Throw the Pigskin

Football, especially college football has become an intricate part of southern identity. It represents the passion of a group of people, the history of amazing athletes, and provides stories for generations to hear. College rivalries create competition between the people in the south and the connection that some fans of the same college have creates an instant connection between people in the south. Football serves as a catalyst for many things. Football is the sport of the south. The SEC and ACC represent the two college conferences of the south and thereby represent the teams that most of the south is affiliated with.

I remember here at Georgia Tech I met a friend who could relate to me through football. Both of our parents went to the University of Tennessee. As soon as both of us realized this connection we began to tell the stories our parents told us about the, "good old days" of Tennessee Football. We were both Yellow Jackets now but because of the strong emphasis that football plays in the south the stories our families had passed down were similar. Our families came from completely different backgrounds but because of football we had something in common.

Economically football is a good thing for the south. The emphasis that is placed on football in the south makes a majority of the teams in the region strive for excellence. This means that more tickets are sold and more revenue is made. Here in the south one of the largest aspects of football comes in the form of tailgating. The amount of money spent on tailgating is ridiculous and because of it a lot of money is spent and made. Football is not only and intricate part of the culture and tradition of the south but also the economy.

Here is an interesting paper on the economic impacts of college football on Michigan. It's interesting to see how much money is being spent and made.