Signs point to what some of us have known for a while: it’s a bigger issue.
After a solid few weeks of speculation, confusion, mixed bags full of hopes too far up, the shoe has finally dropped.
Washington State QB John Mateer becomes the next domino to fall in the series of transfer portal entries.
He’s listed here in the 2025 College Football Transfer Portal from 247, and we’ve got this tweet from Greg Woods:
Early indications are that WSU QB John Mateer is set to enter the transfer portal, ending his three-year tenure with the Cougs. Coach Jake Dickert is scheduled to speak with the media around 11:15 a.m. Will get his thoughts then.
— Greg Woods (@GregWWoods) December 16, 2024
This might be how you’re finding out, it might not! Either way, I hope you read on and share with me a moment to process.
Understandably, there’s a mixed bag of emotions surrounding his decision, and while (at the time of writing this) there isn’t word from the man himself (we’ll update when that changes) I’d imagine he’s clouded with emotion as well. This season was huge for WSU Football, and marked what I consider to be the official start to this new, complicated era we’re entering.
I’ll start with some obligated well-wishes for Mateer. Don’t stop scrolling! I understand the impulse to feel differently, and I’m not here to discourage that. But more on what this represents in a bit. Mateer led this team with hard work, dedication, and kindness, and what he accomplished in a season was huge. His contributions won’t be forgotten.
Now, to take a phrase we’re all too familiar with this time of year: With that being said…
The landscape of college football has changed before our eyes in the last few years, a low hanging fruit statement, I know. While, in past articles, I’ve tried to separate myself from my own feelings and focus on the positive, I am finding it difficult to mask the frustration that’s been building in my chest for a long time.
Call me dramatic, roll your eyes, react however you see fit, but watching greed and money steamroll and erode something I have held near and dear to my heart these last few seasons has been draining to watch. From conference realignment to transfer portal changeups, fighting to find the positives when, by all appearances, loyalty can be bought out has been very very hard. Many similar sentiments have been shared here, some from our former EIC Mr. Jeff Nusser, but why the world of college ball seems so dedicated to pound us into the dust and leave us out to dry is completely beyond me.
When NIL began, I assumed it would be treated with more care than this. I hoped it would. I was all for players getting ownership of their own names, they deserve to be compensated fairly for not only the revenue they’re responsible for, but for the community and joy their names help foster. I still believe in that.
John Mateer, again by all appearances, seemed to take careful time and consideration with what was presented to him. As someone who likely will not make a large NFL career* filled with Josh Allen** level accolades, chasing a check now might have been difficult to turn down, especially if there is any truth to the figures I’ve seen floating around. You can look them up yourselves, they’re all jellybeans to me. But I work for a non-profit by day, so no one can accuse me of understanding money!
*if I’m wrong about this, sorry Johnny!
**I am not an NFL girl, this is the best pull I could make during this time of stress. Give me a break.
What makes me sad is not Mateer, specifically, but what this decision seems to represent. It’s been dolled out in smaller doses, been done by players who made less of a public impact, but this feels like the nail in the coffin.
Many of us have predicted this outcome. We’ve ridden the rollercoaster of hope. Death, taxes, and the absolute certainty that come next season, we’ll all still find ourselves in front of the TV, or at Martin Stadium (GESA Field, whatever), donning our Crimson and Gray, ready to be hurt again. But this time it feels different. The North remembers.
I’m not going to act like I know the answers, or that I have any better ideas, I am literally just a girl who watches sports, who does not feel qualified to make large monetary decisions. But to sum up where I think a lot of us are at: we wish you well, John, thanks for the memories, but this new world where everyone is buying each other and figures are thrown around like Monopoly money stinks. It’s a life-changing opportunity for him, and I congratulate him there, but I think that’s all I can muster right now.
Again, story to be updated when we get more info. But also again I have a day job and I’m on my 15, so I’m going to get to things as quickly as possible. Go Cougs drink some water!