The south thrives on the phrase "bigger is better." Southerners take everything to a new extreme: hospitality, college football and food, just to name a few. The following list elaborates on 15 things that the south does bigger and better than anywhere else.

1. Anything can and will be fried.

I mean anything: Pickles, scorpion, gator, Coca-Cola, Oreos and even beer. Sticking something in batter and oil amplifies all the flavors and makes nearly anything edible (nearly).

2. The weather

I get excited for a good snow day as much as the next person, but 85-degree days in February are just too good to pass up.

3. Sweet tea

I never knew the delicious joy of drinking 35 grams of sugar in a glass of sweet tea before moving to the south. Seriously, why does unsweet tea still exist?

4. Piety

Being in the Bible Belt means that when you meet someone, you aren't asked what neighborhood you live in or where your kids go to school. You are, however, asked what church you belong to.

5. Manners

Going to a friend's house and forgetting to call her mom "ma'am" is just asking to get a beating from your own mother. Manners are not something to be taken lightly, and the only thing worse than forgetting to call your own parents "ma'am" or "sir" is forgetting to refer to another adult as "ma'am" or "sir" in front of your parents.

6. Biscuits

Biscuits are great because they are so versatile and can be eaten with any meal. Biscuits and gravy, chicken biscuits, biscuits and jam ...

7. Greek life

Tradition breeds tradition and the south is all about traditions. If their parents went to school in the south, college students will likely be a legacy to whatever chapter their parents belonged to. Southern Greek life offers an enormous group of friends, the best parties and a home away from home.

8. College football

In the south, SEC vs. ACC trumps AFC vs. NFC. The year revolves around college football. And if your alma mater makes the National Championship, you're likely more excited than if your local pro team wins the Super Bowl.

9. Tailgating

Initially, I was going to include tailgating with college football, but then I realized that tailgating is a sport all its own. Southerners will use any excuse to tailgate: Football, concerts, even horse races. Cars have cable, tents have decor and people throw parties in motorhomes. There is no such thing as "too big" in the south.

10. Fast food

The variation of fast food restaurants in the southeast is unbelievable: Bojangles, Chick-fil-A, Zaxby's, Waffle House and thank God for Cook Out. The rest of the country has no idea what they're missing.

11. Men

A deep, slow, southern drawl is enough to make any woman swoon, but that isn't even the best part about southern men. They are real gentlemen who open your car door, pull out your chair and shake your father's hand. Not to mention how well they dress ...

12. "Y'all"

You guys, you-uns or you/youse sound too awkward, whereas "y'all" rolls off the tongue so easily. Not all southern grammar is correct in my book, but y'all got it right with "y'all."

13. Cowboy boots

Cowboy boots will be worn anytime, anywhere and every day if possible. People get married, go to work and go grocery shopping all in cowboy boots.

14. Moonshine, bourbon, whiskey ... Basically any alcohol

Founded and fermented in the south, moonshine is the choice alcohol around here. And if southerners don't have a mason jar in hand, then it's probably a glass of whiskey.

15. Country music

The anthem of the south, country music embodies what is is to be southern. Common themes include lake days, six packs of beer and pick-up trucks.