Kirk Herbstreit raves about Cam Ward, shares excitement for Miami’s season
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Kirk Herbstreit is impressed by what he saw from Cam Ward and the Miami Hurricanes in Week 1.
Mario Cristobal’s squad traveled to Gainesville in Week 1 and made a statement. UM manhandled in-state rival Florida, leaving The Swamp with a 41-17 win over the Gators.
Herbstreit said the ’24 Canes have the look of Miami squads of old with Ward at quarterback.
“I think Cam Ward was probably one of the biggest stories of the entire weekend,” Herbstreit said appearing on The Pat McAfee Show. “Miami hasn’t had a quarterback, in my opinion, that was an alpha like this since Ken Dorsey… You’re talking over 20 years since they’ve had a quarterback that takes control, ‘we’re gonna find a way to win this.’ And (the Hurricanes) are physical. On both sides of the ball, they just beat up the Gators in The Swamp. That kind of gets you really excited about what Miami’s doing.”
Ward was a big get for Miami out of the transfer portal. A former Washington State quarterback who began his career at Incarnate Word, Ward lit up the Florida defense on Saturday. He was unfazed by The Swamp, completing 26-of-35 passes for 385 yards and 3 touchdowns, adding 33 rushing yards.
It’s no surprise that Ward’s Heisman Trophy odds have surged after his stellar showing. Dorsey did not win the Heisman Trophy, but was a finalist in both 2001 and ’02. He threw for 2,652 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2001, topping those numbers with 3,369 yards and 28 TDs in ’02.
If Ward continues to be Dorsey-like, Miami could be on track for its first ACC title in program history. The campaign for the Canes continues with the Week 2 home opener. UM hosts Florida A&M on Saturday in Hard Rock Stadium. The game is set for a 6 p.m. ET kickoff (ACCNX/ESPN+).
“I think Cam Ward was probably one of the biggest stories of the weekend.”
—@KirkHerbstreit on Miami’s Week 1 win pic.twitter.com/0aVuwQzfFN
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 3, 2024
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
