[jacketree]

Someone may be singing the alma mater or fight song of a teammate's school after a rivalry bet; but their paychecks depend on combined performance, so a QB would be an idiot not to work with a receiver from a rival college.  Or any combination you can think of. My guess is that personal stuff (stolen girlfriends, the guy who never picks up a tab, the guy who is a straight out jackass in the locker room, etc) would interfere with a working relationship long before college history. (Unless maybe that history involved some serious 'off-field' stuff.) Furthermore, it wouldn't surprise me if most high level college players have far more in common with their opponents (and therefore probably respect them more) than they do with the "regular" students or fans from their own school.

[jacketree]

Someone may be singing the alma mater or fight song of a teammate's school after a rivalry bet; but their paychecks depend on combined performance, so a QB would be an idiot not to work with a receiver from a rival college.  Or any combination you can think of. My guess is that personal stuff (stolen girlfriends, the guy who never picks up a tab, the guy who is a straight out jackass in the locker room, etc) would interfere with a working relationship long before college history. (Unless maybe that history involved some serious 'off-field' stuff.) Furthermore, it wouldn't surprise me if most high level college players have far more in common with their opponents (and therefore probably respect them more) than they do with the "regular" students or fans from their own school.