Texas tops in Division I talent

[slcdragons]

I'm an Iowa Hawkeye fan and I came across this thread on the Hawkeyes' Rivals board. Texas is #1 followed by California. Over the last 6 years, Cali is #1 and Texas #2.

http://iowa.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=805&mid=70774947&tid=70774947&SID=940

[supercentex]

I'm an Iowa Hawkeye fan and I came across this thread on the Hawkeyes' Rivals board. Texas is #1 followed by California. Over the last 6 years, Cali is #1 and Texas #2.

http://iowa.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=805&mid=70774947&tid=70774947&SID=940


I don't think over the past 6 years is right......Texas has led it at least 5 of those years....and it really hasn't even been close. So, I don't know where they are getting their numbers from.

[KT2000]

It's all about numbers. We're one of the biggest states in the country, so we'll always be on there.

When you really break it down, and I mean really break it down, I think you'll find that Texas is just like every other place and there's nothing really special about our brand of football.


;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

[Down n' Out]

GO BACK...Look at the video at the top of the page...Now that's funny!!!!!

[toonman]

It's all about numbers. We're one of the biggest states in the country, so we'll always be on there.

When you really break it down, and I mean really break it down, I think you'll find that Texas is just like every other place and there's nothing really special about our brand of football.


;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

Far be it for me to disagree with one of our esteemed administrators, but I have to disagree. I travel extensively with my job and watch a lot of high school football on television.

I assure you the high school stadiums in Texas are far superior to any other city in other states I have visited. In addition, when I watch the games on the television of the top ranked schools in other states, the stadiums are virtually empty. In addition, in the games I have watched they are very much run based offences, without the quality passing offenses; I now see in Texas.

I disagree - there is something most special about high school football in Texas. Even friends and work colleagues in other states say to me that Texas High School Football is unique and awesome. Let's not sell ourselves short!

[KT2000]

Note the ;) ;) ;) in my post. :)

[toonman]

Note the ;) ;) ;) in my post. :)


Sorry - I need to see things in the written word.

[YuccaRoot]

New Jersey is the state over the last 20(+) years that amazes me with the number of D-1 players produced each year.

[Firebird]

One area where Texas differs is not just the total number of people living in the state, but the huge percentage of high school kids playing football. Dave Cambell's provided a breakdown, and Texas had something like 500,000 kids playing highs school ball. No other state had over 100,000.

This is, I believe, for two reasons:

1. In Texas, a lot of kids are willing to play even if they are going to ride the pine and guard the water-cooler for 4 straight years. It is so engrained in our state culture that kids see it as cool, and adults see it as repectable, to simply bust your butt in practice, and hope to see the field for a play or two under the Friday Night Lights. (I personally give props to all the lifelong scout teamers out there.) From talking to the kids in other states, that isn't so much the case. They are amazed at the typical 60+ varsity roster at a 5a high school. They don't understand why so many kids would work so hard without getting a lot of PT.

2. Smaller towns in on the action. I had a good friend who went to a high school in New Hampshire. His hometown had a population of about 4,000, and included rural areas, but didn't field a high school football team. The reason? The town was "too small" and didn't want to invest in football. The big sports were basketball and soccer.

He was blown away when I told him that any town in Texas with a population of 4,000 would sooner vote for communists than not field a football team. Heck, even schools without 22 male students play football-- six man. In many (not all) other states football is seen as a sport that only the big, wealthy districts can affort to indulge in. In Texas, small towns live and die with the local team, it is like basketball in Indiana.

[Humblefied]

One area where Texas differs is not just the total number of people living in the state, but the huge percentage of high school kids playing football. Dave Cambell's provided a breakdown, and Texas had something like 500,000 kids playing highs school ball. No other state had over 100,000.

This is, I believe, for two reasons:

1. In Texas, a lot of kids are willing to play even if they are going to ride the pine and guard the water-cooler for 4 straight years. It is so engrained in our state culture that kids see it as cool, and adults see it as repectable, to simply bust your butt in practice, and hope to see the field for a play or two under the Friday Night Lights. (I personally give props to all the lifelong scout teamers out there.) From talking to the kids in other states, that isn't so much the case. They are amazed at the typical 60+ varsity roster at a 5a high school. They don't understand why so many kids would work so hard without getting a lot of PT.

2. Smaller towns in on the action. I had a good friend who went to a high school in New Hampshire. His hometown had a population of about 4,000, and included rural areas, but didn't field a high school football team. The reason? The town was "too small" and didn't want to invest in football. The big sports were basketball and soccer.

He was blown away when I told him that any town in Texas with a population of 4,000 would sooner vote for communists than not field a football team. Heck, even schools without 22 male students play football-- six man. In many (not all) other states football is seen as a sport that only the big, wealthy districts can affort to indulge in. In Texas, small towns live and die with the local team, it is like basketball in Indiana.

Ahhh, good ole Texas...truely is the best place for football.

[drgnbkr]

I spent part of the week in Tampa..I noticed that large, what would be 5-A here, high schools had stadiums that would hold at most 500-1000 people. St. Pete was the same way. Next time I'm going to run over to Lakeland to look at their house..maybe I can set them straight on the true meaning of "quality football"...:D

[RidgePride]

It's all about numbers. We're one of the biggest states in the country, so we'll always be on there.

When you really break it down, and I mean really break it down, I think you'll find that Texas is just like every other place and there's nothing really special about our brand of football.


;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
I respectfully disagree as well.
I have Family in Florida - and they say there is no comparison. Texas puts much more emphasis on football.

[supercentex]

One area where Texas differs is not just the total number of people living in the state, but the huge percentage of high school kids playing football. Dave Cambell's provided a breakdown, and Texas had something like 500,000 kids playing highs school ball. No other state had over 100,000.

This is, I believe, for two reasons:

1. In Texas, a lot of kids are willing to play even if they are going to ride the pine and guard the water-cooler for 4 straight years. It is so engrained in our state culture that kids see it as cool, and adults see it as repectable, to simply bust your butt in practice, and hope to see the field for a play or two under the Friday Night Lights. (I personally give props to all the lifelong scout teamers out there.) From talking to the kids in other states, that isn't so much the case. They are amazed at the typical 60+ varsity roster at a 5a high school. They don't understand why so many kids would work so hard without getting a lot of PT.

2. Smaller towns in on the action. I had a good friend who went to a high school in New Hampshire. His hometown had a population of about 4,000, and included rural areas, but didn't field a high school football team. The reason? The town was "too small" and didn't want to invest in football. The big sports were basketball and soccer.

He was blown away when I told him that any town in Texas with a population of 4,000 would sooner vote for communists than not field a football team. Heck, even schools without 22 male students play football-- six man. In many (not all) other states football is seen as a sport that only the big, wealthy districts can affort to indulge in. In Texas, small towns live and die with the local team, it is like basketball in Indiana.

You should show him this video....Celina vs Paul Pewitt at Mesquite Memorial.....they had almost 20,000 at the game. And, there are what? 250 kids in each high school and less than 4,000 in each town.

http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/984/307048.wmv

[Slim-Rob]

I spent part of the week in Tampa..I noticed that large, what would be 5-A here, high schools had stadiums that would hold at most 500-1000 people. St. Pete was the same way. Next time I'm going to run over to Lakeland to look at their house..maybe I can set them straight on the true meaning of "quality football"...:D

I had the ..."pleasure" of watching Lakeland on TV one night. They didn't look like they could beat many of our quality teams. They killed some other Fl team though...

[stevefoxsc]

wowza alaska 1 division 1 player >.>

[Texasfrog]

I spent part of the week in Tampa..I noticed that large, what would be 5-A here, high schools had stadiums that would hold at most 500-1000 people. St. Pete was the same way. Next time I'm going to run over to Lakeland to look at their house..maybe I can set them straight on the true meaning of "quality football"...:D

I live in Broward County (Miami area) right now. I have now for almost 3 years. The stadiums here for the large schools (equal to Texas 5A & 4A schools) are about the size of Texas 2A stadiums.

In fact many of the high schools here (Florida) only have stands on one side of the field.

Next.. quality of overall football here in Florida. It's in no way or shape equal to Texas high school football. There is some nice talent here scattered around. But, the overall quality of "TEAMS" really isnt good at all. The top schools here are mostly "Private schools" that have the ability to "Attract" a lot of talent.

What I've always stated seperates Texas from everyone else when it comes to high school football is just the share overall numbers of "kids" playing football. Texas just has a "ton" of really solid so called "average" football players that make their teams extremly good. It's not those D1A or D1AA kids on the teams that make Texas teams great (although it helps).. Its all those "average kids" that make Texas teams great.

Also.. in most other States. All the very good "elite" teams are usually "Private schools" where in Texas it's 99% the Public programs. No State has a sports governing body like Texas and it's UIL. We knock the UIL a ton as Texans but overall it's a very good thing.