Will the South rise again?

With Atlanta awarded an MLS expansion franchise, backers of the Columbus Crew are trying to become the new team’s first rival. Columbus’ supporters group — Massive City — welcomed the new team with “warmest regards from your old friends in Ohio.”

Except the message accompanied a picture of Ohio-born Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman, who led the Union’s violent capture of Atlanta.

The Atlanta franchise will be owned by Falcons owner Arthur Blank, and two teams will share a new stadium set to open in 2017.