RAMS Report

ECPI University AD, Coaches Named to eSports Governing Body  

ECPI University is proud to announce that three staff members from its eSports team, the RAMS, have been named to leadership positions within the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE).

At the organization’s recent national convention, ECPI University Athletic Director Mike Glover was named to NACE’s board of directors, Rams Head Coach JJ Meyers was selected to join the competition committee, and Coach Stephen Arthur has been appointed to the Eligibility Enforcement Committee. Each will play a pivotal role in shaping policy as NACE and intercollegiate eSports quickly evolves.

“We are in the infancy stages of collegiate esports,” says Glover. “Every decision made by NACE will a have long-lasting and profound impact on esports. I see being a part of the Board of Directors for NACE as not only a duty but an obligation.  My goals for the elected term are simple…make sure the private institutions that participate in NACE are fairly represented and have equal say in the direction of collegiate esports. And I am going to do my best to make sure collegiate esports are something generations to come will enjoy, and not have it being something that is just a passing fad.”

The National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) is a nonprofit membership association organized by and on behalf of its 150+ member institutions. Together, its members are developing the structure and tools needed to advance collegiate esports in the varsity space. It is collaborating to lay the groundwork in areas such as eligibility, path to graduation, and competition and scholarships. NACE is the only association of varsity esports programs at colleges and universities across the U.S.

Midseason Update

By Mike Glover, ECPI University Athletic Director

The ECPI University RAMS are mid-way through the fall semester season for three of our game titles (Overwatch, Rocket League, and Hearthstone). The season got off to a bit of a rocky start, but some quick roster adjustments and new strategies by the coaching staff have yielded some great results and have us back on track for a solid fall season finish.

As of Mid-October, we sit at a 45.5 percent win rate across all games with Rocket League at 4-5, Hearthstone at 3-4, and Overwatch even at 3-3. Also, as most of you know already, we are competing in two conferences this year, NACE (the National Association for Collegiate Esports) and ECAC (Eastern Coast Athletic Conference).  In ECAC, our Overwatch team is currently tied for first place in our group. With that said, our play-off hopes for the fall season remain high and the competition matches are preparing us for the spring semester seasons and the national championship runs we look forward to competing in for the 2020 season.  In addition to the thrilling competition, we added another exciting element this year by streaming almost 95 percent of our matches. The streams are 100 percent student-run and those students are as much a part of the team as any other player. Be sure to check your email weekly for streaming days and times and then tune in to twtict.tv/ecpiuniversity and watch your ECPI Rams compete with schools from across the country.