Chapter 5 - Campus Legend

Create your own prospect, compete in your high school playoffs, and attend signing day to become the next big thing in college football. NCAA Football 08's campus legend mode lets you take control of your favorite position player, attend practices, complete events (do you play in a pick up basketball game or stay home and do your classwork?), and finally compete in your team's college schedule. This section provides some tips on becoming the next campus legend.

• Character creation is your first decision in campus legend. Do you want to be a scrambling quarterback or pocket passer? How about speed running back or a power running back? Or forget offense completely and play on the defensive side of the ball, as a lineman, linebacker, cornerback, or safety? Consider your choices carefully, especially concerning the skills of your player. A power back will have greater break tackle and trucking abilities but lack outside speed. You won't have control over play-calling, though the AI seems to mix inside and outside runs. Create your character's size, look, and background before venturing into your high school state playoffs.
• Campus Legend is unique because gameplay is focused on your character. If you've chosen to play a running back, the camera sits just behind your player. You'll spot the offensive linemen opening holes (hopefully!) and must navigate through them. Not much different than the actual gameplay camera. However, choosing a position such as a wide receiver or cornerback offers a unique experience.
• One of the Xbox 360 achievements is creating a 5-star prospect. After each high school playoff game, your game statistics are presented along with a notification of which college scouts attended the game. A star rating at the top reveals your caliber. The greater the stars, the more college scholarships you will be offered (and generally better potential playing time). Game performance determines your rating. Make big plays, rack up yardage, and impress the scouts. Capitalize on your opportunities. You must win your state championship and if these conditions are met, you may become the 5-star prospect.

Campus Legend mode lets you build a college superstar from the ground up. The Legend Meter tracks your status.

• After the high school playoffs, it's off to signing day. Scan the list of college scholarship offers. These reveal where you will fit in with the team. At some of the top 25 schools you may be 4th or 5th deep on the depth chart and have to work your way up to see playing time. At smaller schools, you may be 2nd string or game ready immediately. Your play at practice determines how quickly you move up the depth chart. Frankly, it's not that difficult to rise through the ranks, especially if you're a player on offense. Score a couple touchdowns in practice and it won't be long before you're starting. Defense is much tougher because it's harder to stand out. Choose your prospective school with this in mind.
• The "Legend Meter" tracks your progress throughout your career. One of the 360 achievements is to completely fill the meter. A variety of accomplishments affect the meter, including defeating a rival, winning a championship, remaining at school for your senior year instead of going pro, popularity, and winning the Heisman trophy or other awards.

• Remember controlling your campus legend is up to you! If you're a receiver, you will be responsible for running routes, getting open (press the "A" on 360 to call for the ball), and evading defenders to the end zone. But you will also be responsible for making blocks to help out the running game. On defense you must be aware of your assignment—are you in man coverage or responsible for a zone? Use strafe to backpedal as a cover corner. This is one of the most challenging positions in Campus Legend. Try baiting the opposing quarterback into throwing your way…just be ready to make the pick!
• In Campus Legend, you have no control over play-calling. You may believe the situation calls for a run but the coach has sent out a passing play. Infuriatingly, the coach has sent out that same passing play that hasn't worked yet! Furthermore, unless you're the quarterback you have no control over clock management or, unfortunately, how poor your signal caller plays the game. And if you're a Campus Legend on offense, you'll have to sit back and watch your defense get shredded and waste a big lead in the fourth quarter. Or your kicker misses a chip shot to tie the game! You have no control over these things, just as you would if you were a real player. It can be both exciting and frustrating.

Previous PageNext: Mini-Games and 360 Achievements