John Mateer’s transfer-portal exit highlights larger problem for WSU
Mike VorelDec. 17
Seattle Times columnist
While his remaining players filtered off the practice field, Jake Dickert delivered a dutiful concession speech.
“The biggest thing for our program is it proves, once again, our process is working. Our process is working,” the third-year Cougs coach repeated Monday, after confirming that quarterback John Mateer will enter the transfer portal. “We’re offering a bunch of kids that have no other Power Five offers. We’re developing [them] into something really, really special.”
The process at Washington State is working.
But it’s not working for Washington State.
It’s working for Miami, which wooed quarterback Cam Ward — Mateer’s predecessor — this time a year ago. It’s working for Oklahoma, which poached WSU offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and in doing so became a likely landing place for Mateer. It’s working for TCU, which welcomed WSU starting defensive lineman Ansel Din-Mbuh on Sunday. It’s working for poachers and cherry-pickers and players who trade a Palouse incubator for a portal payday.
It’s not working for fans asked to emotionally and financially invest in a team perpetually filled with unfamiliar faces.
It’s not working for Dickert — who builds Lamborghinis, then watches them drive away.
“I think the first step is realizing there are no rules. That’s the first step,” Dickert said Monday, when asked about the current transfer-portal culture. “Tampering is now a part of it. That’s a buzzword for everyone to use. But if you’re not recruiting other people’s rosters, it feels like in today’s world you’re going to fall behind. So, it does put us in a tough spot.”
That spot, the rock/hard place where WSU resides:
If the Cougs develop players, they leave.
If the Cougs don’t develop players, they lose.
Of course, the most devastating examples come at quarterback. In two seasons as WSU’s starter, Ward completed 65.5% of his passes and threw for 6,966 yards with 48 passing touchdowns, 16 interceptions and 13 rushing scores. Last winter, Ward followed a money trail to Miami, where he amassed 4,123 passing yards with 40 total touchdowns and seven interceptions — finishing fourth in last week’s Heisman Trophy vote.
But improbably, Mateer improved upon his predecessor’s performance. In 12 games this fall the redshirt sophomore — who backed up Ward the previous two seasons — amassed 64.6% completions, 3,139 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns, 826 rushing yards and 15 rushing scores, with seven interceptions. He downed UW in the Apple Cup and delivered the Cougs’ first eight-win season since 2018, while leading the nation with 44 total touchdowns.
On Monday Dickert confirmed that the Cougs’ name, image and likeness offer to Mateer was worth “seven figures.”
He arrived as the No. 124 quarterback in the 2022 class, according to 247Sports, with scholarship offers from Central Arkansas, Columbia, Houston Christian, Incarnate Word and New Mexico State.
He left as a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate.
Just not for Washington State.
“John will be the most sought-after player in the portal,” said Dickert, whose opinion is reflected in Mateer’s positioning atop 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings. “I think he’s going to be the best player in the country next year.”
But the process is working, right?
In reality, the process is parasitic, systematically punishing WSU for its success. College football has a food chain, and the transfer portal bypasses the fences that previously separated predators and prey.
The result? Twenty-one Cougs (and nine starters) entered the transfer portal between the end of the regular season and Tuesday afternoon. That includes Mateer, Din-Mbuh, offensive tackle Fa’alili Fa’amoe, running back Wayshawn Parker, cornerback Ethan O’Connor, leading receiver Kris Hutson and more — a clown car of soon-to-be former Cougs.
To be clear: those players should not be condemned for capitalizing on their talent, in a sport built on broken bodies and truncated careers. Considering Arbuckle, quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski (who followed Arbuckle to Oklahoma) and running backs coach/associate head coach Mark Atuaia (who landed at Utah) left for other opportunities as well, players should be afforded the same freedom.
But the side effects are unfortunate, as an annual anvil falls on fans’ heads.
“Ten years ago, at this time of year, you would put your feet up,” Dickert said with a laugh. “At night I’d be drinking a beer, celebrating bringing back one of the best teams in Washington State history next year. So it’s just obviously unique and different. December has changed quite a bit, and not just for us.”
Is there a way this process can work for Washington State? That depends on your definition. Ultimately, a roster of rental players could still succeed in the new Pac-12, developing future Sooners and Buckeyes and — gasp — Huskies along the way. The Cougs could embrace their place, leveraging an ability to churn out Big Ten and SEC transfers into an appealing recruiting pitch.
But until money grows in the wheat fields of Eastern Washington, the process will punish. There will be more Wards, more Mateers.
More dizzying Decembers.
“This has been the most united locker room that I’ve been in through my three years here,” Dickert said Monday, 11 days before his Cougs meet Syracuse in the Holiday Bowl. “Through all of our exit meetings guys have really talked about that. It’s going to need to unite even more through this adversity.
“So the people who want to wear the Cougs [colors] and represent us will keep moving forward, and those guys showed up today.”
Mike Vorel: mvorel@seattletimes.com. Mike Vorel is a sports columnist for The Seattle Times.
