ISU and Iowa were the major research universities and UNI was the normal school. ISU and Iowa got the bulk of the funding. In a lot of ways, UNI can feel fortunate Iowa doesn't follow the Minnesota or Wisconsin models. Wisconsin forbids any state schools from having a football program that isn't D3. Minnesota doesn't allow another school to be D1. UNI doesn't get the funding of ISU or Iowa, but they are on more equal footing than other neighboring states. One thing currently in favor of UNI is finally getting their alumni base vocal and demanding more from the state. As recently as 5-6 years ago there were a number of D3 schools in the state with higher endowments and more annual giving than UNI was getting from their alumni base. And UNI has 10 times the alumni base as the D3 schools. I don't want to hear about all the poor UNI grad teachers and accountants...UNI should have been doing a better job of bringing in alumni donations. They are now, and their alumni base is active in supporting their schools cause at the state house. Things are improving.