While I'm sure there's folks at the UofI that would love to see us knocked down a peg, if it comes down to it, I think the legislature would push to get ISU a spot in the B1G along with Iowa.
Here's my thoughts:
1) Having two well-respected research universities in a state like Iowa is a big deal. Like it or not, athletics are a big reason why students choose a college nowadays. If ISU isn't in a power conference, they lose that selling point, and very likely some enrollment.
UI can only enroll so many students, so that means fewer Iowa kids staying in-state for college. Which means fewer graduates choosing to stay in Iowa after college. So losing future workers, tax revenue, etc.
2) There's a number of in-state alums that for whom ISU athletics is a time-consuming and expensive leisure activity. If you take that away or diminish it greatly, there's a lot of people that wouldn't keep partaking in it. If you need to find something else to do with your time, why not move to a state with more options than Iowa?
While this would not amount to many people, it would skew towards younger alums that aren't as tied down. Who have still yet to reach their prime earning years (see above comment about labor and tax revenue).
Both of these wouldn't make much of a dent in the short term, but the long term costs to the state could add up.
None of what I said above would be a disaster for the state by any means, but for a small population Midwestern state that has already struggled for a long time to keep their young educated population from leaving, I think the legislature would be willing to use whatever power they have.
Hopefully this is all moot.
Here's my thoughts:
1) Having two well-respected research universities in a state like Iowa is a big deal. Like it or not, athletics are a big reason why students choose a college nowadays. If ISU isn't in a power conference, they lose that selling point, and very likely some enrollment.
UI can only enroll so many students, so that means fewer Iowa kids staying in-state for college. Which means fewer graduates choosing to stay in Iowa after college. So losing future workers, tax revenue, etc.
2) There's a number of in-state alums that for whom ISU athletics is a time-consuming and expensive leisure activity. If you take that away or diminish it greatly, there's a lot of people that wouldn't keep partaking in it. If you need to find something else to do with your time, why not move to a state with more options than Iowa?
While this would not amount to many people, it would skew towards younger alums that aren't as tied down. Who have still yet to reach their prime earning years (see above comment about labor and tax revenue).
Both of these wouldn't make much of a dent in the short term, but the long term costs to the state could add up.
None of what I said above would be a disaster for the state by any means, but for a small population Midwestern state that has already struggled for a long time to keep their young educated population from leaving, I think the legislature would be willing to use whatever power they have.
Hopefully this is all moot.
