Cameron Ward followed his former head coach Eric Morris from Incarnate Word to Washington State last offseason. Ward and the Cougars won seven games in 2022 and are readying for the LA Bowl against Fresno State, but Ward will take the field for the first time without Morris calling plays for him.

Morris accepted the North Texas head coaching job earlier this week, news that came as a major shock to Ward.

“It was really just shocking to me,” Ward told reporters on Wednesday. “I wasn’t expecting him to make a decision like that. But I can’t be mad at him, he’s making a life-changing decision for his family, his sons.

“They’re a big reason why I’m here at Washington State. Without him, I wouldn’t be here, so I’m forever grateful to him. For me, it’s not about being angry because life’s too short at this point to be mad at someone. I just thank him for everything he’s done for me and my family. To be honest, I’m just happy for him to be able to go back to Texas, where he loves to be, with his family and to be able to coach big-time football.”

In his first season with the Cougars, Ward threw for 3,094 yards and 24 touchdowns while completing 64% of his passes. He was a star at the FCS level before jumping up to Power Five football. He flashed that same star potential this season but was also one of the most pressured quarterbacks in the country.

Ward has a decision to make after the Cougs’ bowl game. He could try and jump to the NFL or return for the 2023 season in Pullman to work with a new offensive coordinator.

The Cougs face Fresno State on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PT on ABC.