Desmond Howard: The Cover Athlete of NCAA Football 06 and a Legend Beyond the Game
NCAA Football 06, the 13th installment in the popular NCAA Football series, marked a departure from tradition by featuring Desmond Howard, a Heisman-winning player from the University of Michigan, on its cover. Developed by EA Tiburon and released by EA Sports on July 11, 2005, for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, the game quickly became a commercial success, topping the sales charts for July 2005 on PlayStation 2 and securing the second-best-selling spot for Xbox during the same period. Howard's presence on the cover reflected the game's most notable new gameplay feature: "Race for the Heisman."
Desmond Howard: From Wolverines Star to Cover Athlete
Desmond Kevin Howard, born on May 15, 1970, in Cleveland, Ohio, established himself as a football prodigy early in his career. He earned All-American and All-Ohio honors as a tailback at St. Joseph High School, amassing 5,392 rushing yards and scoring 18 touchdowns in his senior season alone.
Howard's college career at the University of Michigan further solidified his legacy. He set or tied five NCAA records and twelve school records, including a single-season record of 19 receiving touchdowns. In 1991, he caught 62 passes for 985 yards and scored 23 total touchdowns, earning him the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, and Walter Camp Award. He also gained 694 yards on special teams, averaging 27.5 yards per kickoff return and 14.1 yards per punt return. Howard captured 85 percent of the first-place votes in the Heisman balloting, the largest margin in history at that time. In 2010, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and honored as the inaugural Michigan Football Legend.
His iconic Heisman pose, struck after a punt return touchdown against Ohio State, became a cultural phenomenon, imitated by athletes, celebrities, and even presidents.
Race for the Heisman: A New Gameplay Experience
The "Race for the Heisman" mode in NCAA Football 06 allows players to experience the journey of a high school standout aiming to earn a scholarship from a major college program. Players begin by choosing their position and participating in a position-specific drill. Based on their performance, they receive offers from three schools or can opt to walk on to a school of their choice. After selecting a school, the player is automatically placed in the starting lineup.
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Impact Players and Gameplay Enhancements
NCAA Football 06 introduced another new feature: the Impact Player. Each team has three impact players, typically the highest-rated players on the roster, with at least one on offense and one on defense. These players are called upon to make big plays when "in the zone," indicated by a pulsating white impact icon underneath the player.
The game also retained popular features from previous versions, such as the "Top 25 Toughest Places to Play," with the University of Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, "The Swamp," remaining at the top.
A Soundtrack First: Licensed Music in NCAA Football 06
Prior to NCAA Football 06, the franchise only featured college fight songs, which played randomly, with the user-selected "favorite team's" fight song playing upon startup. NCAA Football 06 broke from this tradition by including licensed music, aligning the series with other EA Sports releases like Madden, NHL, and FIFA. However, this format was short-lived, as NCAA Football 07 returned to the college fight song soundtrack. Notably, NCAA Football 06 allowed players to disable the licensed music and listen to the fight songs. The soundtrack featured mainly college rock, punk, and post-punk selections, including Bad Religion, The Clash, NOFX, and The Mr. T Experience.
Reception and Legacy
Upon its release, NCAA Football 06 garnered positive reviews and commercial success. By July 2006, the PlayStation 2 version had sold 1.2 million copies and earned $56 million in the United States. The game is still ranked among the best in the series.
Desmond Howard's NFL Career and Beyond
After a stellar college career, Howard was drafted fourth overall by the Washington Redskins in the 1992 NFL draft. While his receiving skills were notable, Howard primarily excelled as a punt and kickoff returner throughout his 11-year career.
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His most memorable season came in 1996 with the Green Bay Packers, where he led the NFL in punt returns (58), punt return yards (875), punt return average (15.1), and punt return touchdowns (3). He also gained 460 kickoff return yards and caught 13 passes for 95 yards. During Super Bowl XXXI, Howard's 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown earned him the Super Bowl MVP award, making him the only special teams player to receive the honor.
After his NFL career, Howard transitioned to broadcasting, becoming a college football analyst for ESPN. He has also served as a color commentator for Detroit Lions pre-season games.
The End of an Era and the Future of College Football Games
Due to legal issues surrounding name, image, and likeness rights, NCAA Football 14 was the last installment of the video game franchise for several years. However, the series made a comeback in 2024 with EA Sports College Football 25, reigniting excitement among fans.
While the cover athletes for College Football 25 feature current college stars, Desmond Howard's legacy as the cover athlete of NCAA Football 06 remains significant. He represents a unique moment in the franchise's history, bridging the gap between college stardom and NFL success.
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tags: #ncaa #football #06 #cover #athlete
