Like most males under the age of 35, I enjoy playing video games. And I tend to get hooked on them. When my roommate and I first got Guitar Hero II, I played so much that I lost feeling in my left middle finger. True story.

I also was temporarily addicted to NCAA Football 2007. I would stay up at night and simulate a season, just so I could go through the offseason and recruiting period. And then I’d do it again the next night.

Anyone who has played college football or basketball video games knows the rosters feature made-up names that go with the physical attributes of real players.

It’s never been much of a secret, but now one former college quarterback has had enough of it.

Former Arizona State and Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller has brought a lawsuit against the NCAA and EA, the maker of the game, claiming that the athletes’ images are used without permission and against the NCAA’s own rules.

The NCAA seems to have itself covered here. If Keller, and any other players who decide to join in the lawsuit, were to win, I would imagine there’d be one of two outcomes: either EA stops using virtual players who resemble real players, or the players would have to get a cut of the profits.

That brings up another issue - should college athletes get paid for playing their respective sport?

My answer to that would be that the majority of them are already getting paid. It’s called a scholarship.

Sure, there are plenty of Division I college football and basketball players to whom a scholarship to a good college means next to nothing. But there are plenty of other athletes in those sports, and others, who care about the free education they’re getting to play a sport.

I’m sure I’m not just speaking for myself when I say getting a free education as “payment” for anything would have been a pretty sweet deal.

Tags: college basketball, college football, college sports, EA, NCAA, Sam Keller, video games