The goal is to put together the best team. I get the feeling WVU was really bidding against themselves for Jesse. Two of the teams on his final 3 didn't appear interested and SU didn't want to spend that much on him and it wasn't because we couldn't.
As for how we look in the media...it really has little bearing on the goal. It's mostly either people with an agenda or with a lack of full information.
That said, I wouldn't mind if JW put out a statement to the effect that SU has significant NIL support for its athletics and individual decisions about athletes are taken with an eye towards value and putting together the best teams.