The end of the 2024 season is shaping up to be a wild ride. From injured referees to players throwing punches at each other, it feels like the chaos just won’t stop. And now, the latest twist? Mario Cristobal’s Miami Hurricanes have officially joined this soap opera. Even though bowl games are supposed to be fun, the Pop-Tarts Bowl definitely left a sour taste in fans’ mouths.
So, it all kicked off with their quarterback, Cam Ward, making a ‘selfish’ choice that really upset his teammates. You could feel the tension building to a boiling point. And then—BOOM! There was a scuffle on the sidelines among the Hurricanes players.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl was a rollercoaster. Miami fans were stoked to see Ward lead them to a 31-28 halftime lead against Iowa State, thanks to his three touchdowns in the first half. But then—ugh—things took a turn. The second half started, and it was like Ward just checked out. He was nowhere to be found on the field, even after setting a record for touchdowns.
At first, Miami fans were still hanging in there, but when things escalated into actual fistfights on the sidelines, it was hard to watch. A video blew up online showing players like senior Simeon Barrow Jr. and freshman Marquise Lightfoot getting separated after Barrow threw a punch. Defensive lineman Justin Scott and others tried to step in, but it was like trying to put out a wildfire with a water pistol. What a mess.
In the end, Iowa State handed Miami a heart-wrenching 42-41 defeat. The Hurricanes let 21 points slip through their fingers without their QB. Everyone was hoping the Miami defense could rally, but reality hit hard. And it was just too much for the fans to bear. On top of all that, Coach Cristobal didn’t really want to talk about what went down.
Mario Cristobal remains tight-lipped about the situation involving Cam Ward
When asked about the situation with Cam Ward, Cristobal kind of dodged the questions. He said he preferred to keep things “private.” In an interview with Adam Lichtenstein from the South Florida Sun Sentinel, he pointed out, “I think all meetings with players and decisions like that, we keep them in private.” Fair enough, but fans were left wondering what really happened.
He did acknowledge that Ward “played his best while he was in there,” but it seems like there’s more to this story. Even Iowa State’s coach, Matt Campbell, expressed concern about Ward’s decision to bow out early, saying, “(His career) ends a half early for him… what that guy has stood for is selfless… He’s one of the great leaders of that program.” And just like that, the Miami Hurricanes got “toasted” in the Pop-Tart Bowl.