Tentacle Coach (Xander Raff)

2025 is going to be a big year for the Brooklyn College Esports folks. Lock in and join us.

I know league gets a really bad rep for toxicity - but no title I've ever coached or managed has has as much IRL toxicity as VAL. It's not even close. In terms of opening tickets against teams, taking internal action, etc. It's probably 10-1 VAL before the next title in line.

Had a great time talking to @DShyKnock at this event which has @MadeinNY to thank! As an organizer, we are hoping to continue to grow the college esports presence here in NYC and give more students the opportunity to compete in massive ways. Thanks for coming through!

@Seanatonin_ @DShyKnock Wish you were here my goat

@DShyKnock @TentacleCoach … much more? I though we had a special connection

Teams from all over New York State here for this and the turnout is incredible! #NYCCEC

My student leaders when I dont check discord for an hour because I'm driving someone to the airport.

This isn't to say there aren't several aspects of traditional sport we shouldn't mimic! That being said, we can't copy paste examples we find fitting in a given moment. There needs to be a lot more thought given to what this is and where we are at right now!

I get why many of us with trad sports backgrounds want to utilize them as comparative examples when discussing policy for collegiate esports. However, sometimes we just have to accept that this is just different. Approaching it as a novelty leads to better innovation.

@s8ton_xD @MadeinNY @vgamateurs @ECAC_Esports We are fortunate to have you on the board with us to guide NYC collegiate! Looking forward to doing big things!

Proud to be on the advisory board for this exciting initiative by @MadeinNY @vgamateurs, along with @TentacleCoach @ECAC_Esports ! If any NYS or NYC schools want to participate, I’ll drop the link below!

@Seanatonin_ Grew up in an apartment building where this happened regularly. Awful stuff sorry man.

How fkn awful do you have to be to steal clothes out of the washer? I hope that they are doing you well… Ruined my entire week

@thetoughfleece I know we both have more to do today than just have this conversation but I thank you for having it. I want students to fundraise but I also think students, parents and faculty should be yelling at admins to do better. That second part keeps getting lost in the convo elsewhere.

@thetoughfleece The adults I'm referring to as champions are institutional leaders, not parents. Parents should be involved but edu institutional leaders are failing to connect with students - their job. The stigma is why they don't acknowledge that IMO. Participation shouldn't matter for them.

Clubs should just charge competition dues like every other club sport on college campuses.

@thetoughfleece Without getting into an exceptionally broad conversation bordering on non-esports related politics; I'll just say that I personally believe they should be much more invested currently yes!

@TentacleCoach I agree adults should carry the burden at early ages , MS, HS. But we are talking about college students. Isn’t college all about finding yourself and preparing yourself for the future ? Should parents be expected to be more invested in changing the status quo for 18-22 yr olds ?

@thetoughfleece Every other competitive activity has at least 60+ years of mainstream validity and students start from a young age competing in organized fashion. IMO not remotely close to esports which is nascent by every comparable metric. Adults should bear the burden of change, not kids.

@TentacleCoach Those are circumstances everywhere though and for all sports the financial difficulties persist. I just don’t identify with the feelings surrounding esports and why students treat participation differently than other competitive activities . Reality is reality unfortunately

@thetoughfleece To which they next argument becomes, can they raise said $50-$100 each. Then you have to weigh the difference in asking someone 50+ for money for softball/baseball versus gaming.

@thetoughfleece In NYC we have students would struggle to afford $10. I have several students working just to help the parents they live with pay their bills. The entire CUNY system which has 250k students is like this. Again public university and private financial situations are different.

@thetoughfleece All of this is also not to say that clubs shouldn't work to raise money. It's the first thing I teach them to do. However, the comparison is constantly to club athletics which I think is optimistic at best and disingenuous at worst.

@thetoughfleece Which is still an example of raising funds for an activity sure but not an athletic adjacent one with year long events and large volumes of students using equipment.

For those that hadn't seen yet - I'm excited to help organize this with @vgamateurs and @MadeinNY! Going to be a fantastic event for the NYC and NYS folks. CUNY will be here to make waves and my gamers from @CUNYbcesports.

@chaseshaco If you kill a challenger player that also basically makes you challenger. You must now dm all of your friends and let them know.

Unspoken ARAM rules: • NO EXHAUST • melee champs take snowball • dont end at the first opportunity • dont build full tank/support • take the fight regardless if u can win • if you kill a challenger player they must have bought their account so flame them in all chat