"excitement" around big-time college sports has been a huge draw for Universities - even VT. Look at what happened to applications around the Beamer era peak. While there are other factors that coincide and I'm not suggesting in any way that football is solely responsible for VT's ascension as an institution, it was undoubtedly a huge help. Same thing has been happening at Clemson more recently.

Most Universities, at SOME level, just want to get students to campus any way they can - and it's easier to sell 18 year olds on sports, social aspects, etc. then it is to pitch the advantages of individual academic programs (especially when a lot of them don't know what they really want to study at that stage).

I'm glad to hear your son found what he thinks will be a perfect fit for him. IMHO, there is NOTHING more important than that factor.