twitter.com/fZCh3BwZUt
— Tulane Green Wave (@TulaneAthletics) February 26, 2021
Let’s not kid ourselves. Nobody except diehard Green Wave fans and people who like building dynasties with lesser known programs was going to buy this game so they could play as this team. Tulane doesn’t have nearly the same influence as Notre Dame or even Northwestern, the second program to pull out of the game. Still, this should make it clear that no one is a given to allow itself to be part of it anymore.
It’s amazing that it could take programs not participating in a video game to fast-track the NIL process and finally get college football players the money they’ve deserved for so long. Hey, whatever works, right?