Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward is making waves this season, standing out as one of the most exciting players in college football. In his first six games with the Hurricanes, the fifth-year senior has revitalized the Miami football program, leading them to an impressive 6-0 start and securing the No. 6 spot in the AP Poll. This resurgence has been particularly notable for a program that, despite its historic success with five national championships, has only recorded one 10-win season since 2003. Ward’s dynamic play has not only elevated Miami’s performance on the field but has also captured national attention, especially through his now-viral touchdown celebration.
the birth of zombieland 🫢🫳
(August 27, 2022) https://t.co/upqTM6Nl5K pic.twitter.com/PrCjZyrP4M
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) October 11, 2024
The celebration, where Ward covers his mouth with his left hand, extends his right arm, and puts his palm down, has become a sensation across college football and even other sports. However, Ward was not the original creator of the move. The celebration first gained traction when Barstool Sports shared a video of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel performing it during a Thursday night win over the Seattle Seahawks. Afterward, Western Kentucky’s football team claimed they were the originators, posting images of Hilltopper players doing the celebration as early as August 2022. They referred to it as the “birth of zombieland.”
Ward later admitted that the celebration wasn’t originally his and gave credit to Western Kentucky. He explained that he adopted the celebration during his two seasons at Washington State. His offensive coordinator at the time told him the story behind the celebration, and Ward started doing it in practice after throwing interceptions. The Washington State defense began mocking him by doing the celebration, which is when Ward realized it had caught on. When Ward transferred to Miami this past offseason, he brought the celebration with him. His teammates at Miami even joined in during practice after intercepting one of his passes. Although Ward isn’t sure which player initially started the celebration, he acknowledges that it originated at Western Kentucky, and he’s been instrumental in spreading its popularity.
Cam ward gave WKU their recognition for cam ward celebration @barstoolsports @UnnecRoughness https://t.co/uOpJ42eWVn pic.twitter.com/JsvPX81pCN
— KwDread (@KwDread) October 11, 2024
Ward’s football journey is equally fascinating. According to 247 Sports, he was a zero-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting class, with only two offers from Incarnate Word and Texas Southern. He began his college career at Incarnate Word, where he played for two seasons before transferring to Washington State for the 2022 season. Ward has accumulated remarkable stats over his career, including 16,093 passing yards, 139 passing touchdowns, 426 rushing yards, and 19 rushing touchdowns.
As Miami heads into a bye for Week 7, Ward and the Hurricanes are riding a wave of momentum. Their next game will be against the Louisville Cardinals in Week 8, set for October 19. With Ward leading the charge, Miami is poised to continue their undefeated season and pursue a potential playoff berth. All eyes will be on Ward, not just for his play on the field but for his electrifying celebrations that have become a cultural phenomenon across college football.
