SPRINGFIELD - About one-third of the latest crop of Illinois lawmakers attended a taxpayer-funded state university, according to an analysis of the new General Assembly.

With Fighting Illini, Huskies, Redbirds, Panthers and Salukis all bumping heads in the Statehouse, rivalries usually reserved for the hardwood or the gridiron often spill onto the floor of the House and Senate.

While money is not on the line, friendly wagers between lawmakers have included everything from dinner at an upscale restaurant to a block of cheese.

"When you're talking about your schools, you're always wagering pride," said state Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville, a Northern Illinois University graduate. "Everybody talks a little smack when it comes time for the games - talk to Representative Bost."

That would be Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, a rabid Southern Illinois University fan who admits to doing very little to hide his adoration for the Salukis. Bost said his love of SIU is homegrown.

"Well, SIU is in my district. I went to school there, and my kids have gone there," he said. "As a student and an alum, I have a great loyalty toward SIU. We are pretty proud of our 'Dogs.'"

With 18 alums spread across both houses, the University of Illinois is the most-represented school in the newly formed General Assembly, while Loyola University, a private school in Chicago, is next with 10 lawmakers.

A survey of the 177 members of the General Assembly found that 65 lawmakers attended in-state public universities. That number has changed very little compared to a decade ago, when 71 lawmakers attended in-state public schools.

Conversely, the number of lawmakers attending schools out-of-state dropped sharply from 49 a decade ago to 35 today.

Tom Hardy, executive director for university relations for the University of Illinois system, said an education at a UI school inspires loyalty that hopefully lawmakers remember when they are budgeting their education dollars.

"Thirty-one of the state's lawmakers attended UI schools," he said. "Obviously, one of the good things about having nearly three dozen lawmakers is that we don't have to remind them too strongly what a great benefit a UI education is for them and the state."

But while they might have benefited from a public education, many lawmakers say that when they are allocating the state's higher education budget, ties to their district trump loyalty to their alma mater.

Eddy said having a community college in his district and two of his children attending different schools has caused him to stray from being true to only his school.

"Although you've got a special place in your heart for the school you attended, I've got a son at ISU, a daughter at EIU, a daughter at Lakeland and I've got two more at home who will be going away soon enough," he said. "And EIU is so close to my district that I have to pay specific, particular attention to it."

State Rep. Bob Flider, D-Decatur, a proud EIU Panther, agreed with Eddy and said it's difficult to give your alma mater preferential treatment.

"I don't think it benefits anyone for us to play favorites in funding our universities," he said. "My constituents have children in every school across the state. I have one kid at EIU and another at Western (Illinois University), so I am uniquely aware of the high cost of education."

"When it comes to the heart strings of Eastern being my alma mater, I would want it to fare well in terms of funding," he added. "But from a standpoint of equity, they have to make their case the way any university would have to make theirs."