I have not heard any completely correct opinions on the Cam Ward situation at the Pop-Tarts Bowl, so I will give it a shot.
To provide a brief overview for those who engaged in more meaningful activities on Saturday afternoon
Cam Ward, Miami’s star quarterback, is a lock for the top ten pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and could have opted out of the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State. Nobody would have said anything about it.
– Ward chose to play, and he came out in the first half, throwing for 190 yards and three touchdowns as Miami led 31-28 at halftime. With those three touchdowns, he surpassed Case Keenum as the NCAA’s all-time touchdown pass leader, with 156.
– Ward did not play in the second half. Despite being the best player on the field, he sat out during a competitive game.
– Iowa State scored late to take a 42-41 lead. There was less than a minute left, and all the Hurricanes needed was a field goal, but Ward did not come back in. To be fair, backup Emory Williams struggled in the second half and was unable to get anything moving on the final drive.
– Many people are angry right now, and here’s why. The game was close. If this had been a blowout, Ward sitting out would have been completely understandable. But if Ward had played the entire game, Miami would probably have won.
To be clear…
5. Cam Ward shouldn’t have played, but that’s me
I will not argue if you believe Ward should have played, so I will use my least favorite phrase ever: we will agree to disagree. I cannot.
We will agree that I do not believe for a single second that you would risk millions of dollars if all you had to do was go one day without getting hurt. I have been saying this since 1998: if you are a true NFL prospect, you would be insane to play one more down of college football than necessary.
I agree with Bill Parcells’ belief that if you want to be a professional football player, you should become one.
But, again, that is me. It is not my money or future, so if someone wants to take a chance on their dreams and a potential quarter-billion or more in future earnings – and no, insurance policies do not work the way everyone thinks they do – go for it. So with that…
4. The Pop-Tarts Bowl pregame propaganda set the tone for a letdown
This is where the Cam Ward story went off the rails from the start.
When asked about Ward, Shedeur Sanders, and Travis Hunter playing in a bowl game instead of opting out, almost every talking head mentioned something about being there for the teammates, taking advantage of the opportunity, showing competitive spirit, and “what college football is all about,” all with the tone that the players in these bowls were doing things the “right” way.
All of this highlights the hypocrisy.
3. The optics of Cam Ward not playing in the second half of the bowl were AWFUL
I will admit that this is the one area where I am completely lost, and it has happened before in bowling.
Again, I do not believe Ward or any other top NFL prospect should risk an injury, but if you are going to do it, GO, especially in a close game. Ward sat out the second half, and the spin fails the smell test.
From the Department of… Seriously?
The coaching staff wanted to see more of backup quarterback Emory Williams, as if you do not know what you have after seeing a guy in practice every day, despite the fact that there were plenty of opportunities for him to step in and do more in blowouts this season.
The other theory is that Ward wanted to break the passing touchdown record, which could be gone in a few days if Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel throws for three touchdowns, and then was done. That was supposedly the plan for several weeks.
So that could mean one of several things. 1) Miami was thinking about the TD pass record first, and winning the game came second, and/or 2) Ward was there to get the record and hoped everything else would work out, and/or 3) Miami and head coach Mario Cristobal did not have much say in any of this, Ward did his best, the loss went wrong, and now everyone is scrambling.
Whatever the case may be, all those blah-blah-blah types blathering about teammates, the right way, and other such nonsense now appear ridiculous. In any case, Ward appears to have failed to support his team when they needed him the most.
I completely agree with those who disagree with my beliefs.
2. At least come out for that one final drive
Iowa State has just scored. There was less than a minute left in the game, and Ward is just that good to have quickly moved his team – and all of his teammates’ hopes of finishing with a bowl win – into field goal range for a chance to win the game.
I do not know Cam Ward, and by all accounts, he is a fantastic leader and potential NFL franchise builder, but MY quarterback storms out onto the field and demands to carry the team, game, season, and legacy on his shoulders. Ward did not.
By the way, Emory Williams completed 5-of-14 passes for 26 yards and an interception as Miami lost.
1. College football is messy, and that’s not about to change
My problem is not with Ward. He is still a college kid with 50 different people in his ear, and navigating this new college football world to make everyone happy is difficult for even the most experienced adults, let alone the guys just starting out.
My issue is not with the system. The bowl season is designed to address logistical issues. Coaches are leaving and switching jobs at a rapid pace; opt-outs, transfers, and NIL considerations are all part of the deal now. We still received a fun Pop-Tarts Bowl.
My issue is with the naive people who know how sausage is made but still do not understand it…
THIS IS SHOW BUSINESS.
ESPN makes money. The bowls make money. Cities make money. And, for the most part, the players – the entertainers – are not making the money that everyone believes they are in this new era.
Everyone, stop implying that a player who chooses to participate in these activities is any more correct than a player who wishes to protect his future.
Stop making it sound like it is all about the teammates and what everyone worked for, because if a player wants to miss a portion of a game for personal reasons, he will not be judged for being selfish.
(Because, believe me, when a player is badly injured while unnecessarily playing – I have received the “now is not the right time” treatment numerous times over the years – no studio show talent will pick up the tab for the lost earnings and dreams.)
And, for the love of Raspberry Pop-Tarts with frosting and sprinkles, stop acting like participating in a bowl game is noble.
No one is securing a hill, saving a life, or jumping into a burning building to get a goldfish. Everyone is putting on a show by playing a game that ESPN will broadcast. That is all.
Okay, so this Cam Ward thing was bumpy.
It is going to happen again.
Everything is going to be okay.
