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The beginnings of League's first varsity team

RiotJawstheMusical··244 votes·105,794 views

For the first time ever, a North American university is officially adding League of Legends to its athletic program and building a varsity team to compete in next year’s North American Collegiate Championship.

This September, Robert Morris University (RMU) is rolling out an official League team, made up of one varsity team and two practice teams, for the 2014-2015 academic year. As members of an official school team, League athletes will receive the same benefits as other RMU athletes, such as coaching, staff support, tutoring, and scholarships.

So, why is RMU making a varsity League team? Well, Kurt Melcher, the university’s Associate Athletic Director, is a gamer at heart who’s played his fair share of competitive PC games. After he learned about League’s collegiate scene and the teamwork involved in competitive play, he realized League shared many of the same attributes as a traditional college sport.

RMU has already started recruiting for its star lineup, so check out their official announcement for more info.

1,525 Comments

Mister Sprinkles1430 votes

So it's official, playing video games can benefit my education now T.T....HAHA MOM SUCK ON THAT.

KidDizaster241 votes

Finally vindicated after all these years. I have a premonition that perhaps, by the end of the century, esports will be as respected as physical sports.

Pvt Yong Tai121 votes

It already is, in places like Korea. Starcraft stars are revered just as much as the soccer players there (or at the very least, were, back when Starcraft was extremely popular)

Moppin60 votes

Rest in peace brood war :(

802 One Love33 votes

As cool as that would be its not gonna happen. People would never chose watching others play a video game over football.

21st Legion196 votes

you know that the Season 3 League Championships had a better average viewing than that year's superbowl, right?

smoothsensation14 votes

Can you cite a source on that? I find that a little hard to believe. Everything I'm seeing doesn't reflect numbers near the superbowl.

Blanchimont10 votes

There's no way League had more than 100 million viewers like the Superbowl. I believe it was something like 30 million during the season 3 finals. Something that people forgot to take into account is the number of global viewers. The English channel alone had 1 million viewers at once, but you also have to account for the fact that there are other language broadcasts and that it is shown on TV in South Korea. This year's finals will probably break that.

Vok Kraken28 votes

People who listen SuperBowl are mostly people who do it for the hype or for the publicity.

People who listen to league of legends are true fans and player.

f8XyBLTpcY58 votes

Or maybe they like Football?

MercyLux25 votes

http://na.leagueoflegends.com/en/news/esports/esports-editorial/one-world-championship-32-million-viewers

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-super-bowl-xlviii-676651

TBM Wardless93 votes

That is actually not correct, the Super Bowl last year was the most watched program in history..... as much as I love watching League i'm not gonna accept this lie..

it is known47 votes

This is actually not correct. World Cup 2010 had 909 million viewers, Superbowl had 110 million

Royx26 votes

No it won't educate you actually

DPW LinkzMcGee151 votes

No it won't educate you actually

He said it would benefit his education (scholarships and tutoring), not that the game will actually educate him.

Royx8 votes

ok, it won't benefit him either. same thing> > No it won't educate you actually

He said it would benefit his education (scholarships and tutoring), not actually educating him.

Noble King889 votes

ok, it won't benefit him either. same thing> >

As members of an official school team, League athletes will receive the same benefits as other RMU athletes, such as coaching, staff support, tutoring, and scholarships.

Yes, it will benefit one's education to take part in.

Royx2 votes

[deleted]

Soulflare89 votes

Theres nothing wrong with being a "nerd"

Tarupron76 votes

It's like this guy doesn't realise that nerds and geeks make the world go 'round. Without nerds and geeks, this game wouldn't exist, which means this website wouldn't exist, which means he wouldn't have sounded like an idiot and be forced to delete his post.

NERDTOTHEMAX56 votes

What did you say about being a NERD?????

Zeuxidamos107 votes

That's pretty cool. I've had injuries/problems that stopped me from being able to join a sport, so I was just in band, orchestra, jazz band, solo piano classes going to UIL, getting perfect scores in state competitions, but I always wishing to catching the winning touchdown, or the winning home run, or just making the winning plays. But I never can or never will be. And in band, we never got any glory, the football team always got the cheers and the praise. I always wanted to be there and FINALLY have people applauding for me. Yea it might be wishful thinking BUT all I really want is the CHANCE. I know I won't make it to Worlds, but the fact that there is a chance, makes me happy. Thanks for reading, I'm just a person who lost his legs due to a drunk driver at the age of 8. Playing instruments and games is all I can really do. Cheers.

F1lmboy18 votes

I really like seeing LoL get more attention from the non-gaming community, but I honestly can't believe this comment. How gullible do you think we are? It's funny how a sob story like this can attract attention so easily.

For starters, I've played piano since the age of 3 and I know that the pedals (especially sustain and Sostenuto) are quite important for playing a piece successfully. If you lost your legs, I can't see you using these pedals.

Inb4 overloaded with dislikes from people who believe this clown.

Smèxy41 votes

Ehem, it is possible to get a special piano made, or maybe he has prosthetic legs, you don't fucking know.

Dethmar106 votes

As a hardcore gamer I love this but as a someone who has played sports his whole life, I think this is ridiculous.

Crorse214 votes

As some one who refused to play sports most of my life, I think high school sports are ridiculous

Royx1 votes

[deleted]

Renodhal16 votes

Why does someone need to be ready for college sports? Statistically speaking, we need less people "ready" for college and professional sports, because too many bank everyone on the chance they end up failing at.

Royx13 votes

Well it's good they have hopes for their future instead of somebody who just plays a video game

Iccirrus44 votes

And yet most of the high school athletes I know of were morons who couldn't tell the difference between gravity and a potato,and were so self absorbed that they thought they were gods among men.Well until they graduated with shit GPA's of course. They fit the general stereotype of high school athletes, and stereotypes exist for a reason. That being said, most of these people don't deserve spots at universities because they usually don't give a damn about anything except sports and take up valuable slots that would be better used for somebody who actually cared about their education instead of somebody hoping to get drafted into professional sports and become the Million Dollar Man Moron.

St0rmblessed87 votes

Most high school athlete are not meatheads... as a high school athlete and an avid league player myself, I can tell you that the majority of athletes are just average students that devote themselves to a different pastime then you and you judge them for it. It is different for different sports as well though, the football (american football) players of my school are quite stupid.

VoidGG14 votes

I think most of you are ignoring a simple fact: these things are not mutually exclusive. You can play video games and play athletic sports. Frankly, I suggest balancing your portfolio and doing both. They both provide their own benefits for personal growth. As for intelligence, it IS exclusive from these things. It makes you better at both but choosing one or the other doesn't factor into your intelligence. People who play sports aren't dumb, dumb people tend to play sports because they aren't good at anything else.

From a personal entertainment standpoint: eSports > athletic Sports.

PHLeEd12 votes

I know how that is :P as a varsity (state and beyond) swimmer i am the same way, but it shows the changing times.

yami54540 votes

As an athlete and a gamer(I fence) i think this is great im not good enough for anything like this but its great that were accepting that some people are good at things that invole the same values of sports just on a virtual field.

Heritic35 votes

In my opinion playing League and other games professionally is extremelly difficult, even if it is only for your college team. I hope this becomes a much larger scene and Esports will become accepted into our society.

DoomPool93 votes

I would like to see the NFL with a patch schedule..

1.01 Due to less points being scored than anticipated we have changed the following:

Field Length: 100yds now reduced to 90yds

Field goal: 3pts Has been increased to 4pts

First Downs: Renewed after 10yds Reduced to 7, also Now get 5 downs was 4

Kick-off: Now grants kicking team a 10% cooldown reduction

insert any name92 votes

Why didn't they have this when I was in college? I sacrificed too much college for LoL...

item 3151

Crimson Flower87 votes

The Athletic Director is secretly Draven

TheFluffyBunny9130 votes

exactly...welcome to the league of Draven

BirdmanX51 votes

Asian Exchange students Incoming!!

SwiftStriker0044 votes

I think its great that the school is doing this. Let's just be careful when throwing around the word "athletic" in its program. While its great to be able to represent your school with your particular skill set, it is in no way a replacement for exercise.

Iccirrus15 votes

Yeah, I feel like E-Sports are legitimate in their own rights,but using the word athlete to describe the members of the team just isn't quite right. I'm not involved in any organized sports due to lack of skill, but gaming just isn't athletic. That doesn't mean it isn't as competitive as other sports though,as some people tend to imply.

Lemîllion41 votes

Now picture Ahri As a chearleader, Gragas and Alistar as fans and Zilean as that one cool teacher. Now all we need is some Draven

lolabestcat23 votes

Now we just need a really good, neutral ref.... LeeSin

pecs40 votes

[deleted]

Senor Pablo17 votes

I see what you did there

HeftyFeedah55 votes

LeeSin Won't see it.

Omnifrost40 votes

I'm seeing a lot of people saying LoL will never be a sport. They're right, it's not a sport, it's an eSport.

Dwrcan22 votes

so, uh, how popular is rmu as a university exactly?

icoicy47 votes

so, uh, how popular is rmu as a university exactly?

I have never heard of it before. GG Rito.

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