Originally Published: December 27, 2006

California: No. 2 football state

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CALIFORNIA'S NATIONAL RANK
No. 2 pro | No. 3 college | No. 2 high school
Joe Montana and Bill Walsh

NFL
Raiders Chargers 49ers
No. 2 California

<<< No. 1 Pennsylvania · No. 3 Florida >>>

From the Rams (Cleveland-Los Angeles-St. Louis) to the Raiders (Oakland-L.A.-Oakland-???), the loyalties of California franchises shift almost as often as the tectonic plates that could redefine California's geography. In between moves and rumblings about stadiums, however, the Silver and Black, "Air Coryell" and the West Coast offense have wowed fans and dominated opponents. Coaches Bill Walsh and John Madden, quarterback Joe Montana, and running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Eric Dickerson are only a drop in the vast ocean of talent associated with the Golden State.
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COLLEGE
Cal Fresno State UCLA USC San Diego State San Jose State Stanford

No. 3 California

<<< No. 2 Florida · No. 4 Ohio >>>

"Tailback U" has rushed back into prominence under Pete Carroll, with Reggie Bush the latest Heisman winner (of seven) at a school that expects national titles (won or shared 11). Add the Granddaddy of Them All, the Rose Bowl, and "The band is on the field!" Cal-Stanford game to the Pac-10 tradition. With players such as quarterback David Carr and an "anywhere, anytime" attitude about opponents, Fresno State has also drawn national notice in the past decade.
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Alex Gyr
Stanford fan Alex Gyr: California college football is the best in the nation. Even as I have watched Stanford go from a Rose Bowl team to the Pac-10 whipping boy, it has been obvious that statewide, the quality of football is as high as it has ever been. Thanks to USC, two of the last three national championships have returned to California. Read more from Alex

HIGH SCHOOL
No. 2 California

<<< No. 1 Texas · No. 3 Florida >>>

In football size matters, and California outweighs Florida. The state that geographically dominates the West Coast is the most populous in the nation and has produced a myriad of college and pro hall of famers. Great high school programs include Mission Viejo, Long Beach Poly, De La Salle, Notre Dame and Oaks Christian. Spring 2006 DI signees: 261. Fall 2006 high school football teams: 1,030.
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POLL QUESTION

1) Which quarterback would you rather have?

Joe Montana
Jim Plunkett
Ken Stabler
Steve Young

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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