CFB is Trending Southward

Good article, thanks Redwood. Will have to give this some thought, but my initial reaction is that the south is producing better talent due to the greater number of talented black athletes in the states mentioned. While I do not think this is any great revelation; it is a trend that has continued since the early to mid 1970's when southern schools begin to integrate its rosters. Lots of states, Nebraska and Iowa for example, do not produce many FBS high school players and have to try and lure a lot of its players from the south. The catch to this is the distance they have to travel to get to Lincoln and Iowa City, not to mention the climate is not the most hospitable.

Another point we have seen is overall the compensation packages at souther schools appears to be better than the northern schools ( see Bielema's comments about Wisconsin vs Arkansas). These are just a few of my initial thoughts on this subject.

The corollary is they have to deal with 2 more months of crappy weather, which affects their psyche. Not to mention their good-looking lasses (if there are any) have to cover up like they are going to Siberia. (Having lived up north, a lot look like they really are from Siberia. No wonder young men want to head to warmer regions.)

Redwood Forrest said:

Good points. I think climate has a lot to do with it. I read somewhere (years ago) that southern lads have two more months of good weather to play sandlot football, which presumably makes them better.

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If this is so, and assuming you start really playing football at the age of eight, then two additional months of football per year means that, by 18, you'd have played an addition 5 years of football compared to an otherwise identical northern kid. It probably doesn't matter to the majority of kids, but for those that figure out early how to self-evaluate and push themselves, it would certainly be significant...

Isaiah 63:1 said:

If this is so, and assuming you start really playing football at the age of eight, then two additional months of football per year means that, by 18, you'd have played an addition 5 years of football compared to an otherwise identical northern kid. It probably doesn't matter to the majority of kids, but for those that figure out early how to self-evaluate and push themselves, it would certainly be significant...

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and it just matters more down here, so you have more of the better athletes leaning toward football instead of other sports, then even at the younger levels the kids get a lot more support to develop, which increases competition and pushes the kids even further.

What'd ya expect where Football is a way of life or religion (lol) in the South?

dadleyblane5 said:

What'd ya expect where Football is a way of life or religion (lol) in the South?

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I think that it starts and ends here. Where I live, most parents are not allowing their kids to play football, even though most of the fathers played football and love the sport. This trend is about 15 years deep now, and getting more prevalent every year.

Without your really strong culture supporting youth football, I can see this becoming an even greater problem in coming years. The South isn't getting stronger - the rest of the country is getting weaker.

B1GTide said:

I think that it starts and ends here. Where I live, most parents are not allowing their kids to play football, even though most of the fathers played football and love the sport. This trend is about 15 years deep now, and getting more prevalent every year.

Without your really strong culture supporting youth football, I can see this becoming an even greater problem in coming years. The South isn't getting stronger - the rest of the country is getting weaker.

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Excellent observation.

GrayTide said:

Excellent observation.

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Indeed it is. I`m to a point of wondering about the long term picture for football. As much as I love Bama football, I`ve never felt that the game itself is compatible with the design of the human body. JMHO.

Isaiah 63:1 said:

If this is so, and assuming you start really playing football at the age of eight, then two additional months of football per year means that, by 18, you'd have played an addition 5 years of football compared to an otherwise identical northern kid. It probably doesn't matter to the majority of kids, but for those that figure out early how to self-evaluate and push themselves, it would certainly be significant...

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2 months x 10 years = 20 months

Where are you getting 5 years?

The southeastern US is the most populated area of the country. The southeastern US has the best climate in the country for outdoor activities in terms of suitable weather for outside play for kids. The southeastern US is the most sport crazed, football worshiping area of the country. The southeastern US is among the poorest and least educated areas of the country.

Football is a ticket out for many and, at the very least, an enjoyable passion for most. None of this is new and it's really not even a trend. It's been this way almost from the beginning.

I'd hate to see football come to an end.

What would our youth who are totally involved in sports do? I think being involved in football is a positive in their lives. Lessons are learned in winning, losing, getting injured, being involved with others in a common goal, having fellowship, being the center of attention in places like Alabama, positive reinforcement from being involved, and so many things that I can't even imagine. People have jobs as a result. People get to be leaders, followers, and a TEAM!

If this goes away, what will our youth be doing that is positive in our society? Become members of gangs? Sit on their cans getting fat?

I honestly hope football does not become extinct. There are toooooooooooo many positives to go with those negatives: esp. injuries and future implications from concussions, etc. There are many life lessons that you learn by participating in such an activity.

And it gives the masses something entertaining to do without their becoming members of gangs or any other negative activities. When you are totally involved in positive things, you don't have time to get involved in negative activities.

So here's a vote to keep High School, Collegiate, and Pro football. Just don't make it two hand touch football or coed football. And no, soccer just won't do it. It's just too boring unless my grandkids are involved. And even when they participate, I have to pinch myself to stay awake.

P. S.

If it weren't for football, this web site: TideFans.com would not exist. So, another vote to keep football.

This site even gives us a chance to talk about other facets of football other than the games, and to talk about Ancient Aliens and politics in the NONE playing season or anything else that Displaced Bama Fan or anyone else wants to talk about. However, if it weren't for football, I would not be communicating with all the die hard fans on this board.

colbysullivan said:

2 months x 10 years = 20 months

Where are you getting 5 years?

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If their season is only 4 months, you get the equivalent of 5 yrs. I believe he did use the word "equivalent". (Just my guess, since I do not know the poster and am not Kreskin.)

colbysullivan said:

2 months x 10 years = 20 months

Where are you getting 5 years?

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The same place we get 15 championships?

That, or a typo...

cuda.1973 said:

If their season is only 4 months, you get the equivalent of 5 yrs. I believe he did use the word "equivalent". (Just my guess, since I do not know the poster and am not Kreskin.)

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Thanks for the lifeline; but no...

I remember reading about how, in the early 20th century, people believed that Southern colleges would never be able to match the power of Northern schools (e.g. Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State). I had to re-read that sentence! What a difference a century makes.

B1GTide said:

I think that it starts and ends here. Where I live, most parents are not allowing their kids to play football, even though most of the fathers played football and love the sport. This trend is about 15 years deep now, and getting more prevalent every year.

Without your really strong culture supporting youth football, I can see this becoming an even greater problem in coming years. The South isn't getting stronger - the rest of the country is getting weaker.

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I can see that, would also explain why it seems like teams want to get away from running the ball and just throw it down field 50 times a game. I recall a bit on ESPN the other day about the NBA getting soft as well, it seems as if this trend isn't limited to just football.

I would like to add that the southern high schools really invest a lot into their football programs, the communities are rallied behind their respective teams. Kids growing up in the south probably realize a lot sooner than kids elsewhere that football players and "glory" seem to go hand and hand, and it could be the easiest way for those kids to become apart of something greater than just themselves. I also would like to suggest that programs, at inside the Mobile area, don't offer many other alternative sports due to funding issues. If you go to the northeast you'll find that most programs offer a huge variety of sports. And finally, weather has to play a role I would think.

Whatever the reason, I hope it continues to show that the south has risen again, in the form of athletically superior football players!