The great majority of gamers, possibly 99.9% of those playing College Football 25, will never experience what it’s like to have their name, image, and likeness on the screen while playing a video game. That, to this writer, appears to be a bizarre experience.
Recently, two Tennessee Volunteers transformed the experience into a really humorous moment.
Kaleb Webb and Nico Iamaleava faced off on the popular video game, and they both played as Volunteers. Naturally, this meant that both attacking players would use Iamaleava while also attempting to knock him to the ground. The outcomes, frequently involving star player James Pearce, Jr., made for some amusing moments.
“Are we really doing that the whole game,” Webb joked about Iamaleavea and Pearce, Jr. coming after him.
“What are you talking about, the entire game? I can’t rush James Pearce. Iamaleava answered, “The best player in the game!” (and he is literally correct).
After being blasted once more (ironically, by a player controlled by the real Iamaleava), Webb retaliated in a humorous and infuriating manner.
“Dude, James is unblockable in this one, dude. Oh, my God. “This is crazy, bro,” Webb murmured, as Iamaleava laughed. Webb was fired twice more in short succession, once by Pearce, Jr., to terminate the video footage.
One must appreciate how far things have come, at least in terms of collegiate athletics and the popular EA Sports video game. From lawsuits and the game’s shutdown more than a decade ago to gamers engaging in some harmless banter on social media.
Fortunately, back in the real world of football, Pearce, Jr. will aim to wreck opposition quarterbacks this fall, while Iamaleava and Webb hope to return Tennessee’s attack to the form it had during an 11-win season in 2022.
