What’s worse: losing a bowl game by one point or losing your QB and your fanbase’s respect and reputation in the process? Miami hit rock bottom at the Pop-Tarts Bowl, and the man holding the shovel? None other than HC Mario Cristobal. Cam Ward, the team’s walking cheat code, straight-up disappeared after the first half. Why? That’s the million-dollar—or should we say $62M—question. The fans ain’t let gonna this slide until Mario Cristobal packs his bag.

Instead of keeping it real, Cristobal hit us with the weakest non-answer in bowl game history: “It’s private.” Yeah, private like that empty trophy shelf Miami’s been rocking for years. Fans didn’t just let it slide—they went for blood, torching Cristobal online like he just ran off with their rent money.

Aight, let’s break this down. Cam Ward played one half, and it wasn’t just any half—it was an I’m going top-1 in the NFL Draft type of half. Cam was throwing lasers like its New Year already: 12-for-19, 190 yards, and three touchdowns. He even set a collegiate career record for most touchdown passes. Straight diabolical. Miami was trailing 28-27, but everyone knew Cam was that golden ticket to flipping the script. Then halftime hit, and poof—like just Houdini. Cam ‘No more’ Ward.

Enter Mario Cristobal with the weakest explanation of all time: “I think all meetings with players and decisions like that, we keep them in private and keep them in private,” No idea why he said it like that. Everybody in the United States knows Mario Cristobal’s decision to sit Cam out is to prevent Cam from unwanted injury and preserve his draft stock.

Backup QB Emory Williams tried to fill Cam’s cleats, but let’s keep it real—Emory looked like he was throwing with his eyes closed. Just 5 completions out of 14, 26 yards, 1 pick. Miami’s run game tried to carry the load, but the Iowa State defense clapped back in the clutch. Final score: 42-41. And the whole 2nd half? Just a big old “What if? Maybe Cristobal was looking out for Ward’s draft stock, but the way he handled it was mad shady. Instead of owning the call, he left Ward to take the heat while Miami fans cooked him online.

The fans went nuclear on Mario Cristobal on X

If Cristobal thought he could slide by with that “private” excuse, he underestimated Miami fans. They went full savage mode, dragging him on X (formerly Twitter) as he owes them all $62M personally. The fans are already calling to activate his buyout $62M buyout clause:

This Miami fan hit with a harsh reality blow, “Cam Ward was literally this entire team, and we’re gonna be fighting for bowl eligibility next year…Mario Cristobal’s buyout too fat to get rid of him, though.” Accompanied by Stephen A. Smith’s iconic “Bad Day at the Office” meme, and this fan nailed the vibe. Cam carried Miami all season to 10-win game, and now they’re staring at a QB crisis for 2024. Ain’t gonna lie, Miami’s low-key stuck in a place where they move. Suppose they want to sack Cristobal. That $62M would be too much logistics to move.

This fan “Fire Cristobal. He’s a POS useless asshole. Eight million dollars wasted.” The man’s earning almost 8 million a year, all for this? Miami fans are not here for Cristobal’s vibes-only coaching style. They feel like Cristobal’s low-key robbed them. Could you even blame them?

Then came the blue tick insider, with “Fire Mario Cristobal.”Giants insider Bobby Skinner didn’t even need to elaborate. Sometimes three words are all you need to bury a guy. “Fire @coach_cristobal now. Trash coach. Trash decisions… leader. Lots of talk, zero walk. Another bowl loss. LOSER!” Big-time bookie BeatinTheBookie didn’t hold back, straight-up bodying Cristobal with a roast session that deserves its highlight reel.

“Imagine being Cristobal and having to congratulate Cam for his record, then console the team for the loss. Coward of a coach. Fire him on the spot.” This fan didn’t hold back, labeling Cristobal a “coward” for his handling of the situation. The mix of celebration and devastation after the game couldn’t have been more awkward.

Cristobal might’ve wanted to keep things “private,” but the fallout has been anything but. Between Cam Ward’s so-called mysterious exit and Cristobal’s cryptic answers, Miami fans are calling for heads to roll. And with a $62M buyout looming, the Hurricanes’ future feels as murky as Cristobal’s explanations. Buckle up, Miami—it’s gonna be a bumpy offseason.