I can't help but wonder if it's all due to their feelings that ND is just too good for the Big Ten. They downplay the geographical rivalries, dismiss any evidence of success, and quickly latch onto the SEC as the only conference worthy of calling themselves not terrible. But I root for ND. Many of my friends do as well. Pretty much every one of them has a Big Ten team they root for as well, due to going to the school (and subsequently dropping out obviously) or being raised as such. None of them seem to have the fiery hatred those 2 do.