Mario not defending Cam

[poncho0091]

I stand by all of them are at fault at how it was handled. Just something new to add to the list

That's fair. Cam should have played all or none IMO, but I understand in the current culture. Mario has had multiple questionable issues (playcalling, hires, time management, this Cam bowl game issue) and if we don't win at least 9 next year, Mario might finally start feeling a legitimate hot seat.

 

[KingB02]

I don't disagree with that, but as a recruit, I will not go play for a coach who is hanging me out to dry when it's very obvious that this discussion was had prior to the game. Mario let the entire media run with the idea that Cam pulled himself out selfishly when he felt like it. The kid didn't have to play at all, but spotted us 31 points along with the #1 offense in the country for the season. As a coach, I'm taking all the heat for my guy and everyone can know this was a pre planned decision. Even something as simple as, my guy had a shot at the record, and I'm going to give him every chance at it, because he's earned it and keep him healthy for the draft once he's got it.

Lmao Cam played to break the record and break the record only! We hardly passed after he broke it. We started running it down their throats and rightfully so, but you could tell things had changed after the record. Dude had miles of running room at times and stood in the pocket (more than usual lol)

 

[CaneinBroward]

Cam had free reign here to do what he wanted but this was the time Mario should’ve stepped in and been like “ I appreciate everything you’ve done here but you need to just sit this one out or play all the way through”. There’s no such thing as half way pregnant. It was handled badly.

 

[CaneinBroward]

Cam Ward had the greatest season as a QB in Cane history. An absolute tremendous talent and great player.

That being said, I must be getting old and out of touch. Everyone *****ing about how Mario handled the post-game press conference, but how the **** does anyone explain away playing a half solely to break a record as anything but a selfish, douche move?

If Cam doesn't play the game, it's understandable to the majority of people that the young man has some life changing money coming his way in a few months and he doesn't want to jeopardize it in any way. If Cam does play the game, the majority view it as a team-first guy. Someone you want leading your team (especially to those NFL teams at the top of the draft).

By doing what he did, he destroys both those narratives. And Mario ***** up by not putting his foot down and telling Cam all in or all out, no half *** ****. No one comes out of this unscathed.

 

[E1k]

I think the dumbasses should not be addressed. So I don’t mind mario not clarifying here, its pretty obvious this was the plan. We had guys do it last year too

You always gonna have the people who pick at everything so they can talk about how much they hate this era of sports or just society in general lol

 

[CANESCANES]

That's fair. Cam should have played all or none IMO, but I understand in the current culture. Mario has had multiple questionable issues (playcalling, hires, time management, this Cam bowl game issue) and if we don't win at least 9 next year, Mario might finally start feeling a legitimate hot seat.

Agreed. All or nothing

If nothing, that means Emory gets all the reps for the entire bowl practices, and Judd gets more reps as well. I’m not high on either but that’s how it should of went

If all, it means we win the game and get that 11th win for the first time in 20 years

But in between didn’t do a **** thing

People traveled, paid a lot of money to see Cam Ward play, others were upset finding out Restrepo wasn’t playing in the bowl game either

Tired of the top secret and lack of transparency

 

[gacaneaddict]

Mario makes $8M to run the program not be a baby, have no backup, get butthurt and then make the end of the year even worse.

Is he excelling at anything right now?

This is a ridiculous take. Not sure there is a coaching playbook on your record setting QB giving you a half when all your WRs are out to.

 

[jmiller]

Cam Ward had the greatest season as a QB in Cane history. An absolute tremendous talent and great player.

That being said, I must be getting old and out of touch. Everyone *****ing about how Mario handled the post-game press conference, but how the **** does anyone explain away playing a half solely to break a record as anything but a selfish, douche move?

If Cam doesn't play the game, it's understandable to the majority of people that the young man has some life changing money coming his way in a few months and he doesn't want to jeopardize it in any way. If Cam does play the game, the majority view it as a team-first guy. Someone you want leading your team (especially to those NFL teams at the top of the draft).

By doing what he did, he destroys both those narratives. And Mario ***** up by not putting his foot down and telling Cam all in or all out, no half *** ****. No one comes out of this unscathed.

I doubt he played 1 half of football just to break a record that theres a good chance he'll only have for a couple weeks. Dillon Gabriel is only like 4 touchdowns away and **** if he plays ohio state like he did last time he may break Cam's record tomorrow. If anything if Cam cared so much about the record as people claim he would of played the whole game to try to make it harder for Dillon Gabriel to beat

 

[Hoyacane1620]

Oddsmakers and serious gamblers are perhaps smarter than you give them credit. They do their homework and take into account various possibilities. Believe most people on this board assumed Emory would get some playing time - much, it now turns out, to the dismay of his fan club.
Yeah, it turned out to be a bad look for the program, but that’s on the head coach. Maybe he needs to sit in on a public relations class or two, Can’t believe the Saw
Doesn’t seem hard for the head coach to say post-game.

Saw Laarry Blustein on a podcast last night. He said it was a non issue for him because he knew Cam wasn't playing the whole game well before. One of the other people on the podcast said there was talk in the parking lot during the tailgate to only bet the first half with regard to Cam because he wasn't playing the whole game....

Just handled poorly. The super secrecy policy on everything is getting a bit old...

 

[Hoyacane1620]

Lmao Cam played to break the record and break the record only! We hardly passed after he broke it. We started running it down their throats and rightfully so, but you could tell things had changed after the record. Dude had miles of running room at times and stood in the pocket (more than usual lol)

he didn't play any differently than he normally does.

They also tried to burn the clock once they got a lead.

 

[Hoyacane1620]

Michael Irvin with a little humor.....

 

[Page305]

Lmmmaaooooo man y'all seriously need some mental help. Cam is about to be the first QB drafted. Y'all think NFL GM's give a flying feeuucckk about him not playing in the 2nd half of a **** shiiiiity *** pop tart bowl?? Hooolee helll man. I 100% promise you they didn't want him playing at all!!!

 

[gacaneaddict]

Lmmmaaooooo man y'all seriously need some mental help. Cam is about to be the first QB drafted. Y'all think NFL GM's give a flying feeuucckk about him not playing in the 2nd half of a **** shiiiiity *** pop tart bowl?? Hooolee helll man. I 100% promise you they didn't want him playing at all!!!

I know NFL GMs dont care he didnt finish game, but as a Miami fan I wanted to win the game. Unfortunately for us that watch team after team lose bowl games, alot of the players seem to not care as much as we do. As much as some fans like to say meaningless they dont take the loss off the record.

 

[HarrietTubmanCane]

I think those conversations are already beginning in some circles. I want to pause and make a clear distinction between "defending" someone and "taking cover" for someone.

"Defending" in this context implies explaining or advocating support/justification of a decision be it reasoning or principles because you believe it is right/reasonable. Implies accountability and rational argument.

"Taking Cover" in this context is meant to protect someone from blame or shielding from criticism often without necessarily agreeing with the decision. Implies dishonesty and avoidance of accountability.

Obviously if Ward had decided to exit the game, the coach can--but should not be obligated to--take cover for the decision that another man makes. This is standard "Bro Code", "Man-Code" whatever you want to call it; a man is responsible for himself and his decisions.

If we were playing SimCoach2000, there is no way any of us are pulling our Heisman candidate QB for Temu Anthony Colandrea; which leads me to believe this wasn't Cristobal/Shannon's decision. What everyone really wants is for CMC to walk up to that podium and "take cover" for Cam Ward's decision that he himself disagrees with and I just don't see why anyone should have to do that.

I understand your sentiments about future QBs and their relationships with their coaches and the investment into the teams they play for, but it seems there is a new law governing the landscape taking form and up-and-coming athletes need to be aware that their being paid comes at a price.

You argue in a very intellectually dishonest way. U detail two definitions of possible behaviors as if you are open to either being a possibility. But then spend the rest of your posts only delving into “taking cover”, despite all of the info that has come out and been presented. U still want to assume the worse about Cam Ward and that’s what this whole situation comes down to for ANYONE making these claims. U don’t want to give him the benefit of doubt, now you have to ask yourself, why not??

 

[JG14]

This was such an easy PR move for Mario and he completely bungled it trying to be a meathead. "We have a great culture here, and Cam wanted to play with his brothers one last time. I'd love to have Cam play for me forever, but I have to see what's coming up behind him so we agreed to let him play the first half. He's a warrior and I thank him for doing that. I know most in his position wouldn't have."

Puts the whole thing to rest. You can't be in charge of a program and be this much of a dunce when it comes to PR. You can't go pounding your first on the podium about the direction of the program compared to the rest of the state then lose 3 of your next 4.

 

[HarrietTubmanCane]

I literally made a post a couple months ago when the false narrative that “there is a good and bad side of Cam Ward” started to take off on here. Of course it was pertaining to playing style/decision making, but I knew better and understand code language. I predicted that in a few years his season as our QB would be minimized for its impact and that he would steadily be vilified at the most and unappreciated at the least.

I never imagined it would begin this soon. Unbelievable . Just imagine what these hardliners opinions would be if TVD had this season and/or wanted to play for a record. The violins would be out in full force, they wouldn’t tolerate any accountability his way. But in the case of Cam they are searching for it.

0% chance Cam Ward surprisingly pulled himself out of the bowl game at half time. The fact that he hasn’t earned even this small level of benefit of doubt from some fans is wild stuff.

 

[Suhrthing]

And Mario could have squelched the noise but went “private” and everyone is taking a beating.

Cam is a grown man, he can speak for himself if he chooses to.

 

[Canestomp]

You argue in a very intellectually dishonest way. U detail two definitions of possible behaviors as if you are open to either being a possibility. But then spend the rest of your posts only delving into “taking cover”, despite all of the info that has been come out and been presented. U still want to assume the worse about Cam Ward and that’s what this whole situation comes down to for ANYONE making these claims. U don’t want to give him the benefit of doubt, now you have to ask yourself, why not??

And do you afford Mario Cristobal that same benefit-of-the-doubt? Seems you only want to give QB Ward that luxury. See it can go both ways.

My point in all of this was to say that if Mario Cristobal did not agree with the decision to sit Ward and it ultimately wasn't his call (which by all accounts evidence would suggest that to be the case), then why should one man (Cristobal) stand and defend another man's (Ward) decision? The distinction between 'defending' and 'taking cover' is whether the person at the podium agrees with the decision or not (which again, all signs are pointing to CMC not wanting to sit Cam for the second half), so what action would naturally be left other than to "taking cover" for Cam. Outside of just being forthright and honest in the post-game presser, is there some third option I am missing. Please, happy to entertain the intellectual honesty.

Look--he's not a kid. He's not a child, or a teen or even a student athlete in the pre-NIL sense--Ward is a well-compensated man and leader or men. He is his own brand executive. He decides; he makes the call and so he should take ownership of that. CMC--he's a coach, not a public defender (lawyer); and we can stand in the CiS Quad all day back-and-forth in debate about how this poses a moral, ethical and/or practical dilemma.

You are making the false assumption that I am clowning on Ward but I do not see where that is coming from. A great record season and a controversial decision to sit in a bowl game are mutually exclusive events. I can express a disagreement with his decision in the latter while simultaneously not undermining my appreciation for the former.

I am searching for the contrast on a blurred line as to what responsibilities lie with the man on the field and what responsibilities lie with the guy wearing the headset. It seems like a convenience, coincidence or a cudgel--to pick and choose when and which standard to apply it to. To what end does a head coach or a player take individual responsibility for their own actions? What is intellectually dishonest about asking why one man should defend another's actions even if he disagrees with it?

 

[Canestomp]

There is really nothing left to say that hasn't been said and I'm ready to move on from it. Cam is a great athlete and killed it here, CMC is still a meatball and needs to get it together. Water under the bridge--I've moved on.

 

[Page305]

I know NFL GMs dont care he didnt finish game, but as a Miami fan I wanted to win the game. Unfortunately for us that watch team after team lose bowl games, alot of the players seem to not care as much as we do. As much as some fans like to say meaningless they dont take the loss off the record.

You're right. I get it. I wanted to win as well but I'm just highly convinced no matter what Ward did, our defense was going to find a way to lose it for us.