Three years ago, I wrote a column comparing the states of California and Texas in terms of athletic supremacy. Not surprisingly and deservingly, California won. However, there have been some crucial updates to my criteria and I think my rankings deserve a second look. California folks shouldn’t be getting too comfortable here.
In 2002, Sports Illustrated released thorough, “scientific” rankings of the best college sports programs in the nation. They had the University of Texas No. 1, barely edging out Stanford at No. 2. However that makes you feel, we cannot argue. Texas 1, California 0.
I’m not a huge fan of USC, which is located in California. But I actually am beginning to like the Texas Longhorns, at least more than I did three years ago. I went to Austin last spring and loved the school and the town. Texas 2, California 0.
Colt McCoy in the BCS National Championship game. I am not disrespecting the injury, but how did it happen? Texas 2, California 1.
Texas is greatly known as a jock school. Stanford is known mostly for its academics, yet we still have won 15 consecutive Director’s Cups. Texas has come in second a few times. Texas 2, California 2.
I once heard that 40,000 people watched a high school football game in Texas. Perhaps the number is exaggerated, but I do know for a fact their high school games are huge, once pumping in $20 million for a high school stadium. That’s pretty cool. Texas 3, California 2.
Andrew Luck is from Texas. Texas 4, California 2.
When I was in Austin (see point #2) I went to a good old-fashioned Texas Barbecue restaurant. I am dying to go back. Texas 5, California 2.
If you take the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, you have eight teams in Texas and a whopping 15 in California. The Lakers are also located in California. Texas 5, California 3.
Interestingly enough, the NBA’s Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James all were born in states other than Texas or California. No points awarded on the basis of shame. Texas 5, California 3.
Tiger Woods was born and raised in California. While that was a “Boo yah” in the last version, today it is an “oh crap.” Sorry California, at least for the time being we cannot claim a point here. Texas 6, California 3.
Jeez, look at that lead for Texas. I might as well just stop here — damn them Texans. Well, I have to give them some credit. They have proven over the last few years to belong in the debate with California and even have some decent arguments as to why they should be No. 1. Ironically enough, I am actually in Texas right now as you read this column. Perhaps I will return with a new feeling that California is really the best state and I was just being nice to Texas right now. But for now, I give congratulations to Texas. The Cowboys did make a decent run in the playoffs this year while the Chargers fizzled and were ousted by a bunch of rookies, so I guess you can claim this one for the time being.
Danny Belch counts a random barbecue restaurant as the same as 15 Director’s Cups. Tell him how absurd this is at dbelch1 “at” stanford.edu.