Cam Ward leaves bowl game at halftime

[Phishfan]

I know we have discussed players sitting out a bowl game but I don't recall anyone, at least not a name this big, doing this. I consider this a completely different scenario and is ultimately a huge black mark on his character to me. What are your thoughts on making the decision to play and then quitting halfway through?

[Sunstroke]

Unbelievable...I truly hope his teammates let him have it.  Definitely knocks him down a notch or two as a draft prospect, imo.

[Denver2]

One the hand I understand trying to protect your incoming millions of dollars and on the other maybe we just have too many bowls.

It’s a bad look though and I bet Sanders goes ahead of him now

[Downunder Dolphan]

It's a strange situation given that many expected he wouldn't play at all, and three of his major WR targets were missing.

I suspect this may have been pre-approved by the team to give them a shot at a Bowl title, along with Cam a shot at a NCAA’s Division record.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/why-did-miami-qb-cam-ward-only-play-one-half-in-pop-tarts-bowl-mario-cristobal-opts-to-keep-decision-private/

[masterfins]

One the hand I understand trying to protect your incoming millions of dollars and on the other maybe we just have too many bowls.

It’s a bad look though and I bet Sanders goes ahead of him now

Yeah a lot of these bowl games they don't even show the stands on TV because they are empty.  It has become a big money grab by the people that run the bowl games by raking in big somes of money from whoever is the named sponsor.

[Pappy13]

Remind me again what a senior player gets for competing in a bowl game? Oh...yeah now I remember. When he left the game his team was winning. He probably had mentioned to the coach prior to the game. The NFL couldn't care less about this. Fans are the only ones that care and honestly if Cam is worried about hurting his standing with fans he's not ready to play in the NFL anyway.

[Phishfan]

Remind me again what a senior player gets for competing in a bowl game? Oh...yeah now I remember. When he left the game his team was winning. He probably had mentioned to the coach prior to the game. The NFL couldn't care less about this. Fans are the only ones that care and honestly if Cam is worried about hurting his standing with fans he's not ready to play in the NFL anyway.

Then why play at all? It's not just fans that saw him quit mid game.

[Spider-Dan]

Yeah, I think the takeaway from this is that you just shouldn't play at all.

edit: Oh, I see that he was only in the game to set the record.  Bad look... he deserves the heat he'll get.
If you want the record, stay in the game.  If you want to protect yourself, then sit.  But this halfsies stuff is weak.

[CF DolFan]

I don’t think most people would have an issue with it but it looks really bad to set a record for himself and then step out. It’s screams “I’m not a team player”. That team helped him set that record.

[Sibster]

I'm a big Canes fan and I'm totally embarrassed by this.   If you're gonna play, play.  If you're gonna sit, sit.  But don't quit in the middle of the game.  That plus the two guys fighting on the sideline after a change of possession really got to me.   Cristobal is letting the inmates run the asylum here. 

They spent a shit ton of NIL money on portal players and they still couldn't make it to the CFP or the ACC Championship game.  Pathetic. 

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

If you are worried about being injured you shouldn't play in any games.  You are either on the team or you are not.

[Downunder Dolphan]

I'm a big Canes fan and I'm totally embarrassed by this.   If you're gonna play, play.  If you're gonna sit, sit.  But don't quit in the middle of the game.  That plus the two guys fighting on the sideline after a change of possession really got to me.   Cristobal is letting the inmates run the asylum here.  

They spent a shit ton of NIL money on portal players and they still couldn't make it to the CFP or the ACC Championship game.  Pathetic.  

Given the lack of information about all of this, I'm not ready to condemn anyone... however, it does signal that the whole issue needs looking into.

Many expected Cam to sit out the Bowl game altogether.

He decided to play (at least some of the game) which the Coach played up to the media and stir up interest in the game, rah rah rah.

He played a half, achieved a personal record, and sat the rest of it - and now the same Coach says what was said in private will remain so.

How much of this was agreed to by the Coach in advance? By the College? Is this the new twisted norm to get bums on seats and keep ratings up for Bowl games? There are questions needed to be asked before we write off one player as a selfish bastard.