Originally Published: December 27, 2006

Michigan: No. 7 football state

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MICHIGAN'S NATIONAL RANK
No. 13 pro | No. 6 college | No. 10 high school
Charles Woodson

NFL
No. 13 Michigan

<<< No. 12 District of Columbia · No. 14 Illinois>>>

Detroit has had a team since purchasing the Portsmouth Spartans in 1934. Among the great backs to run for the Lions are Barry Sanders and Doak Walker. Among the many Hall of Famers who played at Michigan: lineman Dan Dierdorf, flanker Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch. Michigan State sent cornerback Herb Adderley on to Hall of Fame careers. Annual Thanksgiving games have kept a team, good and bad, in the national spotlight. Coach George Allen was born in Detroit, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady played at Michigan.
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COLLEGE
No. 6 Michigan

<<< No. 5 Louisiana · No. 7 Pennsylvania>>>

The Wolverines have chewed up national titles and Heismans with the likes of running back Tom Harmon, wide receiver Desmond Howard and cornerback Charles Woodson, the only primarily defensive player to do so. Great coaches include Fielding Yost, Harry Kipke and Bo Schembechler (194 wins). Paul Bunyan Trophy rival Michigan State has been to four Rose Bowls and sent players such as receiver Plaxico Burress to the NFL.
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Brian Wyzlic
Brian Wyzlic: I cannot disagree with Michigan's overall ranking of the seventh best football state (and by state, apparently I mean land area with at least one seat in the House of Representatives). However, I don't understand how Michigan's college football ranks under Louisiana's. Each state has five college teams, but Michigan's are vastly superior. Read more from Brian

HIGH SCHOOL
No. 10 Michigan

<<< No. 9 Alabama · No. 11 Illinois>>>

Michigan native Jerome Bettis was ubiquitous in Super Bowl XL coverage. Four Hall of Famers, including coach George Allen and guard Joe DeLamielleure, hail from Michigan. Spring 2006 DI signees: 45. Fall 2006 high school football teams: 620.
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POLL QUESTION

1) Which football victory is most important in Michigan?

Win the Super Bowl
Win the national title
Win in the Rose Bowl
Beat Ohio State
Beat Notre Dame

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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