If you’re anything like us, you’ve been sitting around on the couch, watching the best athletes in the world compete for international greatness while you stuff your face with Funyuns and refill your beer helmet thinking, “Where the hell do all these amazing athletes come from?”

Well, if they’re from the United States, they probably come from these nine schools, where some of the best athletes in the 2008 Beijing Summer Games developed their medal-winning talent. No place provides for top-notch coaching like college. And these nine schools have provided more Olympians than any others in the country. So get ready to find out where you should have gone to school.

#9 The University of Florida

Number of 2008 Olympians: 9

Last night, Gator Ryan Lochte helped the U.S. swimming team capture gold and blow the previous world record out of the freakin’ water in the 800-meter relay–which landed Michael Phelps his historic 11th gold medal. Lochte, along with Dara Torres and the seven other Florida athletes, have made this schools athletics program an indispensable resource for the US Olympic team.

Men (4)

Women (5)

#7 Tie:  Ohio State University

Number of 2008 Olympians: 10

Home of the Hamm brothers and their flip-tastic gymnastic abilities, Ohio State brings the scarlet and grey to Red China with a huge advantage in the winning medals department. Well, if that’s not true, it’s only because the prediction specialists never saw either of the Hamms on Ninja Warrior. If they’d been there to see them clear the rolling log, I’m sure they’d be the favorites for every event.

Men (6)

Women (4)

#7 Tie:  The University of Tennessee

Number of 2008 Olympians: 10

Tied with Ohio State at 10 olympians, UT has cultivated athletes from across the sports spectrum. While a number of their athletes are expected to do well, their best shot at gold this year in Beijing is softball pitcher, Monica Abbott. Coming into these Summer Games, Abbott holds almost every NCAA pitching record on the books. And the team as a whole is a huge favorite for the top podium spot.

Men (4)

Women (6)

Source: NBCOlympics.com