With the draft under way football fans and gamers alike are beginning to lick their chops with the next football season and next edition of NCAA and Madden just over the horizon. With EA releasing so much information recently whether it be through the form of screenshots, revealing a new feature or a press release it can be a tad hard to keep up with everything. Have no fear; stickskills is here to give you the run down on what has been verbally said and what can be seen with a second look.

What is known:

• Improved Running: A lot of complaints last year was it was too difficult to run the ball and EA has heard. Now there are bigger cutback lanes, even more improved line blocking and the ability to hit the dreaded spin-juke-stiff arm-hurdle-juke-spin-dive combo. Or... the Reggie Bush.
• Home Field Advantage: It is back and with a vengeance. If you’ve caught some of the trailers released you’ll see what this can do to opposing teams with the vibrating play art among other features such as the return of cheerleaders and mascots.
• Tackling: If last year just wasn’t enough EA has brought even more tackling animations to the table.
• Online: Dynasties. Yes, online and dynasty is in the same sentence. Not to mention online roster sharing. So long action replay and datel transfer kit!
• Offline: 1-4 Co-Op has returned so now that third wheel can stop nagging when it is his turn to get on the sticks.
• Game play: Bobble catches, returning missed field goals and formation audibles oh my! Not to mention smart routes and even better passing control.

Dynasty has also been revamped to allow an easier time to recruit as that was also a major concern. Post game and play-by-play is now included with new catch phrases from the crew. Bluff art has also joined formation audibles and smart routes into the newly refined offensive controls. New mini-games, random plays in practice, CPU vs. CPU, quick replay, user customization in music are also jam packed into 09 along with many other things such as revamped stadiums and player models.

What isn’t known:

Now EA has announced that the crowd will be much more unique but its plain as day through screenshots and videos that that is far from the case. Yes, you can tell much more easily where the student section is but then again you could grasp the idea of where they were last year.

The sidelines look great and rightfully so. From screenshots and videos you can tell that instead of country farm boys on the sidelines you’ll see a mixture of players of all sizes and colors and who aren’t always clapping as if in some sort of robot trance. They’re also separated into small groups which may very well be by position but who knows, that may be too advance for EA.

Just in case you didn’t know there will be field goal nets this year. Gasp, surprise, I know, and joining the nets will be the referees to make the call on the field! Keep your pants on details fans--there’s more! As seen from the close up on McFadden there will be clear visors. A second look also reveals UnderArmor logos. Combine this with the color coordinated gloves and cleats one can only assume, and proven from blogs and reports, that there will be an even deeper customization of players for 09.

So as you can tell EA has pulled out all the stops for NCAA 09 and while it does indeed look and seems to deliver promising features the final judgment cannot be passed until the game has been put through the motions. A lot of wants and needs have been addressed but two key features gamers feel should have joined this intense list is the addition of FCS schools and Create-A-School. Another concern is to see what EA has done to the Campus Legend mode to only improve upon the strides it has taken such as the addition of high school playoffs and a harder depth chart to climb. With May right around the corner these final questions should be wrapped up just nicely.