Channeling the efforts of Tout Wars for fantasy baseball, some leaders within college football’s wing are trying to create a premier gathering for the “experts” in that area.

The Fantasy College Football Invitational merges several existing “expert” leagues and is starting up with the backing of some significant sponsors. To wit:

• Athlon Sports will provide free league-management.
• Fantasy Trophies will provide a free trophy for the winner.
• LeagueSafe will manage entry fees and donate any interest the account accrues.
• MockDraftCentral will host the draft.
• SportsJudge.com will handle resolution of any trade disputes.

The entry fee makes this effort different from many “expert” gatherings, as every team will be required to put up $100. After any necessary costs are covered, 75 percent of the remaining pot will go to the champion’s charity of choice. The league runner-up will decide where the donation of the remaining 25 percent will go. The charity-donation model derives from a league run by Vince Mullins of FantasyCollegeBlitz.com last season.

Randy Burgess of Insider Sports Media (and new site LeagueRunners.com) is organizing the effort. He reports that 12 fantasy sites have confirmed entry so far. Anyone else interested in participating should e-mail him at wrburgess@gmail.com. More details can be found here.

Name: Mike Beacom
Nickname: none
Job title(s): Publisher for World Fantasy Games, President & Chairman of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association
Age: 32
Education: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Family status: Partner, Lisa, and our two daughters
Favorite fantasy sport to play: College Football
Favorite sport to watch: College Football
Favorite team (any sport): Green Bay Packers
All-time favorite athlete: Emmitt Smith
Years playing fantasy: 19

I got my start in the fantasy industry when: I wrote a piece for Fantasy Sports magazine in 2000

Since then, my fantasy résumé includes: A year at DraftSharks.com, three years as the senior editor for Fantasy GMs, three years as the senior editor for Pro Fantasy Sports, one year as the publisher for SportsBuff.com/World Fantasy Games … four years as the chairman of FSWA (2004-07), one year as president and chairman.

1) How important to you is your work with young writers? Why?
It’s a large reason why I remain in this industry. I was fortunate to have a couple of mentors during my formative years as a writer, and now I try to do what I can to help young fantasy writers perfect their craft and find jobs. As Woody Hayes put it, it’s about “paying forward.”

2) What motivated you to launch your own site with Fantasy GMs? What have you gotten out of business management that just isn’t there for a writer?
I had been with Draft Sharks for a season and decided I could do this on my own. It was the first real business risk of my life, but it was exciting. I knew nothing about operating a business — organizing the paperwork, screening potential employees, tracking growth — but I was young and anxious to learn everything I could. I think every man/woman should operate their own business at least once throughout the course of their life.

3) You have performed in central roles with the FSWA since its inception. What makes it so important to you? What do you hope to get from it, and what are you trying to make sure it gets from you?
The FSWA is the purest organization I’ve been a part of. No one is paid a nickel, yet everyone involved gives freely of their time for the greater good of the fantasy writers. I think it’s because all of the people involved — the executive committee, the board — we’ve all experinced what it’s like to be a young writer with big dreams. I need nothing for my contribution; but I’ve committed to do all I can to grow this organization, and I hope to be involved for a long time.

Fantasy college sports have grabbed a lot of attention over the past few months, following the announcement from CBSSports.com that it would give names to the players in its college football game.

Because of the growing interest in college fantasy contests, the Fantasy Sports Writers Association is recognizing a top college writer for the first time in the five-year history of its writer awards.

John Baker, who spent his first season handling college football for SportsBuff.com in 2008, is competing with ESPN’s Will Harris and RotoWire’s Adam Mankuta for the inaugural trophy. SportsBuff.com, of course, is part of the company that also owns this site.

The FSWA will announce the winners on the first day of next week’s FSTA winter business conference. The association also plans to begin naming a college football fantasy player of the year in 2009.

A roundup of recent posts on the FSB News page.

– Among the predictions made by sports marketing veteran Glenn Horine in this Sports Business Journal column is the following: “Look for an uptick in consumer electronic expenditures as stay-at-home fans enhance the home entertainment experience. Young and old will spend more discretionary time with social media outlets and fantasy sports. It’s affordable, entertaining, and a connection vehicle for friends and family.” Add him to the list of those who think sports to be recession-proof.

– Dave Del Grande is hosting his own college-bowl competition. Although he refers to it as “fantasy,” it looks more like a pick ‘em contest, at least at the outset. Still, though, he’s Dave Del Grande — Mr. Fantasy.