WKU’s football team finds itself in the middle of a controversy following the dismissal and loss of scholarship of senior defensive lineman Victory Vaka.
According to the CBS Sports article by Chris Hummer, Vaka was removed from the team after a leave of absence due to the death of his mother, Sarah Mataele, on April 2.
“It’s like inhumane what they did,” Vaka told CBS Sports. “When some of these coaches say they care, they really don’t.”
WKU Athletics Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications and Media Relations Jared McDonald declined to provide a comment to the Herald on Vaka’s situation. The Herald reached out to WKU Director of Athletics Todd Stewart, Tyson Helton, Travis Taylor, Zachary Kramme, Chandler DeRieux and Vaka to answer questions and provide statements, but received no response by the time of publication.
A former three-star Class of 2021 recruit, Vaka transferred to WKU in January from Texas Southern University. In his first months on the team, he participated in offseason workouts and spring practices.
CBS Sports reported that WKU flew Vaka home and back after his mother’s death. Upon arriving to Bowling Green later in April, Vaka met with his professors and head football coach Helton.
According to Vaka, he wasn’t given a specific timeline to return by Helton and was told he’d be supported and helped if Vaka chose to transfer. He told CBS Sports that he always planned to return to WKU for the 2026 season.
“I didn’t want to leave Western Kentucky, but I had to be back at home,” Vaka said to CBS Sports. “I got that feeling they wouldn’t be mad if I didn’t come back.”
Vaka told CBS Sports that the last few months have been devastating for him.
“It’s been very exhausting mentally,” Vaka told CBS Sports. “Being back here around my siblings has been somewhat helping, but every day I wake up and can’t believe my mom is gone.”
Nine days before his mother’s funeral on May 9, Vaka received a call from an assistant strength coach telling him he was expected back in June and provided him with a summer workout plan.
Vaka told CBS Sports he thought they were excusing him for all of May and thinks the lack of communication from both parties allowed things to go “sideways.”
A text exchange between Vaka’s agent, Jaykwon Jefferson, and WKU Director of Player Personnel, Kramme, referred to his “time away in May.” According to CBS Sports, the texts suggested that the staff expected Vaka out for at least part of the month.
But, on May 26, Vaka was asked by his position coach where he was. Then, he was informed on May 27 by Chief of Football Staff Taylor that he was off the team, consequently losing his scholarship.
CBS Sports reported Jefferson spoke with Taylor that day, who said Vaka’s two-month offseason absence left him in a position to not play.
According to a transcript of the meeting obtained by CBS Sports, Taylor pointed out that WKU flew Vaka home and back due to their concern. He also noted Vaka did not initiate contact with staff, which Vaka told CBS Sports that he could have communicated better.
“We pay them all this money and tell them, ‘All right, now we expect you to be an adult and communicate and do all the things that adults do’,” Taylor is quoted as saying to Jefferson.
Jefferson told CBS Sports that looking back, he suspects WKU was trying to replace Vaka, who wasn’t a high-profile transfer, and used his absence as a way to do so.
“Why did they wait a whole month to check on him?” Jefferson told CBS Sports. “It’s your duty as a staff to take care of this kid. The head coach said he was going to call him…Victory never got that call.”
The exchange between Player Personnel Director Kramme and Jefferson was initiated with Kramme telling Jefferson that the team was looking for a defensive tackle in the transfer portal. He also brought up concerns over Vaka staying on track with maintaining his weight during his absence.
NCAA financial aid rules bar schools from cancelling aid for athletic performance, with a 30-day portal window that exists for athletes who lose their scholarships.
With his aid canceled, CBS Sports said Vaka planned to enter the transfer portal under the National Collegiate Athletic Association aid reduction or cancellation exemption. However, Vaka’s dismissal was processed by WKU as “failure to report,” qualifying it as a disciplinary dismissal that prevents use of the exemption.
According to CBS Sports, the only two exceptions to entering the portal that Vaka would fit under would be either engaging in serious misconduct or voluntarily withdrawing from the sport. If WKU wants to move on from Vaka without an NCAA violation, it has to process him as in violation of one of the rule’s exceptions.
CBS Sports reported that after being told by the WKU Athletics compliance office that Vaka would be ineligible to enter the portal, Jefferson did not hear back from the office for about two weeks. WKU then suggested a legislative relief waiver, which allows a waiver of existing NCAA rules based upon extenuating circumstances.
After the NCAA denied Vaka’s first waiver, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance & Academic Affairs DeRieux told Vaka that he could strengthen his appeal by submitting a statement on why he believes WKU’s decision should be changed.
“He essentially had to out-argue the school submitting the waiver request on his behalf,” CBS Sports reported. “The NCAA denied that appeal, too.”
With the college football Division I transfer portal closed as of Jan. 16, Vaka is left without an opportunity to finish his last semester and use his final season of eligibility.
According to CBS Sports, Vaka wasn’t called to speak with the NCAA during his appeals process. Jefferson received no explanation from WKU as to why they couldn’t categorize Vaka’s dismissal in a way where he could enter the portal.
