@Youdon’tsay, what you describe was my experience both as an alum (distant past) and as the mother of an alum (recent past). To me, the rivalry is like two siblings who love to yank each other’s chains, but are steadfast supporters of one another during the hard times. As the St. Olaf student president said about the “Carls love Oles” condolences (in the above link), ““I was filled with gratitude for their act of solidarity, and I was proud to be a part of the St. Olaf and Carleton community,” she said. "We may seem like rivals, but in reality, we truly care about each other.”