Instead of waiting until Sept. 1 for Auburn's return to the gridiron, fans will have the to opportunity to put the game in their own hands with the release of EA Sports "NCAA Football 13" on Tuesday, July 10.
This installment of the game will bring back all of the favorite features that established the popular franchise, as well as adding a few new ones to its arsenal.
As far as gameplay is concerned, players will have more control over the passing game with the streamlined passing controls and defensive limitations.
"Total control breaks down a play from the snap until you throw the ball with three, five and seven step drops that are set based on the routes being run," said Ben Haumiller, game producer. "The icons on receivers will also illuminate when they turn and look so passing accuracy will depend on the quarterback finishing his drop and the receivers looking for the ball."
Gamers will also be able to break out of play actions to pick up blitzes that running backs would often miss.
Paired with the 20 new passing trajectories, players will be able to complete passes as much as their ability to read a defense will alloy them.
A new game mode is the Heisman feature. Players will be able to play as one of 16 former Heisman winners, including Barry Sanders, Archie Griffin and Robert Griffin III.
"This feature will allow you to put the available Heisman winners on any team you'd like to see if you can get them back to the top," Haumiller said. "Since we cannot use the names of current players, this adds a sense of identity to the players that lead your team."
Pat Sullivan, Bo Jackson and Cam Newton will not be included.
"We started with a large list of players including Cam and Bo, but we had to whittle it down due to timing and whether or not they wanted to be involved," Haumiller said.
Although Auburn's finest will not have their talents in the game, the Tigers are represented in a big way. Alex Howell, graduate in industrial design and former walk-on running back from 2003-2007, is a designer for "NCAA Football 13."
Howell's responsibilities include having complete control over the Road to Glory and Heisman game modes. He also serves as Auburn's inside man, ensuring every detail is accurate.
Howell said one of his biggest contributions was adding the eagle circling Jordan-Hare Stadium before kickoff in "NCAA Football 12."
"Getting the eagle in last year was a blessing," Howell said. "Being a player, I always thought seeing that eagle fly was the coolest thing, and it definitely adds some authenticity to the experience."
Howell said his goals for next year is to have the Tiger Walk and Toomer's Corner in the game.
"Even though a lot of teams have their own version of it, there is nothing like Auburn's Tiger Walk," Howell said.
A must-have that missed the cut again this year is the "War Eagle" fight song, written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman in 1955. The estate of Allen still holds the rights to the song, prohibiting EA Sports from using it.
"I don't know what the scoop is on what's going on, you would have to talk to our lawyers," Howell said. "We want it real bad, and I might have to come up there and take someone out to dinner to get it."
Regardless of fight songs and traditions, the Tigers boast an overall rating of 93 out of 100, which is a positive prediction for the actual 2012 season.
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