It’s really frustrating when someone promises you something, especially about money, and then it doesn’t come through. Well, life’s not fair, especially in college football, but when fans and culture turn against you. When you stand up for what you’re owed, the situation might get tricky. The former UNLV’s quarterback, Matthew Sluka, is going through the same process. That too after his controversial transfer amid NIL negotiation. 

Matthew Sluka received tons of backlash from the football community after his controversial departure from the UNLV Rebels. Initially, during the recruitment, UNLV promised him $100k. Later, it turns out it was a verbal promise by the offensive coordinator, not from the UNLV football program. This sparked a dispute between Matt Sluka’s family and the UNLV football program. The UNLV head coach, Barry Odom, said the offer was invalid because it did not come from him directly. And the offensive coordinator, Brennan Marion, has yet to comment on this subject.

The fans and football community did not wait too long for backlash. The minute former Holy Cross QB Matt Sluka decided to redshirt his season and enter the NCAA transfer portal and not play further for the program, fans started tweeting and turned their backs on him. Sluka’s agent, Marcus Cromartie, stated, “The only formal offer from the school was one of $3,000 a month for four months.” Which was barely enough to cover his expenses.

“They keep deferring — ‘We don’t know. You have to wait.‘ Then it was like, ‘We’re going to give him game checks.’ So we’re like, ‘OK, great.’ We did not ask for a single dollar [more]. At one point, we are out of pocket for him to be there, because his expenses to live there weren’t even being covered,” his father, Bob Sluka, said to ESPN. Despite Sluka’s justifications, public opinion, particularly on the internet, has turned against him due to his transfer portal activity.

The football fans went hard on Matthew Sluka on Instagram

Social media can be a cruel place sometimes. A lot of celebrities avoid social media comment sections to protect their self-esteem and positivity. And this time fans united on Instagram to react after former UNLV quarterback Matt Sluka announced his departure late Tuesday night, and they didn’t hold back. One fan joked, “Breaking news: McDonald’s employee transfers to Wendy’s,” poking fun at how seriously the transfer is being taken, comparing it to a fast-food worker switching jobs.

Another fan got a bit harsh, commenting, “He’s not even good,” hinting that Sluka’s skills aren’t exactly wowing everyone. That’s a bit debatable, though. Sluka helped UNLV achieve its first-ever top-25 ranking, coming in at No. 23 on the major poll. He wasn’t exactly a star in his early games this season, completing 21 of 48 passes and rushing for 253 yards and a touchdown over three games. Still, he put in a solid effort, even if it didn’t meet fans’ expectations.

One fan tried to keep things positive, saying, “Blessing in disguise for UNLV,” suggesting that losing Sluka could actually help the team refocus on players truly committed to the program. This comment reflects a hopeful sentiment among some fans who see this as an opportunity for UNLV to grow.

Some fans also believe athletes are increasingly chasing NIL money, with one saying, “Should go to Oregon for the unlimited NIL money,” hinting that Sluka might benefit financially by joining a school with stronger NIL opportunities.

Finally, a fan pointed out, “The backup was better than him,” referring to UNLV’s backup QB Hajj-Malik Williams, who put up impressive numbers with over 1,000 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and only three interceptions in five games.

Whether this marks a fresh start or just another chapter in Sluka’s college football journey, it’s clear fans have mixed feelings. The college football rollercoaster keeps rolling, and everyone’s waiting to see where Sluka ends up next!