Analyst explains why Miami fans shouldn't rage about Cam Ward's decision to opt out of the Pop-Tarts Bowl at halftime

Cam Ward found himself at the center of controversy following Miami's narrow loss to Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday. The Hurricanes recorded a 42-41 loss to the Cyclones at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

However, what was controversial was Ward’s decision during the game. The quarterback opted out of the game at halftime with Miami leading 31-28, which has led to a lot of criticism of the quarterback. However, Josh Pate had a different view on the move.

“I fully get people who had a problem with it,” a fan wrote. “But if I'm a Miami fan, I'm what matters. With all due respect. What a sports writer thinks about this does not matter. What a Wake Forest fan thinks about this does not. What I think about it doesn't matter.

"If I'm a Miami fan Cam Ward saved my season. I probably lose three or four more games without that guy. So for everyone who looks at this as a failure, man, I just won double-digit games for only, like, the second time in the past two decades, because that guy chose to come to Miami.”

Cam Ward delivered a stellar performance in his only half of action against Iowa State, completing 12 of 19 passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns. His efforts etched his name in history, as he set the NCAA Division I record for most career touchdowns with 158.

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Josh Pate names one influential impact Cam Ward has had on Miami

While fans and the media continue to rage about the actions of Cam Ward in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Josh Pate mentioned one impact the quarterback has had on the Hurricanes. The analyst believes that the impact will last the program for the next couple of years.

“Do you know what else he did?” Pate said. “He normalized the idea that, if you're a big-time quarterback, you can go to Miami and vault your own stock up. Because Cam Ward was not going to be a first-round draft pick this time last year.

“So Miami benefited from Cam Ward and Cam Ward benefited from Miami. Other guys in the quarterback market are seeing that, so that may pay dividends for me down the road. He made this decision.”

Following the superb season he had with the Hurricanes, Cam Ward is projected to be the second quarterback off the draft board in 2025. He threw for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns this season, earning a place as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.