Top 10 football states from ESPN.com (NT mention)

[Baby Arm!]

From ESPN.com

Bruce Feldman's Blog

I'm blogging this morning from an Uptown Coffee that, as luck would have it, has wireless access, which has made my day a lot easier. Today's list is Best Football States. The topic was suggested by blog contributor Dave, who seems to be full of good ideas for the dead of summer. Anyhow, my criteria for this week focused on production at the NFL, college and high school levels. I also considered how passionate the fan bases are.

1. Texas: The state has it all, starting with tradition. Everywhere in football history you turn, Texas' fingerprints are all over the place with the Sammy Baughs, Doak Walkers and Earl Campbells. Not to mention institutions like the 12th man and a bunch of the best nicknames around. The state Is crazed about its college teams. Hook 'em. Gig 'em. Guns up. Virtually every Division I-A Texas team has a persona. Even North Texas had its hands in a big football movie ("Necessary Roughness"). The pro teams, especially America's Team, are almost as big. Most of the good football movies that have even been made have been rooted in the Lone Star State ("North Dallas Forty" comes to mind first). Better still, the state's ridiculously rich recruiting soil not only feeds all the state programs' two-deep, but also that for a lot of the Big 12 too.

2. Florida: Considered "the speed state," Florida's recruiting status has boomed in the past 15 years with the rise of the University of Miami and FSU. These days, almost every college tries to make inroads into Florida. Heck, Rutgers has practically installed itself as University of Florida-Rutgers. There are five different high schools (Fort Lauderdale's St. Thomas Aquinas, Tallahassee-Lincoln, Palm Beach's Glades Central, and Miami's Killian and Northwestern) that have each produced at least 19 I-A players since 2001. The state has added four I-A programs in that time and two of them already are making a lot of noise (UCF and USF). The state's strongest point is that the Big Three schools have combined to win an astounding eight (UM 5; FSU 2; UF 1) of the past 23 national titles. That alone should enable Florida to make a run at Texas for the top spot. The Dolphins, thanks to Shula and Marino, have become part of the NFL's fabric and spawned the Bucs and the Jags. There is one big knock though: both the Canes and the Dolphins struggle to fill their stadiums.

3. California: Like Florida and Texas, the state is loaded with college programs that have rich histories. California is also stocked with talented, polished QB prospects annually. Credit that to both the style of offense that long has thrived in the Pac-10 and to the influx of personal QB groomers who often begin tutoring prospects when they're still in junior high school. The city of San Diego, home of Marcus Allen, Terrell Davis, Ricky Williams and Reggie Bush, among others, rivals the city of Miami in breeding talent. Boasting two of the NFL's glory franchises (the Raiders and the 49ers), California trumps Texas and its America's Team. But that leads to the big knock here: there is no NFL in the L.A. area and there hasn't been for a long time, and it doesn't seem like many of the folks here miss it all that much. Also, sellouts on the college level, even for the winning, big-time programs, are far from a slam dunk.

4. Ohio: I'd rank Buckeyes fans as passionate as any college support system around. Drawing 64,000 for a spring game is quite a statement. (Full Disclosure: I did grow up an OSU fan.) The Browns are also one of the NFL's storied franchises. The fact that the Pro Football Hall of Fame is in Canton also made me bump Ohio ahead of Pennsylvania. I also like the strong MAC presence and Miami of Ohio's role as the cradle of coaches and that there have been some superb small-college programs (Youngstown and Mount Union).

5. Pennsylvania: I feel like this is a pro-driven spot that takes its cue from the Pittsburgh Steelers' fan base. The pluses are there are two college programs with strong histories (Pitt and Penn State), the famed QB cradle that yielded Unitas, Montana, Marino and Co., and the state does produce a lot of linemen. Overall, the state simply doesn't produce the volume of Texas, Florida and Cali, which certainly have numbers and climate on their side.

6. Louisiana: This is very similar to Georgia, and even though the Saints are so awful historically, I leaned to Louisiana over Georgia. Why? Per capita it develops more NFL talent than any place else (only Mississippi is close). Like Texas, the state is also big on legendary characters (not including the Grey Ghost from "Everybody's All-American"). Louisiana also could give Pennsylvania a run for breeding star QBs (Terry Bradshaw, Joe Ferguson, Bert Jones, the Manning brothers and Jake Delhomme). Another big edge that propelled Louisiana over Georgia is the link to Grambling and Eddie Robinson and all the talent that was developed there for generations on the SWAC level.

7. Georgia: This is college football country and Athens is one of the nation's most charming college spots. The state has housed a few Heisman winners and helps fill the rosters in the ACC and the SEC. The Falcons, Mike Vick notwithstanding, also are a bit lacking historically. I toyed with the idea of dropping Georgia down to No. 8, but didn't because the Atlanta area produces so many great players and because Valdosta State and Georgia Southern have such strong histories.

8. Michigan: The home of arguably the most recognizable helmet in football. The state also houses one of the top six or seven cities that breeds NFL talent (Detroit). The top two in-state colleges are a big-time 1-2 punch in terms of Big Ten history. In 2005, the Wolverines averaged almost 111,000 fans per home game, besting No. 2 Tennessee by more than 3,000. How about this item: The last time Michigan did not have 100,000 in attendance was 31 years ago vs. Indiana, when a crowd of 95,857 saw the Wolverines beat IU, 55-7. The Lions, however, aren't holding up their end and rarely have.

9. Indiana: This may be basketball country, but when Notre Dame is within your borders, you deserve the tag "football state." Purdue's gridiron history isn't too shabby, either. The pro side has taken off since Peyton Manning showed up. The snag? The state simply doesn't produce that many I-A football players annually, and the state school, IU, has rarely been very good.

10. Wisconsin: This is big NFL country thanks to the connection to the Packers that has been shaped by Lombardi and Co., and to some extent, reshaped by Brett Favre. It's also been spruced up on the college level because of former Badgers coach Barry Alvarez, who turned a mediocre program into a perennial Big Ten title contender thriving off a charming, refurbished stadium that has as good a game-day atmosphere as you'll find anywhere. The state's talent pool also is pretty underrated, and this year shapes up to be one of the best in years.

This last spot was close with Illinois and Maryland also in the running, but I felt that neither of those state's college programs were as strong as what the Badgers have. Tennessee does, and the state has a deeper recruiting base, but doesn't match up well when it comes to the Titans vs. Cheeseheads.

[MeanGreenPOP]

Of course I am biased since I was born and raised in Oklahoma....but for real how can you leave Ok off of the list...I'd say at least #2 behind Texas....we're just as crazy about football up here as Texans are down south....and talk about reconizable football uniforms....I'd say the Sooners are one of the most loved and hated programs in the nation.....not to mention we have a couple of High school programs that are ranked in the top 10 in the country (Tulsa Union and Jenks) every year. We may not have but 3 D1-A programs but we have several top rated D2 and NAIA schools not to mention one of the top rated JC schools for putting players in D1-A in the country (NEO at Miami OK). But this is nothing new to okies...Jealous people have been ignoring us for years.....one other thing that should put us at the top with Texas....one of the biggest games in the country is played at the Cotton Bowl every year...and I hope will stay at the Cotton....It's one of the greatest game atmospheres I've ever been part of..

[bigrobdsp]

Of course I am biased since I was born and raised in Oklahoma....but for real how can you leave Ok off of the list...I'd say at least #2 behind Texas....we're just as crazy about football up here as Texans are down south....and talk about reconizable football uniforms....I'd say the Sooners are one of the most loved and hated programs in the nation.....not to mention we have a couple of High school programs that are ranked in the top 10 in the country (Tulsa Union and Jenks) every year.  We may not have but 3 D1-A programs but we have several top rated D2 and NAIA schools not to mention one of the top rated JC schools for putting players in D1-A in the country (NEO at Miami OK).  But this is nothing new to okies...Jealous people have been ignoring us for years.....one other thing that should put us at the top with Texas....one of the biggest games in the country is played at the Cotton Bowl every year...and I hope will stay at the Cotton....It's one of the greatest game atmospheres I've ever been part of..

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I was unaware that Oklahoma was still a state.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

I would put put the Okies and Nebraska on the list instead of Indiana and Wisconsin. The problem with those two states is no NFL programs and only one college of note in Nebraska although OSU and Tulsa has had a few good moments in Oklahoma.

Indiana??? Notre Dame is filled with out-of-state players and the Colts is a pro team without local athletes.. Their home grown football players are nothing to get excited about about. A better case could be made for NY with Syracuse and two NYC and a Buffalo football team in the NFL and it is a bad choice to me. Probably Indiana is the writers home state. Even Bama makes more sense to me. I would think Friday nights in Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Bama would get more attention than in Indiana or cold Wisconsin.

[MeanGreenPOP]

lmao...Oklahoma may not have an NFL team but there are sure plenty of players (past and present) that are native oklahomans playing or have played in the NFL...not to mention one of the greatest of all times, Jim Thorpe. And for you Texans that don't even reconize OK as a state (sour grapes over all the recent losess to OK at the cotton bowl) ...there have been plenty of OK natives on the Cowboys team that you guys consider some of the greatest cowboy players in your NFL history....Trot Aikman for 1.

[NCMeanGreen]

Of course I am biased since I was born and raised in Oklahoma....but for real how can you leave Ok off of the list...I'd say at least #2 behind Texas....we're just as crazy about football up here as Texans are down south....and talk about reconizable football uniforms....I'd say the Sooners are one of the most loved and hated programs in the nation.....not to mention we have a couple of High school programs that are ranked in the top 10 in the country (Tulsa Union and Jenks) every year.  We may not have but 3 D1-A programs but we have several top rated D2 and NAIA schools not to mention one of the top rated JC schools for putting players in D1-A in the country (NEO at Miami OK).  But this is nothing new to okies...Jealous people have been ignoring us for years.....one other thing that should put us at the top with Texas....one of the biggest games in the country is played at the Cotton Bowl every year...and I hope will stay at the Cotton....It's one of the greatest game atmospheres I've ever been part of..

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Hello, MeanGreenPOP...I hope you and your sons are doing well!

I have to disagree with you here. Oklahoma may have OU...but that is about it, really, nationally. To say that OK should be 2nd behind TX is a bold statement, really, considering you would have to leave FL and CA out of the Top 2. If you look at the great programs that TX, CA, and FL have compared to just OU in OK that really does say it all. Heck, if just having OU were enough, Indiana would be #2 with ND!

Edited June 5, 2006 by NCMeanGreen

[MeanGreenPOP]

we're doing great thank you....Charley is back in Denton taking a couple of summer classes and working out at the athlectic center and Brent is preparing to go to Wichitah Falls next week to prepare for the Oil Bowl.

Now the topic of this thread.....If you rate the state based on big time programs like in CA and Fl then OK does not have a chance. But, if you rate the state based on fan support and just pure rabbid football supporters then OK has to be at the top with Texas. Thats my only argument. Those states have so many big time programs because of their population base. But I would bet the percentage of people that are football supporters of their various programs, OU, OSU, TU and all the High schools vs. the percentage of people that don't give a crap about football compared to CA (alot of layed back druggies) and Florida (alot of retired people and druggies) Oklahoma would rank way above those states. Hey, what else do we have in hickville but our sports programs (and alot of great fishing holes).

[Eagle1855]

I think like half of OU and Ok Lite's teams are comprised of Texas talent, so it would be hard to make a case for the overall HS talent in Oklahoma as compared to Cali, Florida or even Ohio.

I cant comment on the fan support, but I would guess there are several other "less significant" (tounge in cheek) states that also support their programs rabbidly.

But hey, even if the big NCAA football programs in OK have a down year, at least there is always "noodling"

[eagle60]

California's love of football starts at high school or before. While I lived there I saw games where the crowds were bigger than the combined populations of the two towns. Look at teams like De La Salle who comes in and beats one of the top teams iin Louisiana. And there are many more. Since I grew up in Texas I was first inclined to think otherwise.

[Buford_Julep]

There is an interesting article in the Rivals Recruiting Yearbook 2004-2005 about where NFL players come from.

Here are the top 10 states based on current (2004) NFL players per capita:

1. MS

2.LA

3.SC

4.HI

5.FL

6.GA

7.AL

8.TX

9.NE

10.IA

Top 5 metropolitan areas Based on current (2004) NFL players per capita;

1.Gainesville Fl

2.Tallahassee FL

3.Longview-Marshall Tx

4.Montgomery Al

5.Lafayette La

Most 2004 NFL players who attended a high school within a 100 mile radius:

1.Anaheim Ca, 122

150 mile radius:

1.Fairfield Tx, 135

2.Washington Pa, 134

250 mile radius:

1.Robbins Ga, 243

2. (tie) Jasper Tx, 242

2. (tie) Jonesboro La, 242

worst 250 mile radius

1.Peerless Mt, 0 Nearest NFL player went to high school 321 miles away in Carrington ND.

High Schools

1,Ely Pompano Beach Fl, 6

2.Lake Highlands (Dallas and Richardson) Tx, Melrose Memphis Tn, Thornton Harvey Il, Raines Jacksonville Fl, and Mt Carmel Chicago Il, 5

[MeanGreenPOP]

hahaha....LMAO...ok guys I give....your throwing to many stats at me....I conceed my state is only big in crooked politics, high taxes and rednecks with pickup trucks

[MeanGreenPOP]

and I can't forget noodling of course

[Guest e-bone]

Jealous people have been ignoring us for years.....

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[MeanGreenPOP]

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I'm assuming by your reply to that short quote you can't understand why anybody would be jealous of OU.....count the national championships Texas has had since 1970 VS. how many OU has had and reaction of anger on longhorn fans faces could be perceived as the green eyed monster..

[Eagle1855]

I'm assuming by your reply to that short quote you can't understand why anybody would be jealous of OU.....count the national championships Texas has had since 1970 VS. how many OU has had and reaction of anger on longhorn fans faces could be perceived as the green eyed monster..

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glad to see they made good use of our Texas-born talent

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

glad to see they made good use of our Texas-born talent 

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I agree!! UT-Norman does quite well with their Texas talent, a lot of it has come from West Texas oilfields. In fact until recently we had a radio station here in Midland/Odessa that carried every UT-Norman game. Oftentimes there are more Texans than Okies on our Norman team.

I usually cheer for the Sooners, in fact I usually root for the other Texas teams as well...except SMU.

Edited June 5, 2006 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[FirefightnRick]

1. Texas: The state has it all, ....... Everywhere in football history you turn, Texas' fingerprints are all over the place.......Better still, the state's ridiculously rich recruiting soil not only feeds all the state programs' two-deep, but also that for a lot of the Big 12 too.

According to one person's OPPINION, this above is WHY he put Texas up top. Now I don't agree with him about leaving OU off the list. I doubt he would have had this been the start of summer, 2001 with OU getting ready to defend their national title.

Interstignly, at work we recently got a rookie swinging through our station who went to HS with Kevin Galbreath at Edmon OK, Santa Fe. During a conversation about HS football he mentioned how off the planet HS football is in Texas. He said one of the more shocking things was the lavish stadiums in Texas HS football and the money spent on their programs, even in the smaller districts. I have heard this oppinion from others who are from other parts of the country as well.

Rick

Edited June 6, 2006 by FirefightnRick

[BoJangles12]

Can anyone say "Patrick Cobbs"

Just wait because he'll be one of the most popular okies in a few years that held down UNT!!!

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

In some cases some stadiums seem a bit nuts but for example many have multiple uses and are often full, examples:

Abilene: two public HS and three colleges use it as their home field. It is located on county fair-grounds and parking lot is shared with Civic Center.

San Angelo: The college owns it and the two HS uses it.

Midland: The City owns it and it a professional AA Baseball uses the same parking lot just not the football stadium. It is used for many other public events as well including soccer

Odessa: about the same but the public schools own this one, I think a lot of donations went into the construction.

Brownwood: Built with donations and leased to BISD and Howard Payne college to maintain it. A lot of city/country equipt used in early phase. Many area area shcols use it also.

Lubbock: 4 High Schools use one stadium. Lots of Thur, Friday, Sat. games.

Many of these average 10-15,000 in attendence. and most are used several times each week as other local high schools rent them regularly. I have no idea what goes on in Dallas area. A lot of these situations are not as looney as they first look.

[LongJim]

I'm assuming by your reply to that short quote you can't understand why anybody would be jealous of OU.....count the national championships Texas has had since 1970 VS. how many OU has had and reaction of anger on longhorn fans faces could be perceived as the green eyed monster..

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56-39-5.

[gruu]

Wait, I thought OU was a pro team?

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

Wait, I thought OU was a pro team?

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You may be confused.... SMU was or is. ....LOL... Does Bill Clements still exist??

He hasn't got a lot of bang for his bucks lately.

[MeanGreenPOP]

lol...I wonder why all those young Texas athletes go to OU....could it be.....SATAN!!! hmmm....could be....or could it be...NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!...BRILLIANT!!!!! Just pulling all the die-hard Longhorn fans chain....actually I'm a big Cowboy fan myself and I was pulling for the Longhorns in the National Championship game.

[LongJim]

lol...I wonder why all those young Texas athletes go to OU....could it be.....SATAN!!! 

OU pays better.

I was pulling for the Longhorns in the National Championship game.

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You're ok in my book, then.

[Eagle91Gator95]

I pretty much agree with his top 5, but would have liked to have seen Oklahoma and Alabama make the list. Not having a pro team was a killer.