Which Blinn College campuses will have esports teams?
Blinn will have separate teams on the Brenham, Bryan, and Rellis campuses. Both the Brenham and Bryan Campus will compete against other colleges and universities. The Brenham Campus will have student housing reserved and available for esports student-athletes.
Is this an official varsity sport?
Yes, Blinn College teams will compete in two leagues, the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Blinn College and esports student-athletes are required to abide by the standards of each organization.
Additionally, Blinn College students have managed and will continue to manage their own student organization-level teams. It is possible that on-campus intramurals also will begin in the near future.
Who is eligible to be on the Blinn College team(s)?
Blinn's coed esports program is open to full-time Blinn students who are in good standing with the College and have at least a 2.0 grade-point average (GPA). Blinn is reviewing applicants for the Spring 2023 season and will have multiple teams per game title. All interested students are encouraged to apply. Future preferred candidates will have at least a Platinum ranking in League of Legends or a comparable rank in Overwatch, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros, and Valorant. Ideal candidates will have previous team experience.
Will there be student-player standards?
All competitors will be required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 and remain in good standing with the College. Additionally, players will be limited to a set number of hours for practice and esports-related responsibilities. Students are also expected to complete three hours of study hall every week.
Are scholarships available?
Yes, the Esports Program will offer qualified student-athletes scholarships. Contact the coaching staff at esports@blinn.edu for more information.
Am I required to provide my own equipment?
No, the Blinn College practice/competition facilities (called arenas) on both campuses will have the latest esports-specific desktop computers, keyboards, mice, headsets, and gaming chairs. Only official equipment will be used for practice and competitions.
What games will be played by Blinn esports student-athletes?
Blinn is focusing on League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros, and Valorant. Additional titles will be considered as popularity and interest develops.
Where will esports events, competitions, and practices take place?
Blinn has renovated spaces on the Brenham and Bryan campuses which serve as dedicated arenas for the teams. These spaces include dedicated gaming computers, meeting spaces for reviewing play and strategies, televisions, and increased bandwidth for online gaming. Games will be broadcast on the Blinn twitch.tv account.
Will these facilities also be open to the student body?
Currently the arenas are only available to members of the varsity or junior varsity Esports teams. However, students on the Brenham campus can still use the Brenham arena from 2-6 p.m. so long as they join the Buccaneer Gaming Club.
Will there be travel involved for competitions?
Most competitions will occur online and require no travel. As the program develops, we plan to travel occasionally for tournaments. In those cases, the team would travel as a group and student-athletes would incur little or no expense.
How can I watch the Esports team compete?
Game streams will be annouced on the Blinn College Esports Twitter page and can be viewed through Twitch at https://www.twitch.tv/blinnesports.
How do I sign up?
Does Blinn eSports have a Discord?
Yes, Blinn College esports has an official Discord. Any student interested in esports or gaming in general is more than welcome to join. Join the Blinn College esports Discord.