Cam Ward caused controversy when he did not play the second half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Ward played the first half and sat the second after he broke the Division I record for most passing yards in a career (156) and surpassed Case Keenum.
There were lots of arguments.
Many felt Ward was taking a risk playing in a meaningless bowl game as a potential No. 1 overall pick. On the other hand, others felt that Ward was being selfish in it for just the sake of it. The Hurricanes lost, 32-31.
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Miami quarterback Cam Ward (1) throws a pass during the first half of the Pop Tarts Bowl NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
The future first-round pick received plenty of praise and criticism, but his now-former head coach, Mario Cristobal, came to his defense this week.
“I don’t feel the need to run to bust false narratives and a bunch of bull — that people like to start because that’s their way of doing things, whatever their job is,” he said Monday. “That’s where it is. That’s where it’s always been. Cam has been an exceptional, an elite, Miami Hurricane. As a competitor, as a player, as a teammate. He’s raised the profile, the exposure of the University of Miami.
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and quarterback Cam Ward (1) celebrate a 52-45 victory against Louisville at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
EX-FLORIDA QB JESSE PALMER TALKS COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF, FRENCH-ONION BEER AND SHEDEUR SANDERS, CAM WARD
“He’s leaving a legacy that will impact generations to come. I think he’s the best I’ve been around and I look forward to watching him lead an NFL franchise to championships and watching him play on Sunday.”
“He’s a big reason why he won 10 games and had a chance to really win every game,” Cristobal added. “He set the tone for what the standard is, right, the expectation going forward — as difficult as that may sound.”
Miami controlled its own College Football Playoff destiny heading into the final week of the regular season, but the Canes fell to Syracuse to knock themselves out of the ACC title game and lose their chance to make the Playoff. Perhaps the conversation would have gone away on both sides if Ward had more to play for in December.
Miami quarterback Cam Ward (1) stands back to pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wake Forest, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Ward and Shedeur Sanders are both in the conversation to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, owned by the Tennessee Titans.
