Texas is a state unlike any other. For its residents, football is far more than a sport—it’s a way of life. The Texas football culture is steeped in tradition, with every Friday night under the lights serving as a celebration of community pride, fierce competition, and the intense pressure to succeed. The stakes are always high, with every game offering a chance to achieve glory and make history. For those who grow up in Texas, the game shapes their identity and defines their experience.

I initially imagined setting my story in Texas, drawn to this rich football culture. The state’s strong sense of community, the competitive environment, and the immense pride in local teams would provide the perfect backdrop for a story about ambition, perseverance, and family. It seemed like an ideal fit. However, as I began to develop my story further, I realized that the Winter Olympics—a central element of the narrative—would be hard to integrate convincingly into a Texas setting.

Texas, with its hot summers and mild winters, is simply not conducive to winter sports. The landscape doesn’t align with the cold, snowy environment typically associated with the Winter Olympics. While it would be possible to set the Olympics elsewhere in the story, doing so would lessen the believability of the plot. I needed a setting where the Olympics, the struggles of a lower-middle-class family, and the prominence of football could all intersect in a meaningful way.

In considering various alternatives, I thought about states like New York, Alaska, Colorado, and Utah—all of which boast cold, mountainous climates, making them natural fits for winter sports. These states offer the snow-covered peaks and frigid temperatures that would make the Winter Olympics feel authentic. However, setting the story in one of these places would create its own set of challenges. For instance, a family from Texas would need a significant reason to travel so far—perhaps a vacation or an event that would pull them away from their everyday life. Such a plot device could complicate the story unnecessarily and detract from the otherwise seamless flow.

After careful thought, I settled on Utah. Utah’s unique combination of stunning natural beauty, small-town charm, and its pervasive, deeply-rooted culture made it an ideal choice. With its towering mountains and winter sports hubs, Utah effortlessly accommodates the Olympic setting, providing an authentic and believable backdrop. Additionally, Utah offers a distinct, often religious-driven atmosphere that plays a significant role in shaping the community’s values and the lives of its residents. The intersection of these elements allows for an intriguing dynamic, especially when paired with a lower-middle-class family struggling to make ends meet.

What truly makes Utah stand out in this narrative is its sense of identity. Much like Texas, Utah fosters a strong community connection, but with a different flavor. The people of Utah are known for their resilience and unwavering support for each other, which mirrors the close-knit nature of Texas, but with a quieter, more introspective vibe. The blend of a harsh winter environment, family struggles, and football culture in a state like Utah creates a backdrop that is both realistic and emotionally rich. 

Ultimately, Utah provided the perfect setting to bring all the story’s elements together—winter sports, a hardworking family, and a community invested in their collective success. This choice not only allowed me to integrate the Winter Olympics in a way that felt authentic but also gave depth to the characters and their journey. The distinct landscape, combined with the cultural backdrop of religion and family values, helped me create a compelling, multifaceted environment for the story to unfold.