Question 1

What is the "PAC-U?""

Accepted Answer

The Pac-U is a group of schools working together to connect directly and plan longer-lead events and matches that are--from a schedule standpoint--modeled after how analog sports are showcased

Question 2

What are "analog sports?""

Accepted Answer

"Analog sports" are what we'd call physical sporting events vs digital - football, basketball, baseball, etc. - they need to primarily be held in person

Question 3

Are you affiliated with the Pac 12 conference?

Accepted Answer

No - we're the esports leaders who represent the schools who make up the Pac 12 conference schools, but we're not directly affiliated with them

Question 4

Who are the members of the Pac-U?

Accepted Answer

Arizona State University
Oregon State University
Stanford University
University of Arizona
University of California, Berkeley
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Oregon
University of Southern California
University of Utah
University of Washington
Washington State University

Question 5

Who manages the group of schools?

Accepted Answer

Primarily students/staff/faculty advisors for the schools' respective Esports organizations along with student leadership

Question 6

Why did you start it?

Accepted Answer

Between the pandemic, students being isolated in quarantine, the loss of "analog sport" like college football, etc., we felt the need to step up and provide a way to build school spirit and entertainment that would also keep students and players safe.

Question 7

Who does all of the work?

Accepted Answer

We assessed our respective skill sets and divided up work across the network - some are good with social media, some with design, others with planning /organizing, otherts with streaming broadasts.

Question 8

Is it a "tournament?""

Accepted Answer

No - this fall (Fall 2020) we are doing a series of standalone invitational matches that sync with what would have been the Pac-12 Fall 2020 Football schedule.

Question 9

Why isn't it a tournament?

Accepted Answer

Holding a "tournament" would violate the game-maker's publishing licensing agreements schools must abide by in order to publicly play and stream matches.

Question 10

Are there prizes?

Accepted Answer

Not this fall - we started this up and began planning as summer was winding down as we realized 1) how most schools would still be having remote classes and 2) how the lack of analog sports would impact school spirit.

Question 11

Why don't you have prizes?

Accepted Answer

For most of us, Esports aren't directly funded by our schools, so we'd have to have sponsors to have prizes; once we had sponsors (aka revenue) involved, we knew that the legal agreements, etc, required to execute would delay us for a considerable amount of time. This year, our players just want to play.

Question 12

How long will it run?

Accepted Answer

The standalone matches will run from September 25th through right before Christmas.

Question 13

Will there be a "winner" at the end of the invitational schedule in December?"

Accepted Answer

Not a "champion" due to the same reason this isn't a "tournament".

Question 14

Is there a way to sponsor?

Accepted Answer

Not this fall, but if someone is intersted to discuss how to support as we evolve into something more permanent over the next year, they can email us at pac-ugamingofficial@outlook.com

Question 15

Which games are you playing?

Accepted Answer

Primarily we're playing League of Legends, Overwatch and Rocket League. We also may have a shorter series of matches for games that we don't allhave teams to support that would run from Thanksgiving through mid-December.

Question 16

How are the game's publishers involved?

Accepted Answer

We've been discussing with the publishers and they're supportive as long as we comply with their licensing guidelines.

Question 17

Is this a one-time thing?

Accepted Answer

If it goes well, we plan to make it a regular thing - having Esports matches scheduled with long lead times will allow us to plan more effectively with our mostly-volunteer/student resources

Question 18

Where do you stream?

Accepted Answer

This fall, we're only streaming on Twitch - the official channel is @pac-ugaming, but schools' with their own twitch channels can co-stream with pac-u.

Question 19

Are there rules?

Accepted Answer

Yes, they're modeled after the rules here.

Question 20

Why are you doing this so quickly? Can you do it later?

Accepted Answer

We wanted to catch as much of the Fall as possible and replicate what would have been the Pac-12 football schedule as possible so that students have something to rally around vs their only school engagement is via online classes with little student life/entertainment

Question 21

How can I find out more information?

Accepted Answer

Go to pac-ugaming.com; it's a site under construction but it'll have our most recent schedule, team info, etc. We also have social media accounts.

Question 22

I'm a student, how can I join?"

Accepted Answer

First, join our Discord! It's open to all students here: https://discord.gg/2E9tsqW

Question 23

Do you have social media?

Accepted Answer

Yes, here:
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pacific.uni.35
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/pacugaming/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/pacugaming
Youtube
https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTBuOJI9vVbDKldnDsCQkw
Twitch
https://www.twitch.tv/pacugaming
TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@pacugaming?lang=en

Frequently Asked Questions