We all understand what college football era we’re in.
Get what you can while you can. The players have the power. Loyalty? Pfft.
Most of this stuff is fine. A decade ago, some people wanted to act like the sport would collapse if NFL-bound players opted out of meaningless bowl games. Now, you’re pleasantly surprised when they opt in. We adjust and the world keeps spinning.
Still, what happened Saturday with Miami quarterback Cam Ward in the Pop-Tarts Bowl doesn’t sit right.
Leading up to the game, Ward — a Heisman Trophy finalist — said he was playing. And he kept his word. But what he didn’t say is that he was only playing for the first half.
Just long enough to throw three touchdown passes, giving him 158 for his career and an NCAA Div. 1 record that Case Keenum held since 2011.
And then Ward shut it down while his Miami teammates battled on, losing 42-41 to Iowa State .
Is it the world’s worst sin? No, of course not.
Ward has a right to play or not play. He was the main reason Miami won 10 games and came very close to making the College Football Playoff. And as we all know, these bowl games are little more than exhibitions at this point. For goodness sakes they painted the perimeter of the field with sprinkles and give the winning team a giant Pop-Tart to eat. It’s not that big of a deal.