I actually feel just the opposite and my father was an engineering department dean for 30-years. YSU is an academic sell ...a Colgate degree sells itself. What YSU lacked for decades is what we now finally have ...general studies, athletic science degrees, etc. These are the things that are going to attract and keep top athletes. Let's face it; most top athletes (major sports) are marginal scholars. If we show a kid a program in teaching athletics, coaching, or the ability to play at YSU for 3+ years without having to declare ...then you have a recruit.
Lack of funds for these type of programs has plagued small schools (such as YSU) for years. Our money has to go for the basics (reading, writing and arithmetic). It is like my dad and I always say about Ohio State ...a Chinese national can get a PHD in advanced underwater basket-weaving if he/she can also play ping-pong.
So we are not selling YSU short, we are realizing what it takes to get and hold top athletes in today's market. Most of these guys do not want great Engineering programs, they want to stay in school for 3 to 5 seasons.