Natural human tendency suggests Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks could be bitter rivals, resentment flying in a testosterone-fueled football culture that boils competition down into only winners and losers. They are both Georgia natives transplanted to Minnesota, both with three years of playing eligibility remaining, both running backs fighting for carries in the Gophers' backfield.
Add up those similarities, and it's easy to see how the two could allow a fight to ruin the cohesiveness of an entire position group. Smith and Brooks, however, are quick to point out that idea could not be further from the truth.