You haven't been to the South have you? Most Southern States are more up-to-date and in better shape than Michigan and Ohio now.
Keep in mind Tennessee has Belmont, Lipscomb, Rhodes College (in Memphis), and Vanderbilt. Yes, North Carolina has great schools as well but it isn't like there isn't that commonality.
Tennessee is interesting because Memphis fits the deep south culture that you see in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Middle Tennessee area is more like Raleigh, North Carolina or Louisville, Kentucky area while East Tennessee probably has some similarities to West Virginia and Eastern North Carolina (although Chattanooga and Knoxville are awesome towns).
Florida has its own culture (or cultures). The Panhandle is very redneck, frankly more redneck than any of the other Southern States based on my visit, Tampa is its own culture, and Miami is its own culture. Florida has so many different people that it is hard to grasp.
Louisiana (as well as some parts of Mississippi and Alabama) have the Cajun culture which is very unique.
Texas is well Texas. They think they are their own country.
So even in the South, you have quite a variety.