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Lucas Ingham@LucasIngham · Sep 22, 2026

In an alternate universe Mateer is a WSU legend, one of the all-time td leaders in CFB history, and a Day 1/2 pick as…

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Summary

A WSU fan reflects on QB John Mateer's decision to transfer from Washington State, arguing that his move exemplifies the negative consequences of constant player movement in college football. The thread suggests that staying put and competing with peers often leads to better long-term development than chasing opportunities elsewhere, and uses Mateer's struggles as a cautionary tale about hasty transfer decisions.

Summarized by ThreadOut AI from the full thread. May miss nuance — read the thread below.

  1. #1

    In an alternate universe Mateer is a WSU legend, one of the all-time td leaders in CFB history, and a Day 1/2 pick as a three year starter. Now he's the butt of everyone's joke, and his own fanbase wants him gone. Prime example of what's wrong with the state of the sport. 🧵

    Barstool Wazzu@BarstoolWazzu · Sep 22, 2026

    Everyone is slandering Johnny Football but there was a time…

  2. #2

    To be clear: John was an awesome representative of WSU and I respect why he made the decision he did, but it was also foreseeable this is what would happen. 44 td's as a first-year starter and he would have been able to build on that behind an elite defense last season.

  3. #3

    Myles Rice isn't even on a roster right now, Isaiah Watts is at UTSA. Sometimes what's best for your professional development is to stay where you are, and build on what you've already accomplished.

  4. #4

    FYI I root for these players at other schools, and sometimes it works (See Kapena getting NFL reps, Stribling, etc) But on the whole, so many bright futures have been shut down by shortsighted and hasty decisions to chase glory elsewhere.

  5. #5

    Restricting constant player movement isn't just about protecting smaller schools, it's about protecting players. You get better by competing for spots with your peers, building relationships with teammates, and developing under the same plan.

  6. #6

    If you transfer all the time you risk derailing your development, regressing progress you have made, or ending up out-skilled in your new setting. I think John is an awesome player, so I hope it works out for him by the end of this season. But his story is a cautionary tale