When you look at football there
is an overwhelming trend that becomes apparent after some time: Southern
players are the standard in the sport. Kids from Florida, Georgia, Alabama,
Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina Texas, Oklahoma etc. are more
talented year in and year out than any dream team from New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Michigan or any Northern state for that matter.
Colleges that feed off these
fertile recruiting grounds have proven that time and time again. Eight
National champions since 1999 have come from the South. The SEC in particular
has also impressed wining the last four national titles with Auburn
a serious threat to make it five in a row this year.
There are several theories that
persist as to why the Southern athletes are superior to their Northern
counter parts. Some argue that it is the shorter and milder winter especially
in Texas and Florida that allows athletes to train year round. If you
ask coaches they will tell you that the South simply grows bigger, faster,
more athletic defensive lineman which is the foundation of why the SEC
is and always will be a dominant conference. I can name 20 current and
former Florida Gators and can’t name a single Syracuse Orangeman football
player outside of Marvin Graves and Donovan McNabb.
Speaking of Florida it’s nicknamed
is the “Speed State” and has single handedly supplied some
of the greatest dynasties of our time with every single drop of their
talent from FSU, Miami and Florida. Every team in the country has staff
dedicated specifically to recruit the South. The decline can also be
seen in how competitive the Northern schools have been in the last decade.
Ohio State the best of the Northern challengers annually gets its brains
beaten in by the best Southern teams and its last victory over Miami
for a national title was….ahem, suspect. Outside of California or
Texas no other states have enough talent to even provide a team that
could compete with the South. Oregon, Ohio State and Penn State still
raid the South as best they can to “keep up with the Joneses”
Oregon’s entire starting backfield is from Texas. I don’t know whether
it’s the combination of speed, extra sunshine or just simple population
distribution at work. At the moment, the South is king and there is
nothing anybody can do stop it. Boise State and Oregon can be my guest
to prove me wrong. The powers in the South may shift, but the talent
never will so once again.
P.S. – With turkey day coming
up and all these big match-ups along with it, I will provide you with
some winners since you will already be losing by eating turkey at 5
am in the morning.
Nevada vs.
Boise State
Boise does not lose the games
that should not, which is another reason they get on my nerves…..
Boise by 14
Texas
vs Texas A&M
Bevo takes one final kick in
the teeth as the Ryan Tanehill legend grows bigger by the day. Texas
A&M by 3
West Virginia
vs Pittsburgh
The jerseys in this one will
be better than the game. Geno Smith leads WVU to victory in their Nike
Pro Combat Jerseys… WVU by 7
Oklahoma
vs Oklahoma State
OSU still sucks and I don’t
care if George Jetson is running the offense OSU is still inferior.
Oklahoma by 30 as is the NORM
Florida
vs Florida State
Remember that “FSU is the new
king of the Sunshine State” article the world killed me on in the
pre-season, well eat my shorts *bart simpson voice* Noles by 10
Hope you enjoyed your Turkey Day – sincerely
from the staff at 6magazine.
