Thanks, sports team fandom is a good example of institutional loyalty.

In this particular case, the analogy is also a little funny, since it could be used or interpreted as a put-down.

Consider "town vs. gown" dynamics, and some movie caricature of Harvard blue blood person, implying that a local (Boston) townie would need a Red Sox analogy, to understand loyalty to the college a person attended.

You’re implying that everyone who doesn’t go to Harvard thinks of Harvard on the same level as a sports team RIVALRY, which is of course absurd.

It’s more like someone whose allegiance to a team is unknown, saying he’s okay with NYC charging sales tax at Yankees games.