CollegefootballisamassiveenterpriseintheUnitedStates,andsouthernteamsdominatepollrankingsandsportsheadlineswhilegeneratingbillionsinrevenueforpublicschoolsandprivatecompanies.Southernfootballfansworshiptheirteams,oftenrearrangingtheirpersonallivesinordertoaccommodateseasonschedules.TheOriginsofSouthernCollegeFootballshedsnewlightontheSouth’sobsessionwithfootballandexploresthesport’sbeginningsbelowtheMason-DixonLineinthedecadesaftertheCivilWar.Militarydefeatfollowedbyalongperiodofculturalunrestcompelledmanysouthernerstolooktonorthernideasandcustomsforguidanceinrebuildingtheirbeleagueredsociety.IvyLeagueuniversities,consideredbastionsofenlightenmentandsymbolsofthemodernizingspiritoftheage,providedaparticularsourceofinspirationforsouthernersintheformoforganizedor“scientific“footballthatfeaturedstandardizedrulesandscoring.TransportedtotheSouthbymeneducatedatnorthernuniversities,scientificfootballreinforcedculturalvaluesthathadexistedintheregionforcenturies,amongthematoleranceforviolence,respectformartialdisplays,andsupportfortraditionalgenderroles.Thegamealsoheldthepromiseofa“NewSouth“thatitssupportershopedwouldtransformtheregionintoanindustrialpowerhouse.Studentsandtownspeoplealikeembracedthenewsport,whichservedasasourceofprideforaregionthatlaggedwoefullybehinditsnortherncounterpartintermsofsocialequityandeconomicprowess.TheOriginsofSouthernCollegeFootballisanentertaininghistoryoftheSouth’smostpopularsportcastagainstabroadernarrativeoftheUnitedStatesduringtheGildedAgeandProgressiveEra,twomomentousperiodsofchangethatgaverisetothegamewerecognizetoday.
