"What state take HS football most seriously?"
I guess we have to start by deciding what empirical factors we would use to base our assessment on.
The amount of money spent on HS football by the citizens?
The amount of money paid to officials to officiate football?
The percentage of kids who participate in football?
The salaries paid to those who coach football?
The percentage of the population which attends HS football games?
The degree of conventional and unconventional media coverage of HS football?
Any others?
The most qualified folks to answer this question would be those who have lived in many different states. I can compare Texas to Virginia, Maine, Florida, Oklahoma, Indiana, Kansas, and Washington. Would like to hear some comparisons between Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania and California.
(I continue to find it interesting that you can see playoff games from the lowest levels of HS football in many states on satellite TV but we still see only a limited number of Texas playoff games, and those are the highest levels)
Texas HS Football stadiums article:
High school football in Texas is king. Just look at their stadiums: - Democratic Underground
Story from 2006 re coach salaries:
In dollars, coaches beat teachers
Pay/Performance Study of Texas HS Football Coaches
Pay and Performance: An Examination of Texas High School Football Coaches | The Sport Journal
Article comparing Georgia HS football to Texas and other states:
THE ISSUE: RATING GEORGIA'S FOOTBALL TALENT: IT'S A SOUTHERN THING | ajc.com