By Quinton Miles

A year after falling to David “Sandman” Seitchick in the Madden Challenge finals, Eugene “Big Gene” Williams is finally walking away with the top prize of $50,000 as he was crowned ths year’s Madden Challenge champion. Beating out more than 16,000 competiors in 32 cities nationwide, Williams defeated Antoin “Pretty Boy” Williams and recieved the money in the form of Visa card, earning him the oppurtuinity to attend the 11th annual EA Sports Madden Bowl on February 3.

On the NCAA side of things, Jessie Hannien of Florida State University won the inaugural EA Sports NCAA Challenge and is now $10,000 richer. Hannien, who defeated Michael Hawkins of Clemson University in a battle of ACC schools, was one of more than 1,000 students at 16 campuses nationwide that competed in the event.

In the end, both events turned out to be huge successes and look to have an ever bigger following next season.