It's been a topic of conversation for a little while now. Did Miami quarterback Cam Ward quit on the Hurricanes in the Pop-Tarts Bowl loss to Iowa State last month? Depending on who you ask, Ward let his teammates down and turned his back on them. Don't tell that to the coaching staff.
While speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Mario Cristobal didn't waste any time in standing up for his star signal-caller. Cristobal has seen all the hate being sent Ward's way, with some analysts even saying it should have an impact on Ward's NFL Draft status. Cristobal shot down the notion that Ward quit on the team, using an expletive to get his point across:
Mario Cristobal, on the notion that Cam Ward quit in the bowl game: “Bullshit.”
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) January 13, 2025
He gave a very impassioned defense against what he calls “a false narrative.” The decision on the bowl game was predetermined based on his likely status as the No. 1 pick.
Mario Cristobal called out the Cam Ward haters who accused him of quitting on Miami
"Cam has been an exceptional and elite Miami Hurricane," Cristobal added. "He is leaving a legacy that will be impactful. He deserves great things to be said about him."
It's great to see Cristobal silence all of the negative talk surrounding Ward's name. If Miami were in the College Football Playoff, then yes, Ward would have been out there with his teammates from start to finish to try and push for a natty.
With all due respect to the Pop-Tarts Bowl, did we really think Ward was going to play every snap and risk getting injured? It was a surprise that he wasn't even out on the field for as long as he was. Ward is projected to potentially be taken No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft.
Risking a serious injury was something Miami as a whole wanted to avoid and it's something Cristobal had in mind well before kickoff. Ward made history throwing the ball all over the field for the Canes. That's what he should be remembered for during his time in Coral Gables, not what he wasn't able to do in the team's bowl game. Cristobal won't sit back and let people attack him like this, which is great to see.