Originally Published: December 27, 2006

South Carolina: No. 32 football state

Print Share
ESPN.com

Select another state:

SOUTH CAROLINA'S NATIONAL RANK
No. 41 pro | No. 18 college | No. 12 high school
Danny Ford

NFL
No. 41 South Carolina

<<< No. 40 Kansas · No. 42 New Mexico>>>

Three NFL Hall of Famers played at least a season at South Carolina State. Marion Motley was one of four players to break the color barrier when he signed with the Browns in 1946. Harry Carson, a South Carolina native, earned nine Pro Bowl nominations at linebacker for the Giants, and Deacon Jones was a late-round selection before becoming one of the best pass rushers in NFL history, coining the term "sack."
• Join the South Carolina debate | Submit your opinion on pro football

COLLEGE
No. 18 South Carolina

<<< No. 17 Indiana · No. 19 Arkansas>>>

From a little piece of flint and rock-solid play -- undefeated in 1948, a national title in 1981 -- springs the tradition of Death Valley. Frank Howard won 165 games as Clemson's coach from 1940-1969, and Danny Ford led the 1981 undefeated Tigers. Rival South Carolina has tried to add some fight to the series in recent years under Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier. Gamecocks running back George Rogers won the Heisman in 1980.
• Join the South Carolina debate | Submit your opinion on college football

HIGH SCHOOL
No. 12 South Carolina

<<< No. 11 Illinois · No. 13 New Jersey>>>

It might be small, but 51 current NFL players call South Carolina home, including Troy Brown, Richard Seymour and Stephen Davis. Hall of Fame lineman and current Raiders coach Art Shell was born in Charleston. Spring 2006 DI signees: 34. Fall 2006 high school football teams: 190.
• Join the South Carolina debate | Submit your opinion on prep football

Fabiano
South Carolina prep fan Justin Fabiano: Staggering differences such as a ranking of 49th in public education and 12th in high school football are numbers you can only expect to find in a state like South Carolina. If you looked at USA Today's Super 25 this past season, you might have been shocked to notice that South Carolina had three ranked schools at one time, tied for most in the country with Ohio. Read more from Justin

POLL QUESTION

1) Best South Carolina NCAA coach?

Danny Ford (Clemson)
Lou Holtz (USC)
Frank Howard (Clemson)
Steve Spurrier (USC)

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

ESPN TOP HEADLINES

MOST SENT STORIES ON ESPN.COM

Most Sent »