Never underestimate EIU's deep-seeded need to distance themselves from Iowa's farming roots. They have a long track record of it. Here's my thoughts on it:
1) It's elitist AF, which suits them perfectly.
2) In order to justify that mentality, your athletic department would have to be wildly more successful than ISU, which is a laughably unattainable goal (especially with the parody in modern college athletics), and it sets Hok fans up for eternal insecure frustration. If ISU can produce similar or better results at any point, what does that say about EIU?
3) Good luck getting people nationally to buy what you're selling. You are asking people who generally don't give much thought to the state to distinguish "Iowa State" and "Iowa" as hickish farmers and not hickish non-famers, respectively. That's simply never going to happen.
4) Farming as a whole is nothing to be ashamed of. It's a respectable and stable bedrock financially speaking. Would you rather our state be an uglier West Virgina?
I get a real kick out of the idea that Hoks seem to truly envision a scenario where people around the country are going to go, "Oh, you're a Hokeye fan? I hear it's nothing but skyscrapers, doctors, and lawyers over there! Yup, I hear eastern Iowa is a beacon of advanced post-agricultral civilization. Unlike those backwards hillbillies from slightly to west of you! Let me buy you a craft beer!"
