Jake Dickert reacts to Washington, Oregon leaving for the Big Ten

Oregon and Washington have reportedly dealt the Pac-12 what is arguably the worst blow it has suffered yet with the news that they’ll be heading to the Big Ten before the week is out. Even so, as a head coach at one of the few remaining Pac-12 schools at the moment, Jake Dickert is firm in how he feels about Washington State and the conference in which they reside.

Dickert commented on the move by the Ducks and Huskies during a media availability at fall camp in Pullman this afternoon. He came across as almost somber as he recalled what the league has represented overall for quite some time now in college sports.

“I think it’s just one of those things when you really look back? I said it yesterday. The Pac-12 was comprised of 12 amazing state institutions, high-academic institutions, and great, tremendous athletic institutions for a long time,” said Dickert. “I woke up as a kid and the Rose Bowl was, the Big Ten-the Pac-12, the Pac-10 back then, a big deal.”

In the end, money is driving many of the choices that we’re seeing when it comes to conference realignment. However, to Dickert, he doesn’t see those price tags as being worth what the student-athletes will have to endure or worth the loss of some of the historic matchups within the Pac-12.

“Traveling across the country? You look at the NFL. They’ve got tons of research on how hard that is. And that’s for professional athletes,” said Dickert. “For student-athletes? The guys that have got to come back and take an exam? Missing class? I think it’s tremendously difficult.”

“It hits home. I talked about rivalries yesterday. To think it’s the end of the Apple Cup, to think it’s the end of the Civil War? At the end of the day, what’s it worth?,” Dickert asked.

Dickert realizes the game that is being played away from the field at the moment across the country. That’s why, amidst all the movement, he just wants to put his head down and do what he needs to do to help the Cougars succeed this season and, eventually, into their future, whatever it may look like, as a program.

“I understand business, I understand change. Everyone’s got to change and we’ve got to adapt,” Dickert said. “Wazzu will find its way. We have for 100-some years and we will again.”

“I’m not privy to the information. I think, in uncertain times, the biggest thing I want to do is double down on the now, double down on this team. Our coaching staff, these players? We’ve poured everything we possibly have into these guys,” said Dickert. “I want to give them every ounce of everything that I possibly can have. No news, no uncertainty is going to possibly change that. So I’m doubling down on right now. I’m excited about this team. We’ve quietly built a really strong team. I think we’re building something special and we’ll continue to do that.”