State of the art facilities and great coaches are fine and all— But are there good tacos?
So, you’re a transfer portal football player and you’re thinking about your next destination. As this has been a hot topic lately, I decided I’d put together some of the reasoning I would use to draw a player looking for their new home to Pullman— Based on some of my more niche firsthand knowledge of the Promised Land. Walk with me while I explain why our underrated gem on the Palouse should be at the top of every portal player’s list, and I’m not talking about football facilities or training programs (though we’ve got those too). No, I’m talking about the vibes. Here’s how I’d convince someone to sign up for life as a Coug:
- Taco Tuesday at “The Land”
First off, for being a tiny town, Pullman has got a fantastic food scene. Players are going to need fuel for all those early-morning practices, and look no further than one of my favorite occasions ever— Taco Tuesday at “The Land.” Now, this isn’t your average taco night. This is, for some reason, some of the best carnitas tacos I’ve ever had, for a price that won’t leave me broke by the end of the week. Unbeatable margarita deals ($2.00 singles and $4.00 doubles) and a warm evening out on the patio is the icing on the cake that’ll truly complete the experience. Trust me, as a former Cougar, Tuesdays at The Land are one of the things I miss the most about Pullman and is something I’d advertise to anyone when trying to draw them “Back Home”.
2. The Best Walmart Maybe Ever
Hear me out on this one! I’ve been to a lot of Walmarts in my time, and none of them hold a candle to the Pullman Walmart. The layout just makes more sense than any other store, the aisles are spacious, and everything is so…well, vibey. I can’t quite explain it, but there’s something so pleasing about the atmosphere in that wonderful establishment. Plus, it’s clean. I know, it’s wild to be enthusiastic about a Walmart, but after one trip, you’ll see what I mean. Oh, and don’t get me started on the sunset views from the parking lot. It’s, dare I say, one of the best places in town to catch an epic sunset and post pictures to your Snapchat story after a long day of practice. What more could a potential player ask for?
3. Very Minimal Traffic
Another underrated perk of Pullman: virtually no traffic (We just won’t talk about the 9am rush to class on campus). We’re talking about a town where you can essentially leave 10 minutes before you need to be somewhere across town and still make it on time. This is the kind of environment where college-aged procrastinators thrive. Go ahead, take a nap before practice. Leave at the last possible minute. It’s a luxury you’ll never experience in a bigger city. Sure, it might make you a little spoiled when you travel to other places and encounter actual traffic jams, but that’s a small price to pay for the Pullman way of life.
4. The Community
But, of course, the real draw of Pullman is the community. This is a place where everyone knows your name—and not just because of the football team. People here genuinely care about each other. Whether you’re grabbing a coffee at Roost or partaking in Cougar Football weekend festivities, the support and love from the local community is palpable. In Pullman, players not just another student-athlete; they’re part of something bigger and invited to lots of different family homes for dinner, I’ve heard. Quite literally part of a family. For as long as one gives into Pullman, Pullman will give back to you.
So, to all you future transfer portal players out there: if you’re looking for a place where tacos are heavenly, Walmarts are surprisingly chill, traffic is (almost) nonexistent, and the people are a genuine extension of your new football family—Pullman is calling your name. Come for the vibes, stay for the community. You won’t regret it.