v emphasizing the importance of effective communication in one of college football’s most challenging road environments. Ward shared insights into his journey to Miami and highlighted the experience he and his teammates bring to the game.
Ward and running back Damien Martinez, a fellow transfer from Oregon State, bring considerable experience from their time in the Pac-12, which they believe will help them handle the intense atmosphere at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Ward played at Oregon and Washington in 2023, as well as USC and Wisconsin in 2022. Martinez has also faced tough road games, including matchups against Washington State, Arizona, and Oregon in 2023, and Utah and Washington in 2022. Notably, he played in Oregon State’s 30-3 victory over Florida in the 2022 Las Vegas Bowl.
Several other Miami players have significant experience in high-pressure road games. For instance, kicker Andres Borregales, left tackle Jalen Rivers, and wide receiver Xavier Restrepo have all played twice at Florida State.
Ward emphasized that the key to success in such an environment is not trying to force big plays on offense and maintaining sound communication on defense. He stressed that communication often determines wins and losses, urging his team to rely on their training and support each other to overcome the challenges they’ll face.
