Written Work

The Journey from Walk-On to Scholarship Player: Nate DeRider

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Washington State University football players can be spotted walking across campus with their signature WSU, Nike brand backpacks with “football” typed for everyone to see. There are automatic judgements made about them and many assumptions about who each of these players are, but each journey as a collegiate football player is different. 

Nate DeRider, a linebacker in his last year at WSU as a player and student, was just awarded a scholarship for his last year here. There have been many shifts from walk-on to scholarship players throughout the history of college football, but DeRider’s story is still special. 

“I was going to play football for a D3 college but then WSU came into the picture” said DeRider. “I took the chance to play D1 football.”

Teammates and coaches surprised DeRider with the news in August after being asked to talk about his experiences as a walk-on player in front of the whole team. “Well, you’re not a walk-on anymore,” said head coach Mike Leach as a few player sprayed him with silly string and the rest of the team yelled in combined shock and happiness for their fellow teammate. 

DeRider was obviously a little choked up and said he was so excited to tell his parents they didn’t have to worry about paying for his last year at WSU. 

“It was a really special moment for me,” said DeRider. “When he (Leach) said it, I couldn’t control my emotions.”

As a fifth year player at WSU, DeRider has has a unique experience in his years here. He wasn’t your typical walk-on player. As a preffered walk-on player, WSU reached out to him to be a walk-on player without the tryout process. He also spent all five years of his time on the team as a n active player season after season. 

By sophomore year, DeRider was a major part of special teams plays. He also has made interceptions and key defensive plays. His fourth season included 12 sacks. After four years of paying his own way into the program, DeRider was rewarded the scholarship for his fifth year as a result of excellent play with WSU. 

Although DeRider didn’t have to experience this as a preferred walk-on player, the actual tryout process can be a daunting task. “We really appreciate those guys who come here and work their tails off,” said WSU football defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. 

Grinch said there are many factors in play when deicing what walk-on players to take on to the team. There are around 25 new scholarship players brought on each year, said Grinch. After those are decided, “we have to make sure we have the numbers (of people) needed for each position,” said Grinch. 

DeRider said that there are many ways that being a walk-on player can be different than those receiving scholarships.

“It was extremely difficult and I had to work really hard,” said DeRider. As a walk-on player your identity as a player and position is unknown said DeRider. “You have to prove yourself everyday and show your worthiness to the team.” With his stats getting better each season, DeRider was continuously proving he deserved his place on the team. 

“I was playing with my heart and a hard work ethic everyday,” said DeRider. 

DeRider isn’t the only walk-on to scholarship player in the recent years for WSU. Another well known player who made this transition is current starting quarterback Luke Falk. 

Offensive line coach Clay McGuire said that the biggest factor is having the scholarships available to give. “If they (scholarships) are available, he’s making the plays, and working his butt off, then he deserves one,” said McGuire. 

Grades are also an important factor. “Coach will rarely give scholarships to someone who doesn’t have good grades,” said McGuire. 

DeRider is graduating in may with a B.A. in Communications with a focus in public relations. 

“I can say that I have made a lot of best friends here playing football,” said DeRider. “These guys will be in my wedding one day.”

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Dreaming of Hawaii: A WSU Student’s Unique Post Grad Goals 

If you ask any soon to be graduate from Washington State University what their future plans are, you will hear numerous responses ranging from living arrangements to job aspects. Chelsea Goehring has a different plan. Chelsea’s post grad goals take her over 2,500 miles away to the island state of Hawaii.

 
If you ask Goehring to talk about what makes her unique, she will modestly tell you there isn’t much to say. This charming blonde, green eyed senior at WSU is anything but ordinary. 

Dedicated to school and her friends, Goehring has been described to have no mean bones in her body by her roommate Abby Webb. “She can make the most simple conversation more fun by just showing you she cares about what you’re saying and being so positive,” Webb said. 

Goehring encourages you to think outside of the box as well, said Webb. “She has made me realize you don’t have to play by everyone else’s rules in life,” said Webb. “I admire how she has a whole life planned in Hawaii that no one would ever suspect.”

Goehring first went to Hawaii this summer to visit her friend Alex Hanashiro who she met through her involvement in WSU’s Alpha Chi Omega sorority. This trip was life changing to Goehring. “I had always wanted to visit, but I never knew I’d immediately fall in love with the place,” Goehring said. “It wasn’t just the perfect vacation, it was the first time I pictured living somewhere specifically in the future.”

“I grew up in Hawaii, so I know it’s a place people come to love,” Hanashiro said. “She is one of the first friends I’ve met outside of Hawaii that actually seems like she is going to make the move though.” Hanashiro says it can be a hard process to move to Hawaii, but believes Goehring has the determination. 

Goehring was born in Spokane and has lived in Washington State her whole life. She’s been to different states, but never out of the country. This doesn’t stop her from having a love for travel. 

“She isn’t someone who wants to stay in one place long,” Goehring’s mother, Brenda Goehring, said. “She may not have had the chance to yet, but she will definitely explore the world though out her lifetime.”

“It was somewhat surprising to hear she had such a want to move to Hawaii,” Goehring’s dad, Randy Goehring said. He said he expected her to love her trip, but it didn’t really fit into what she had been planning to do with her career. 

“As long as she is safe, healthy, and happy there, then by all means she should make it happen,” Randy Goehring said.

Goehring said there is so many aspects of Hawaii that make her want to call the island home. “Of course the water, beaches, and weather are a draw,” Goehring said, but she also says the rich culture of the residents and the closeness she sees from them makes her want to actually live there to be part of it. 

Eventually, she also wants to own her own business there. “I picture myself moving to Hawaii and opening up my own shaved ice company on the beach,” Goehring said. Its about the experience and living in a new place, not about trying to make a lot of money, Goehring said about her goals. 

Goehring is finishing up her senior year at WSU and is graduating on time in May, 2018. She is studying strategic communications and minoring in hospitality and business management because she loves people. Her love for people may take her to the beach interacting with tourists and locals, instead of a traditional industry job. 

“I’m not afraid of change,” said Goehring and it is apparent when looking at all of the goals for her future that this statement is true. 

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