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COLORADO'S NATIONAL RANK
NFL
No. 15 Colorado
Quarterback John Elway. Little else needs to be said about Mile High Stadium, the Broncos, their die-hard fans and barefoot kickers. Here are Elway's numbers anyway: 47 fourth-quarter comebacks, back-to-back Super Bowl wins, five Super Bowl appearances, 51,475 yards passing, 300 touchdown passes, 33 touchdown runs and one touchdown reception. Hall of Fame quarterback Earl "Dutch" Clark played at Colorado College and Hall of Fame defensive back Jack Christiansen played at Colorado State. Among the all-time great Buffaloes is Byron "Whizzer" White, who led the nation in rushing, played in the NFL and served on the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Sort-of Broncos fan Scott Bondy: On Sundays when the Broncos play, I'm torn. Not being from the great state of Colorado, I didn't grow up a fan of the team. So when I watch with my college buddies, I root against Denver — you know, the whole devil's advocate thing. But really, I have a good relationship with the Donkeys, one of brotherly love. It's OK for me to rip my brother all I want, but when someone else does it, things get messy. Read more from Scott
COLLEGE
No. 26 Colorado
Much like Ralphie running onto the field, the 1989 and 1990 Colorado teams scattered opponents, going 22-2-1 and winning a share of the national title in '90. Since Sonny Lubick arrived at Colorado State in 1993, the Rams have been to nine of their 10 bowl games. The state's newest team (Air Force started playing football in 1955) has been inventive in catching up with its in-state and service academy elders, relying on wishbone deception and quickness under Fisher DeBerry.
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HIGH SCHOOL
No. 30 Colorado
Mullen and Jefferson high schools in Denver are perennial powers, and The Rocky Mountain State had 21 players on NFL rosters at the start of this year. Spring 2006 D-I signees: 34. Fall 2006 high school football teams: 284.
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POLL QUESTION
Hashing out the best football state
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
