[ATrain]

ESPN is doing a poll/bracket to see which state has best high school football:
http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool/ri ... d=tab5pos1

Texas, Florida, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Lousiana and Virginia are the top 8 states.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

Having been to games in Florida, Texas and VA I think its tough. I just think nothing compares to Florida... I had a great time at the few games Ive seen in texas and it was great, but Florida was the best... I may have just not been in the BEST part of Texas though...

[justagirl]

having gone to high school in both texas and virginia...i really have to go with texas. Its definitely an experience!! Never seen Florida high school football, but between VA and TX...Texas was wayyyyyy better. More talent, more enthusiasm, more fans, more of everything. (and no, i am not like sly and have this huge love and weird obsession with texas, i just think their football is better )

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

I agree that TX is better than VA, Much better... The atmosphere isnt even in the same league.

[ATrain]

Not even having been to a game in Texas, I would have to agree that Texas is probably better because everything (especially their ego) is way bigger...but I'm voting for VA anyway. Sorry, I just have the Robert E. Lee syndrome of not being able to go against my home state.

[TDDance234]

The 757 area has put VA on the map for High School football over the past few years and can probably boast in the nations best playmaker right now in all of college football (Percy Harvin).

However, I have to agree. Texas wins this, hands down.

[coolhandluke]

no one even mentioned North Carolina!

[Schfourteenteen]

No one mentioned Canada either

[RubberMallet]

i've been to hs football games in texas, fla, va, cinci, and i'll give it to texas.

[ATrain]

no one even mentioned North Carolina!

Thats b/c everyone is trying to be a hoops player and hoping to earn a schollie to UNC, Duke, Wake or State.

[jack_sparrow81]

I've lived in Florida, Virginia, and Texas. Texas gets the nod for fan involvement and attendance. There is just way too much talent down here in the Sunshine state though. The NFL and college alum's speak for itself. Virginia actually had more talent than Texas. I was actually really disapointed after hearing all the hype about Texas

[jack_sparrow81]

By the way one of Florida's top 15 teams (Miami Northwestern) beat Texas' best South Lake Carroll las year. It would have gotten outta hand if we had sent one of the better teams like Lakeland

[Sly Fox]

For the record, sparrow spent his time in Texas in one of the backwaters that neither has much talent or anything else. Justagirl speaks much truth.

For pure talent, Florida & Cali could both exceed Texas. But when you factor in game night experience any comparisons to Texas are laughable.

[justagirl]

i was waiting on you to weigh in with the Texas pride sly thanks for the backup!

[Sly Fox]

No problemo

[scuzdriver]

Isnt hs football big in Penn or Ohio? Here in CO we have 1 or 2 really good players, does that count?

[Baldspot]

There's never been a Super bowl played without an alumnus from PA's high school all star game - The Big 33.



http://www.big33.org/superbowlalumni.htm

[IamMark]

I know that I am new on here, but I must set the record straight.

Having played high school football in Florida, Texas, and Tennessee I would say that Florida wins in terms of talent. Texas does win in terms of atmosphere, but that is because most of the High Schools in Texas are in small towns in the middle of nowhere, and the people of the town have nothing better to do on a Friday night than to gather at the football stadium and cheer on their town. Of course, I couldn't leave out Tennessee because I won a state championship there, and it is truly my home state.

In conclusion, when I started my first football game in Florida as a defensive tackle I was introduced to FL football in a harsh way. Standing in front of me was 6-7 300 pound Max Starks (who went on to play for Florida and now is a starter on the Steelers), and he absolutely destroyed me that game. I think my shoulder still hurts because of him, and that may be why I think Florida high school football is the best.

[Sly Fox]

Uh, there are over 1400 public schools alone playing football in Texas. And probably have of them in are in cities of some size. There are 125 public schools in Houston alone that I used to cover weekly.

Where did you play in Texas, IamMark?

[jack_sparrow81]

Where did you play I am Mark? I played him in basketball when he was at Lake Highland

[IamMark]

In Florida I played for The First Academy in Orlando. In Texas, I played for Lubbock Christian in Lubbock, Texas. West Texas football is a little different than around the major population centers, but it is also where Texas football truly earned their position as one of the best high school football states (pretty much all of the movies and tv shows are centered around small Texas cities).

[Sly Fox]

First off, Lubbock Christian is no Wolfforth Friendship. While the Permians & Midland Lees get the ink for the fanatical fanbases, most of the talent is further east. I'll bet you were thrilled to leave the South Plains.

[IamMark]

Oh yeah, I was extremely happy to get out of there.

[thepostman]

from everything I have ever heard and read it is pretty much agreed Florida and California has the most talent with Texas coming in third...but nobody would ever argue that combine the talent in Texas with the atmosphere that is so famous that it is the best state to enjoy high school football...maybe one day I will see what this hype is all about

[RagingTireFire]

I'm going to put a vote in here for Rhode Island. The ballers represent over on Nantucket, yo.