Originally Published: December 27, 2006
South Dakota: No. 47 football state
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SOUTH DAKOTA'S NATIONAL RANK
NFL
No. 47 South Dakota
Jim Langer would have a spot carved in stone on a Mount Rushmore of South Dakota football players. He played linebacker at South Dakota State before the Dolphins turned him into a monumental Hall of Fame center in 1970. Quarterback Norm Van Brocklin was born in Eagle Butte. Halfback and kicker "Automatic Jack" Manders played with the Bears for eight seasons starting in 1933. John Dutton from Rapid City played 14 seasons in the NFL with the Colts and Cowboys.
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COLLEGE
No. 46 South Dakota
With no Division I-A programs, South Dakota's best players have often drifted south to neighboring Nebraska. Offensive lineman Randy Schleusener, who made that move, is perhaps most famous for scoring on the "fumblerooskie" against Oklahoma in 1979. Larry Jacobson of Sioux Falls won the 1971 Outland Trophy at Nebraska. University of South Dakota greats include Ordell Braase, who played for the Colts from 1957-68. Pete Retzlaff, a South Dakota State grad spent 11 seasons with the Eagles in the 1950s and '60s.
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HIGH SCHOOL
No. 41 South Dakota
South Dakota might not be a football titan, but residents can hang their hat on being the home of three-time Super Bowl winner Adam Vinatieri, the best clutch kicker in NFL history. High school greats from the state include Fred Gushurst, who played end opposite Knute Rockne on the 1912 and 1913 Notre Dame teams, and Gene Vidal from Madison, who was captain of the 1918 Army football team. Spring 2006 D-I signees: one. Fall 2006 high school football teams: 151.
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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
