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Some inside jokes could be humorous. Others not a lot.
John Mateer appears to have fallen into the second class: The Oklahoma Sooners quarterback is now on protection concerning NCAA coverage about student-athletes and sports activities betting.
Screenshots of Venmo transactions the QB made in 2022 started circulating Monday on social media. They seem to point out that Mateer, then a Washington State freshman, wrote “sports activities playing” to explain two separate funds to the identical particular person. The quantities have been undisclosed.
A kind of descriptions included in “UCLA vs USC” in parentheses. The Trojans defeated the Bruins 48-45 on Nov. 19, 2022, the day earlier than each Venmo funds have been allegedly made.
Present NCAA guidelines prohibit student-athletes from partaking in sports activities betting at any stage, though a proposal is being thought-about that might allow playing on skilled sports activities solely.
Mateer launched a press release Tuesday indicating that he had written these phrases in jest.
“The allegations that I as soon as participated in sports activities playing are false,” he wrote on X (previously Twitter). “My earlier Venmo descriptions didn’t precisely painting the transactions in query however have been as a substitute inside jokes between me and my mates.
“I’ve by no means wager on sports activities. I perceive the seriousness of the matter however acknowledge that, taken out of context, these Venmo descriptions counsel in any other case. I can guarantee my teammates, coaches, and officers on the NCAA that I’ve not engaged in any sports activities playing.”
Oklahoma Athletics mentioned in a press release that its student-athletes obtain ongoing schooling on issues associated to sports activities playing and that it makes use of a service that gives complete monitoring of sports activities playing actions.
“OU takes any allegations of playing critically and works carefully with the NCAA in any conditions of concern,” the division mentioned. “OU Athletics is unaware of any NCAA investigation and has no motive to consider there may be one pending.”
Mateer performed three seasons at Washington State, together with the previous two because the Cougars’ beginning quarterback, earlier than transferring to Oklahoma this offseason.
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