They are a product of antebellum times and the aftermath of Reconstruction in the 19th century. Through the 19th century the per capita income in the South was approximately 1/3 that of the nation. The aftermath of Radical Reconstruction and following governments whether called Redeemer, Bourbon, or Readjustors brought the one party system to the South. As a result of negative feelings in both North and South, the South became a virtual colony of the North much like the original 13 had been of England. Attempts to better Southern education such as the Blair Bill in US Congress were defeated by Southern Congressmen on party lines. All Southern industry, except for textiles, became subsidiaries to Northern industry. For example, Birmingham Steel went from the top to merely being a component of companies in Pittsburg.

None of this happened overnight, but over the course of time as people forgot the real history of the hardships in the Old South and based decisions on what they wanted to believe in the New South. Heck Southern agriculture remained primitive well into the 20th century while the Midwestern agriculture flourished despite attempts such as that by Knapp to assist the South because of Southern political stereotyping. If not for the boll weevil crossing the Rio Grande and getting into Southern cotton, who knows if primitive methods would have continued.

These initial problems were both the products and continued degradation of Southern education which in turn resulted in the South running from behind and trying to catch up. The University of Alabama used to have an excellent Professor of Southern History in the late (RIP) Gary Mills, a Louisiana native, and Mississippi State PhD., who did a lot of research in my area on the Sugar Cane industry.

You can look at any number of sources to verify what I wrote above. Aside for Professor Mills, another former UA History Professor, Grady McWhiney, has several books. Then you have the classics by individuals such as C. Vann Woodward, George Brown Tindall, and though not rated on the same level as Woodward and Tindall because they are still alive, two of my personal favorite authors and researchers: Pete Daniel of the Smithsonian for Southern Agriculture and E. Stanly Godbold (retired Mississippi State) for Southern culture and politics through biographies.

NCAA regulations get real nit-picky if anyone tries to profit off an amateur athlete, including the athlete, but NOT including the NCAA or any of its corporate sponsors. It does not have to be a legal name; anything whether jersey number, nicknames, etc., fall under their umbrella. Linked is one of the LSU statements which offers a few examples.

LSU Compliance

As another example of the idiocy at times, years ago we (USL softball) visited a senior citizens community. Autographed pictures, pennants, etc., were OK. A really nice old gentleman had had the opportunity to play against Eddie Feigner (The King and His Court) back in the 60s. After telling us amazing stories, the gentleman wanted to swing a bat. We went outside, our pitcher threw a slow pitch style ball, and he smashed it. At his urging, I then got behind the plate, and she started throwing some real stuff. Anything in the strike zone he hit all sweet, and he had a great eye in rarely swinging at something out the zone. Well an employee of the community took some video footage, and they used about a 10 second clip in a TV commercial. Because someone at the NCAA had too much time, we all had to endure interviews to prove that we were not profiting off this activity or endorsing the retirement community. This happened even though we wore Tee shirts and not uniforms. Like I wrote here or on another board, commit practically any crime, but do not profit or know that someone other than the NCAA or its corporate sponsors are making profit if you want to retain eligibility.

If you are not familiar with Eddie Feigner, linked is a YouTube video. Saw the King twice, but never had the opportunity to get struck out or more sadly a chance to catch his pitches for an inning or two. Amazing individual RIP.

King and His Court