Why does the Deep South dominate college football? (1 Viewer)

[simey]

Article says 100k sold across the country now, but yes that town was a big buyer. Every other house. 

I have seen that sign on lawns in my area (Greensboro, NC). I don't know if the people are supporting the NC kid that created it, or sharing their love of Jesus, or both.  

 

[Tanner9919]

Here are the National Championship matchups for the last 10 years: 

2019: Alabama vs Clemson

2018: Alabama vs Georgia

2017:  Alabama vs Clemson

2016: Alabama vs Clemson

2015: Oregon vs Ohio State

2014: Florida St vs Auburn

2013: Alabama vs Notre Dame

2012: Alabama vs LSU

2011: Auburn vs Oregon

2010: Alabama vs Texas

20 teams, 15 of them from the Deep South. That’s 75%. I’m not including Texas; otherwise it would go up to 80%. 

Even putting  aside the incredible dominance of one team from Tuscaloosa, the south is pretty much in control of college football at this point. So why is this? 

I live in South Fl, just got my 6-yr old in football, did really well.they're sick down here, 4 practices per week, games on saturdays. Combine, draft.turkey bowl combination of players.then all-star travel team - so you start in aug, finish mid dec.just nuts.

Desmond Howard once said, "you can trip over 3 four-star recruits to get to one 5 star recruit here in south florida'. It's a way of life here.now the flag football season starts. it never ends.weather is a big factor

 

[beer 30]

Strongly disagree that there’s not more talent in the Deep South.

Seems to be the consensus and probably correct. I'm old so I hearken back to 70's-80's-90's. I'll stand by my statement for that period of time, now probably not so much as BigBottoms link depicts.

 

[General Malaise]

Back to the topic. Of all the reasons the south (and Texas) is winning college football, I think Jesus has nothing to do with it. 

I think it's simply college football is more important here and therefore people put more time / money / effort towards it. 

You don't think religion matters even a little?  Trevor Lawrence is a very devout Christian.  You don't think that Dabo Swinney's faith helped sway Trevor to play at Clemson?  I do.  Shared values might make a young kid more comfortable.  I think Swinney is a great coach who uses his faith to his advantage in recruiting.  

 

[Moe.]

You don't think religion matters even a little?  Trevor Lawrence is a very devout Christian.  You don't think that Dabo Swinney's faith helped sway Trevor to play at Clemson?  I do.  Shared values might make a young kid more comfortable.  I think Swinney is a great coach who uses his faith to his advantage in recruiting.  

It may matter on a very small scale but it's not driving kids from other regions to schools in the South en masse. The kids who are super religious probably grew up in the South anyhow. Trevor Lawrence was born in TN and went to high school in GA. 

 

[bigmarc27]

It may matter on a very small scale but it's not driving kids from other regions to schools in the South en masse. The kids who are super religious probably grew up in the South anyhow. Trevor Lawrence was born in TN and went to high school in GA. 

Yeah I think that’s being blown of proportion. Look at Clemson’s roster:

https://clemsontigers.com/sports/football/roster/

Theres like 5 people not from the “Deep South” in Brian Dawkins Jr who is a legacy, a few kids from Kansas City, and Christin Wilkins is from Massachusetts but I believe he has family in the area.  It’s not like there are huge athletic Christians migrating from Sodom and Gomoregon to play football in the SE. 

 

[Joe Bryant]

You don't think religion matters even a little?  Trevor Lawrence is a very devout Christian.  You don't think that Dabo Swinney's faith helped sway Trevor to play at Clemson?  I do.  Shared values might make a young kid more comfortable.  I think Swinney is a great coach who uses his faith to his advantage in recruiting.  

Sure, Swinney and Lawrence sharing similar faiths might have been a factor in getting him to Clemson. i don't know that. I'm saying in general, Jesus has little to do with the South being good at College Football. 

 

[General Malaise]

Sure, Swinney and Lawrence sharing similar faiths might have been a factor in getting him to Clemson. i don't know that. I'm saying in general, Jesus has little to do with the South being good at College Football. 

I think we're both on the same page.  I think it matters a little.  A family of a kid on the fence between a school with a deeply religious coach and a coach who is not religious at all might be persuaded to go with the coach who shares their same family values.  

But wanting it more, more money, weather, etc....those are more important factors. 

 

[General Malaise]

Yeah I think that’s being blown of proportion. Look at Clemson’s roster:

https://clemsontigers.com/sports/football/roster/

Theres like 5 people not from the “Deep South” in Brian Dawkins Jr who is a legacy, a few kids from Kansas City, and Christin Wilkins is from Massachusetts but I believe he has family in the area.  It’s not like there are huge athletic Christians migrating from Sodom and Gomoregon to play football in the SE. 

No, but they aren't leaving to play in heathen country either.  

 

[Joe Bryant]

No, but they aren't leaving to play in heathen country either.  

I do think this is sort of interesting. 

For top players, I think they mostly are interested in winning in college and advancing to the pros. I think a parent or parents want a coach who will "take care" of their son and give him the best chance to succeed. If the coach's faith lines up with the kid or the family's, that's a plus. I've never thought of Nick Saban as him putting is faith out front too much. I have no idea where he is there. And Alabama obviously has little trouble recruiting. 

I have no idea but I'd say Lawrence as the #1 recruit in the country went to Clemson as he'd just seen Deshaun Watson do what he hoped to do. Win a championship and jump to the NFL. The fact Swinney lined up with him spiritually is nice. But not enough to make that much difference. If Swinny had been at South Carolina, my guess is Lawrence would still have gone to Clemson. Same with Tim Tebow. I don't know where Urban Meyer is spiritually, but I've never thought of him as that part of his life being an overt factor. Tebow wanted to play at Florida because it was home and they were a powerhouse and he could win a Heisman and go to the NFL. Or at least that's my understanding. My guess is if Swinney had been at Central Florida Tebow still would have gone to play for Urban Meyer. 

 

[General Malaise]

I'm a heathen and even I'd want to play for Swinney.  Guy just looks like he's having fun.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

I'm a heathen and even I'd want to play for Swinney.  Guy just looks like he's having fun.

Walk around Clemson for 10 minutes in the spring and I'd sign on the spot.

 

[Capella]

If Jesus had anything to do with a football team’s results than the Gators would go 4-8 every year. 

 

[Capella]

I think we're both on the same page.  I think it matters a little.  A family of a kid on the fence between a school with a deeply religious coach and a coach who is not religious at all might be persuaded to go with the coach who shares their same family values.  

But wanting it more, more money, weather, etc....those are more important factors. 

I think this factors in. Bobby Bowden was an aw shucks Jesus guy and he would sit on the recruit’s couch and tell the parents that their boy would go to church with him and the team every Sunday. Of course it matters to some. 

 

[General Malaise]

If Jesus had anything to do with a football team’s results than the Gators would go 4-8 every year. 

Yeah, he might have also done some smiting in Waco and Happy Valley too. 

 

[Politician Spock]

I don't know where Urban Meyer is spiritually, but I've never thought of him as that part of his life being an overt factor.

He's a devout roman catholic.