Athletes at my school have always received special treatment. They get to register for classes first, the first pick of parking zones for permits, etc.
When I first started college, Hale Anuenue was the official "athlete dorm". When T and I first started dating, he was one of the new guys, and so it was mandatory that he lived there. It was horrible -- and I didn't see any "team unity" at all. I can't count how many times fights broke out just because they'd get sick of each other.
But then again, that was just my campus. Sure, it'd PROMOTE it, but I never saw it happen.
I see it this way.. most of these people go to class together, they practice twice a day together. Sometimes you just need a timeout from each other, and you can't get that if you have to go home to your teammates.
It was like that for years, and eventually they weeded out the athletes from that dorm and designated it for upperclassman and graduate students.
And don't even get me started on those annoying ass "athlete groupies" that'd be around 24/7. Fucking trifling slutty hoochie mamas.