# Senior Bowl -- North and South schools -- what determines?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senior-bowl-north-and-south-schools-what-determines/569504>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [January 30, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senior-bowl-north-and-south-schools-what-determines/569504 "2011-01-30T14:36:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senior-bowl-north-and-south-schools-what-determines/569504/1 "2011-01-30T14:36:14Z")

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I’ve tried to locate some “official” version of how the North and South teams are built.

Is there a dividing line? Is it based on conferences/divisions?

Is it random?

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senior-bowl-north-and-south-schools-what-determines/569504/2 "2011-01-30T22:16:06Z")

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It’s based on Civil War boundaries.

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**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senior-bowl-north-and-south-schools-what-determines/569504/3 "2011-01-30T22:32:44Z")

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> [@etv78](#):
>
> It’s based on Civil War boundaries.

I seriously doubt that. Any “official” source for that statement?

The reason I say that is that if you look at the rosters there are quite a few schools/players from the “other side” of such a line. Add to that the fact that many western states don’t count in the Civil War.

[http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2011/1/23/1952350/2011-senior-bowl-rosters](http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2011/1/23/1952350/2011-senior-bowl-rosters)

Another thing that seems stretched is the notion of a conference going to the same side. Pac-10 for instance.

But search as I may I have yet to see evidence of any rule at work. You’d think there should be one.

Anyway, thanks, **etv78** , for keeping this from being a “0 Replies” thread! 🙂

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senior-bowl-north-and-south-schools-what-determines/569504/4 "2011-01-30T22:58:42Z")

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By “Civil War boundaries” I meant: the former Confederacy is “South” and everywhere else is “North”. And yes I KNOW many states weren’t states in the 1860’s! :rolleyes: I agree, BTW, that there should be a guideline written somewhere.

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**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senior-bowl-north-and-south-schools-what-determines/569504/5 "2011-01-30T23:03:20Z")

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> [@etv78](#):
>
> By “Civil War boundaries” I meant: the former Confederacy is “South” and everywhere else is “North”. And yes I KNOW many states weren’t states in the 1860’s! :rolleyes: I agree, BTW, that there should be a guideline written somewhere.

I get your drift. That’s the way many (if not most) Southerners see it: South and not-South.