Originally Published: December 27, 2006

Alabama: No. 12 football state

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ALABAMA'S NATIONAL RANK
No. 23 pro | No. 10 college | No. 9 high school
Bear Bryant

NFL
No. 23 Alabama

<<< No. 22 Virginia · No. 24 Tennessee>>>

No one brought more glamour to the game than "Broadway" Joe Namath. The quarterback made a splash when he signed with the AFL Jets for $400,000 out of Alabama in 1965. Dolphins center Dwight Stephenson, Patriots offensive lineman John Hannah and Packers end Don Hutson played for the Tide. Rams running back Stephen Davis and Bucs back Cadillac Williams are among the Tigers in the NFL.
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COLLEGE

No. 10 Alabama

<<< No. 9 Nebraska · No. 11 Georgia>>>

Like the elephant attributed to the size of the undefeated 1930 team, the Crimson Tide have rolled over both SEC and national foes. Bear Bryant's six national championships, however, have made Alabama a tough place for his successors. Iron Bowl foe and rival Auburn has a pair of Heisman winners: quarterback Pat Sullivan and running back/outfielder Bo Jackson. Still catching up are UAB and Troy, recent Division I converts.
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Andrea Lynn
Auburn fan Andrea Lynn: When my family moved from Arizona in the middle of the school year, I arrived in Alabama as a shy 7-year-old. The first question asked in my second-grade class wasn't "What is your name?" or "Where are you from?" It was, "Are you an Alabama or Auburn fan?" Read more from Andrea

HIGH SCHOOL
No. 9 Alabama

<<< No. 8 Virginia · No. 10 Michigan>>>

The emphasis locals place on high school football on MTV's "Two-A-Days" is typical in Alabama. Hoover High and the surrounding schools are football crazy, and the state is also the birthplace of hall of famers such as tight end Ozzie Newsome, receiver John Stallworth and quarterback Bart Starr, who was MVP of the first two Super Bowls. Spring 2006 DI signees: 74. Fall 2006 high school football teams: 370.
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POLL QUESTION

1) Which football program is traditionally stronger?

Alabama
Auburn

Hashing out the best football state

football, baby
ESPN.com has teed up the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Now the football is in your hands. Pull on your gameday jersey, tape up those writing fingers and hit back with your opinion. We'll print the best fan signal callers on our pages. Submit your opinion

States' overall football rank
1. Texas | Conversation
2. California | Conversation
3. Florida | Conversation
4. Pennsylvania | Conversation
5. Ohio | Conversation
6. Georgia | Conversation
7. Michigan | Conversation
8. Louisiana | Conversation
9. New Jersey | Conversation
10. Wisconsin | Conversation
11. Illinois | Conversation
12. Alabama | Conversation
13. Virginia | Conversation
14. North Carolina | Conversation
15. Missouri | Conversation
16. New York | Conversation
17. Maryland | Conversation
18. Tennessee | Conversation
19. Oklahoma | Conversation
20. Indiana | Conversation
21. Nebraska | Conversation
22. Colorado | Conversation
23. Washington | Conversation
24. Minnesota | Conversation
25. Mississippi | Conversation
26. Iowa | Conversation
27. Massachusetts | Conversation
28. Arizona | Conversation
29. Arkansas | Conversation
30. District of Columbia | Conversation
31. West Virginia | Conversation
32. South Carolina | Conversation
33. Oregon | Conversation
34. Nevada | Conversation
35.Hawaii | Conversation
36. Kentucky | Conversation
37. Utah | Conversation
38. Kansas | Conversation
39. Connecticut | Conversation
40. Idaho | Conversation
41. New Mexico | Conversation
42. New Hampshire | Conversation
43. Rhode Island | Conversation
44. Wyoming | Conversation
45. Delaware | Conversation
46. North Dakota | Conversation
47. South Dakota | Conversation
48. Maine | Conversation
49. Montana | Conversation
50. Vermont | Conversation
51. Alaska | Conversation

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