Texas: No. 1 football state

Originally Published: December 27, 2006
ESPN.com

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TEXAS' NATIONAL RANK
No. 4 pro | No. 1 college | No. 1 high school
Earl Campbell

NFL
No. 4 Texas

<<< No. 3 Florida · No. 5 Ohio>>>

For all of the Cowboys' accomplishments, Sunday games sometimes are the third priority of fans in Texas. Note that Lamar Hunt took his Texans to Kansas City, Mo., and renamed them the Chiefs, and Bud Adams moved his Oilers to Tennessee. Still, the star burnished by players such as quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman, coaches Jimmie Johnson and Tom Landry, running backs Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett, and exec Tex Schramm shines brightly. "America's Team" has been to eight Super Bowls. Even Houston is back in business with the latest Texans.
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COLLEGE
No. 1 Texas

No. 2 Florida>>> · No. 3 California >>>

Texas runs over, through and past the competition with no better example than running back Earl Campbell, who was born in Tyler, won a Heisman for the Longhorns and built his Hall of Fame credentials with the Oilers. The Horns hooked three national titles under coach Darrell Royal (184 wins) and another in 2005 with quarterback Vince Young and coach Mack Brown. Texas A&M calls for the 12th man advantage with Yell Practice. Plenty of NFL greats got their start at Texas colleges, including quarterback Sammy Baugh (TCU), cornerback Darrell Green (Texas A&I), defensive tackle "Mean Joe" Greene (North Texas) and halfback Doak Walker (SMU).
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Jeff Standiford
Aggie fan Jeff Standiford: You're right. In Texas, football is life -- integrity, hard work, strength and trust are all taught here. It doesn't matter where you work or what your title is -- cooler talk is always football. The saying is everything is bigger in Texas -- the only problem with that is that whoever wrote it left off "and better." Read more from Jeff

HIGH SCHOOL
No. 1 Texas

No. 2 California>>> · No. 3 Florida>>>

Texas football reigns supreme. Anyone who has ever spent a Friday night in the state can't help but be in awe. Stadiums and weight rooms are as impressive as the teams. Any doubters should pick up the book "Friday Night Lights" (not the show, not the movie, but the book). Spring 2006 D-I signees: 262. Fall 2006 high school football teams: 1,141.
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Bryan Gibbs
Southlake Carroll fan Bryan Gibbs: What time of year do I look forward to the most? March Madness, NFL playoffs, MLB postseason play? Nope, high school football playoffs. Nothing more pure in sports, and you will be hard-pressed to find better play than that in Texas. Teams have to play six games in the playoffs to win it all. Read more from Bryan


POLL QUESTION

1) Which day of football is bigger in Texas?

Friday (high school football)
Saturday (college football)
Sunday (NFL football)

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