In some sense, I chose to live in the Deep South not in spite of its racial past but because of it. The racial wounds are apparent here, and they help me see this nation for what it truly is.

The Deep South went 0-3. The SEC went 1-2. And the Big Ten, the SEC’s long-time rival and yet budding partner, is poised to have at least one and, perhaps, two teams in the national championship ...