We have done a poor job in Louisiana and need to keep the separation growing in the minds of the people there. I know they find it hard to grasp. I travel a LOT (mostly in Texas, but all over). I rarely find that someone has never heard of Louisiana Tech. Our name is known. If I say Tech in Texas, they no longer assume Texas Tech like they did in the 90's. They now ask Texas or Louisiana? There are a few "Texas, Louisiana, or Virginia?" And (to further Wade_Antley's post), I can go anywhere and ask what two universities are there in Louisiana and get Tech and the school in BR, with a Tulane thrown in sometimes. Funny thing about Tulane, most forget it is in Louisiana. They have name recognition, but no state identity.
We down ourselves in-state more than any school I know. Time to step up and get past the perception that we are on the level with any other Louisiana school. As for as name recognition goes, it is lsu and us. I will admit that fewer people have heard of Ruston. They know Tech is in Louisiana, but aren't sure where. Probably similar to Southern Miss problem. Oh, and Southern Miss has a name, as well.