Minor changes let 'NCAA 10' major in fun

• By RICH LOUP
• 2theadvocate.com Sports Editor
• Published: Jul 16, 2009

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July is a good month.

It features relative peace and quiet, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and the annual release of the new EA Sports “NCAA Football” game.

“NCAA Football 10” has a few new features that really seem more like tweaks to last year's version.

Here's a rundown of the vitals:

Building a Dynasty

Team Builder is an old feature with a new twist. Previous “NCAA Football” editions allowed you to make your own custom team, pick your colors, logo, uniform and stadium and choose your style of play (balanced, heavy passing team, strong defense, etc.).

“NCAA 10's” Team Builder takes it a step further, though. You can do all of your creation online, which gives you the ability to add logos from the Internet or your computer to your uniform, field, etc. Then you can download your custom-built team (or someone else's team) through the online function of the game and use that squad for play in the game.

You're allowed 12 slots for custom teams in Team Builder with the purchase of the game. You can buy more online after that. Those 12 slots can be used for teams you create or for the clubs created by others.

This is much improved, if only for the ability to put your own logos in the game. I'm not big into Team Builder, but if you're a fan of FCS schools like Southern and Southeastern Louisiana, it gets you a little closer to being able to play with your favorite team. However, you'll have to do a lot of work to get the players to their real-life specifications.

The Team Builder creations can be used in Dynasty mode, though you'll have to bounce an existing school to make room.

Be your own conference commissioner

At one point in the early 1990s, Texas and Texas A&M were possible candidates to join the Southeastern Conference before their ultimate affiliations with the Big 12 were sealed.

If you were curious enough, you could add both to the SEC in “NCAA 10” with the addition of Custom Conferences. The catch is that you have to kick out a team for each new addition to your conference. That wouldn't be a problem for a lot of fans who think Vanderbilt doesn't belong in the SEC. Maybe South Carolina could join the Commodores on the outside to accommodate the Longhorns and Aggies.