Cam Ward drummed up criticism after not playing the second half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl, but his head coach, Mario Cristobal, came to his defense.

Cam Ward playing in Miami’s Pop-Tarts Bowl appearance against Iowa State was surprising. Ward leaving the game after halftime in a close contest — which was not previously announced by the Hurricanes — surprised many people,

Cam Ward did not quit on the Miami Hurricanes by sitting out the second half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl and anything said otherwise is “a false narrative.” Ward, who rewrote the Hurricanes’ record book during his one season at UM,

Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal had high praise for his former quarterback and top NFL prospect Cam Ward. While discussing the impact Ward had on the Hurricanes, Cristobal explained that Ward’s contributions ran much higher than just his on-the-field performances.