Competition with a Click! NESCom student tapped as ECAC sportscaster

For those who think playing video games is a waste of time, here’s something that might just make you change your mind. As of this year, the esports market was valued at a little more than $1 3 billion, yes that’s with a “b,” according to the database company Statista. It is considered one of the fastest growing industries within the online gaming world.

Husson University’s newly opened Esports Center in the Darling Learning Center, offers 15 high-end PC setups along with three console stations with lounge seating. Students compete in team-based, real-time online video game contests against other colleges and universities. The Husson esports intercollegiate co-ed team competes in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC). More than 200 schools with more than 400 teams make up ECAC.

About 50 students from Husson played competitively this past fall semester. There are both junior and varsity levels. “Two of our teams made it to the playoffs,” says Husson Interim Esports Coordinator Andy Michaud. “Several of our teams were featured on eSports U, a Twitch.tv channel that receives hundreds of views every day.”

Recently, New England School of Communications Senior Jarod Bolton was asked to be an ECAC Sportscaster. “An ECAC sportscaster is much like a traditional sportscaster,” explains Bolton. “We give play-by-play commentary for video games.”

Bolton already has some experience broadcasting esports tournaments on his own Twitch channel. He worked with ESPORTS University, which helped guide Bolton on the protocols and procedures to be an official ECAC commentator. Bolton likes to think he brings his own unique style to the cyber sport. “Games and challenges have been a spectacle since ancient times,” he says. “My love for both competition and the raw emotion that goes into them has carried from traditional sports to esports. Esports is nerve racking and super competitive. My approach consists of describing what’s going on in the game while also hyping it up.”

This past fall, the Husson Eagles esports teams competed in Rocket League®, Valorant, Overwatch 2™, Super Smash Bros Ultimate™ and Rainbow 6 Siege. In the spring, the esports team added Fortnite™ and League of Legends™ games to its roster. Additionally, Husson is hosting two major in-person tournaments – one for Maine high schools and the other for colleges and universities around the state.

Recently, the team partnered with a physical therapist from Performance Therapy, LLC in Bangor. They provide weekly exercise programs focusing on injury prevention, performance, and extending the esports careers of the student athletes. Any student at Husson University is encouraged to try out for the team. Placement is based on ingame skills, communication style, team chemistry and work ethic.

“For decades, the benefits of participating in traditional sports programs at the school level have been well documented,” says Michaud. “Now that esports is becoming more popular, we are seeing the same thing with these students as well. We have been able to make some great connections with the community through hosting tournaments and inviting schools to visit and utilize our facility.”

The University Esports Center will be doubling in size starting in the fall of 2023 in order to address student demand and program growth.