Why are the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South Division and the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North Division?
By admin on May 21, 2009 in Football (American)
englandblueskies asked:
Do you think both the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens should exchange divisions? Why or why not?
Do you think both the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens should exchange divisions? Why or why not?
Historically, Indiana is a northern state and Maryland is a southern state.
Sources:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Census_Regions_and_Divisions.PNG
2. The Civil War period
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/slavery/slave-maps/map-free-slave-states.htm
On May 24, 2009, rebshel1956 said:
its all about money
On May 25, 2009, endive2007 said:
Because NFL divisions only follow rough geographic boundaries?
Its just the way it works deal with it.
(Oh and I was born in Maryland, most people in Maryland would not define themselves as Southern)
On May 27, 2009, DaKnights said:
Logic has nothing to do with it. Dallas is in the East, why? There are a number of other teams who fit the description better than Dallas.
On May 27, 2009, tdkr 1986 said:
I don’t know, but Maryland is arguably a north and south state, since it’s a border state during the Civil War. But going back to your question, I think the NFL wanted more rivalries among the Ravens, Steelers, Browns and Bengals. The Colts in play in Indiana which is closer to Tennessee, a southern state and the edge of Indiana is more further south than Maryland.n That’s what I think.
On May 28, 2009, Green dot on helmet said:
Couldn’t the Ravens also be in the AFC east and move the Bills to the AFC North? Why are the Cowboys in the NFC east?
When they realigned from 3 to 4 divisions in each conference, they tried to keep the old rivalries when they could.
The Colts were originally in the AFC Eat before realignment because that’s where they were before running out of Baltimore in the middle of the night and relocating in Indinapolis.
On May 30, 2009, sgoldperson said:
NO. It is RIVALS. The Colts had no natural rivals at the time of the realignment so they got thrown in the South as somewhere to put them. The Ravens were the Steelers Rival, and the Browns Rival since they were the original Browns. If ANY teams should switch to fit in alignment the Colts should switch with the DOLPHINS. The AFC East would become the AFC North, the North would become the East and logic would rule.
On Jun 2, 2009, J Dub said:
I agree with you…when Baltimore moved they had no choice but to go to north!
On Jun 3, 2009, James G said:
If the Colts and Dolphins switched, then the Dolphins would lose it’s fantastic rivalry with the Bills. That won’t happen.
On Jun 6, 2009, guffeetax said:
When they changed to 4 divisions a few years back it was done to leave natural rivalries in the divisions.