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Belasan santri diduga jadi korban kekerasan seksual pimpinan pesantren di Sumenep
Sumber gambar, Getty Images
Keterangan gambar, Ilustrasi remaja putri berhijab terlihat menangis sambil menutupi wajahnya Belasan santriwati diduga menjadi korban pelecehan seksual di salah satu pesantren di Sumenep, Jawa Timur. Relasi kuasa dan doktrin agama membuat kekerasan seksual di lingkungan pesantren terus berulang, kata aktivis perempuan.
Sebanyak 13 perempuan mengaku mengalami kekerasan seksual yang diduga dilakukan oleh pemilik sekaligus pengurus salah satu pondok pesantren di Pulau Kangean, Sumenep, Jawa Timur.
Kuasa hukum para korban, Salamet Riadi, mengatakan mereka mengalami kekerasan seksual saat menjadi santri di pesantren sekitar 2016-2024. Rata-rata para korban mengalami kekerasan lebih dari satu kali.
Pemimpin pesantren, Moh. Sahnan alias MS (51), ditangkap anggota Satreskrim Polres Sumenep pada Selasa (10/6), setelah melarikan diri ke wilayah Situbondo, Jawa Timur.
Dia dijerat pasal persetubuhan terhadap anak atau pelecehan seksual fisik terhadap anak yang diatur dalam Undang-Undang Perlindungan Anak (UUPA) dengan ancaman hukuman penjara 15 tahun hingga seumur hidup.
Bagaimana kasus dugaan kekerasan seksual ini terungkap?
Kuasa hukum korban, Salamet Riadi, mengungkapkan dugaan kekerasan seksual terhadap sejumlah santri oleh pemilik sekaligus pengurus pesantren ini sudah terjadi sejak 2016.
Namun, kasus ini baru terungkap setelah menjadi perbincangan di grup WhatsApp alumni pondok pesantren tersebut baru-baru ini.
Beberapa dari mereka memang telah lulus dari pesantren tersebut.
Percakapan tentang kekerasan seksual di pesantren di grup tersebut diketahui oleh orang tua korban yang langsung memeriksa kebenaran informasi tersebut kepada anaknya.
“Setelah diyakini kebenaran pengakuan anak-anak tersebut, orang tua menjadi berani untuk melapor ke APH (aparat penegak hukum),” kata Salamet kepada wartawan Ahmad Mustofa yang melaporkan untuk BBC News Indonesia.
Sumber gambar, NurPhoto via Getty Images
Keterangan gambar, Seorang perempuan dalam demonstrasi menentang kekerasan seksual di Indonesia, dengan slogan “SOS”, Save Our Sisters (Selamatkan Saudari-Saudari Kita), di Jakarta, pada 4 Mei 2016. Korban bersama orang tuanya kemudian melapor ke Kepolisian Sektor (Polsek) Kangean pada 3 Juni 2025 silam yang kemudian ditindaklanjuti oleh Kepolisian Resor (Polres) Sumenep.
Tersangka MS sempat melarikan diri, namun Polres Sumenep menangkap pemilik pesantren itu pada Selasa (10/06) dini hari di Situbondo, Jawa Timur.
Kasi Humas Polres Sumenep, AKP Widiarti, bilang perbuatan MS sudah berlangsung sejak 2021 dengan 10 santri diduga menjadi korban, merujuk pada laporan polisi pada 3 Juni 2025.
Baca juga: Belakangan, semakin banyak santriwati mengaku menjadi korban kekerasan seksual yang diduga dilakukan oleh pemimpin pesantren tersebut.
Akibat perbuatannya, MS dijerat dengan Pasal 81 ayat (3) (2) (1), 82 ayat (2) (1) UU RI Nomor 17 Tahun 2016 tentang perubahan UU RI Nomor 35 Tahun 2014 tentang Perlindungan Anak dengan ancaman pidana 15 tahun penjara hingga seumur hidup.
Ancaman penjara seumur hidup tersebut sesuai Pasal 81 ayat 3 yang menerangkan bahwa jika pelaku merupakan sosok yang memiliki kuasa atas anak, seperti guru atau orang tua, ancaman pidananya adalah penjara seumur hidup.
Sumber gambar, NurPhoto via Getty Images
Keterangan gambar, Sejumlah remaja perempuan saat demonstrasi menentang kekerasan seksual di Indonesia pada 4 Mei 2016. Bagaimana modus kekerasan seksual terhadap santri?
Menurut Widiarti, pelaku menggunakan modus yang sama kepada semua korbannya saat melancarkan aksinya.
Widiarti menjelaskan, salah satu santriwati berinisial F diminta mengantarkan minuman ke kamar MS.
Di kamar itulah, tersangka kemudian melancarkan aksinya kepada F.
Hasil penyelidikan mengungkap bahwa perbuatan MS terhadap F tak hanya terjadi satu kali.
F bukan satu-satunya korban dugaan kekerasan seksual tersebut. Dengan modus yang sama, MS kembali melakukan aksinya terhadap santri-santri lain.
Sumber gambar, KOMPAS.com/Nur Khalis
Keterangan gambar, Plt Kasi Humas Polres Sumenep, AKP Widiarti, mengungkapkan pelaku menggunakan modus yang sama kepada semua korbannya. Widiarti mengatakan para korban yang berstatus sebagai santri tidak berani melawan karena pelaku merupakan pengasuh pondok pesantren.
“Tersangka lalu menyuruh korban untuk tidak menceritakan kepada siapa pun tentang kejadian itu,” kata Widiarti.
Kuasa hukum para korban, Salamet Riadi, mengungkapkan bahwa kekerasan seksual yang diduga dilakukan MS telah terjadi sejak 2016, dengan korban pertama berinisial R.
Adapun F, menurut klaim Salamet, mengalami kekerasan seksual pada 2021 silam.
Bagaimana kronologi versi para korban?
Kuasa hukum para korban, Salamet Riadi, mengungkapkan bahwa mereka diminta menghadap MS dengan dalih minta dibawakan minuman.
Merujuk kesaksian para korban, mereka diberi wejangan bahwa taat kepada guru adalah wajib.
Dengan doktrin itulah, pelaku melakukan aksinya, kata Salamet.
Dia juga melarang para korban untuk tidak mengungkap apa yang mereka alami kepada santri lainnya.
“Dibangun relasi ketakutan, jadi tidak berkuasa untuk menolak atau tidak menyampaikan ketidaksukaannya,” ungkap Salamet.
Sumber gambar, NurPhoto via Getty Images
Keterangan gambar, Seorang perempuan saat demonstrasi menentang kekerasan seksual di Indonesia pada 4 Mei 2016. “Karena memang diberikan sugesti bahwa guru ini adalah segala-galanya.”
Pada Jumat (13/06), empat korban telah dibawa ke rumah aman milik Dinas Sosial, Pemberdayaan Perempuan dan Perlindungan Anak (Dinsos P3A) Sumenep.
Mereka menjalani proses asesmen untuk memberikan pendampingan dan meminimalisir dampak trauma yang dialami para korban.
“Supaya secara psikologis, korban tidak mengalami trauma berkepanjangan,” ujar Kepala Dinas P3A Sumenep, Mustangin, seperti dikutip dari Kompas.com.
“Dengan asesmen itu, kita dapat mengetahui sejauh mana tingkat trauma yang dialami korban. Diharapkan korban bisa bercerita sehingga solusinya ada.”
Apa tanggapan keluarga tersangka dan pihak pesantren?
Salah satu kerabat MS, Imam Raziqin, mengaku kaget kekerasan seksual terjadi di pesantren tersebut. Sebab, menurut pengamatannya, selama ini aktivitas di pesantren berjalan seperti biasanya.
“Saya ini baru tahu itu tiga hari sebelum teman-teman melaporkan itu, saya baru tahu, keluarga baru tahu,” kata Imam Raziqin, Senin (16/06).
Imam mengatakan, pihak pesantren akan melakukan langkah-langkah preventif agar kejadian serupa tidak terulang.
Dia menambahkan, untuk sementara para santri di pesantren tersebut dipulangkan ke rumahnya karena kebetulan bersamaan dengan libur sekolah.
“Tentu akan mengevaluasi beberapa kemungkinan-kemungkinan yang condong nantinya perilaku atau perbuatan-perbuatan seperti ini dapat terulang kembali,” katanya.
Imam juga mengatakan pesantren akan membentuk badan khusus untuk menjamin keselamatan dan kenyamanan santri, termasuk melibatkan pengawasan eksternal, karena selama ini pengawasan secara mutlak dilakukan oleh pelaku sebagai pimpinan pesantren.
Sumber gambar, AFP via Getty Images
Keterangan gambar, Seorang perempuan dalam aksi protes menentang kekerasan seksual di Banda Aceh pada 23 Desember 2021 Mengapa kekerasan seksual di pesantren terus berulang?
Aktivis perempuan dari Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia (KPI) Sumenep, Nunung Fitriana, menyesalkan kasus dugaan kekerasan seksual yang terjadi di pesantren.
Ini untuk ke sekian kalinya kekerasan seksual terhadap santri di lingkungan pondok pesantren terjadi.
Berikut ini sejumlah kasus dugaan kekerasan seksual di lingkungan pesantren yang terjadi baru-baru ini yang dikumpulkan BBC News Indonesia dari berbagai sumber:
- Pengasuh pondok pesantren di Rembang, Jawa Timur, ditetapkan sebagai tersangka dalam kasus dugaan pelecehan seksual terhadap anak di bawah umur dan santrinya sendiri pada Mei 2025.
- Satuan Reskrim Polres Mataram, Lombok, Nusa Tenggara Barat, menahan AF, ketua yayasan sebuah pesantren di Lombok Barat dengan korban lebih dari 20 santri pada April 2025.
- Pria berinisial AIA yang bertugas sebagai pembina kamar di sebuah pesantren di Tulungagung, Jawa Timur ditetapkan sebagai tersangka atas dugaan pencabulan terhadap 12 santri laki-laki pada April 2025.
- Pengurus pesantren di Trenggalek, Jawa Timur, dan putranya ditetapkan sebagai tersangka pencabulan belasan santri selama rentang waktu 2021-2024 pada Maret 2025.
- Polres Jakarta Timur menetapkan guru dan pemilik pesantren di Duren Sawit sebagai tersangka dalam kasus pencabulan lima santri pada Januari 2025.
- Pimpinan pondok pesantren di Cikande, Serang, Banten, ditetapkan sebagai tersangka kasus dugaan pencabulan dan pelecehan terhadap tiga santrinya pada Desember 2024.
- Pengasuh pesantren di Muara Enim, Sumatra Selatan ditangkap polisi karena diduga melakukan pencabulan terhadap santriwati, pada Desember 2024.
Sumber gambar, LightRocket via Getty Images
Keterangan gambar, Seorang perempuan memegang plakat bertuliskan “Women Struggle” atau “Perjuangan Perempuan” saat aksi unjuk rasa memperingati Hari Perempuan Internasional di Jakarta pada 2022 Menurut Nunung, kekerasan seksual di pesantren terus berulang karena relasi kuasa yang timpang antara pelaku dan korban.
Apalagi, pelaku merupakan tokoh sentral di pesantren.
“Murid itu ketika masuk pesantren, dia sudah langsung mengatakan saya ini bawahan. Maksudnya posisi saya itu sudah di bawah guru saya,” kata Nunung, Sabtu (14/06).
Doktrin agama yang mewajibkan murid untuk patuh kepada guru juga membuat korban kekerasan seksual cenderung tidak berani melapor.
“Kalau melapor berarti menyakiti guru, kalau menyakiti guru takut tidak dapat berkah,” kata Nunung.
Dalam pesantren, budaya dan agama berperan penting dalam membentuk norma dan nilai. Sebagai lembaga pendidikan agama, pesantren memiliki sistem nilai yang kuat yang dapat memengaruhi pandangan dan respons terhadap kekerasan seksual.
Baca juga: Namun, norma ini bisa menjadi “pedang bermata dua”. Pada satu sisi dapat melindungi korban, di sisi lain dapat menekan mereka untuk tetap diam.
Para korban sering merasa tidak berdaya atau tidak memiliki wewenang untuk melawan pelaku yang posisinya lebih senior atau memiliki kekuasaan.
Hal ini menciptakan lingkungan yang tidak mendukung bagi korban untuk mencari keadilan atau pertolongan.
Situasi ini juga menunjukkan adanya kebutuhan mendesak untuk memperbaiki mekanisme perlindungan dan pelaporan di lembaga-lembaga pendidikan tersebut.
Sumber gambar, NurPhoto via Getty Images
Keterangan gambar, Aktivis perempuan berkumpul di depan Istana Negara Indonesia untuk mengecam perbuatan 14 remaja laki-laki dari Bengkulu, Indonesia, yang memerkosa seorang gadis muda, membunuhnya, lalu membuang jasadnya di tebing pada 2016. Nunung mendorong Kementerian Agama (Kemenag) untuk mengambil langkah tegas agar kasus kekerasan seksual di pesantren tidak terus berulang.
Ia meminta kepada Kemenag setempat untuk tegas menindak pesantren tempat kekerasan seksual terjadi.
“Kalau bisa enggak usah dikasih izin lagi,” katanya.
Pencabutan izin dianggap langkah yang tepat karena pelaku merupakan pimpinan pesantren.
Jika dibiarkan tetap beroperasi, menurut Nunung, bisa semakin “berbahaya”.
Sumber gambar, Ahmad Mustofa
Keterangan gambar, Aktivis perempuan dari Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia (KPI) Sumenep, Nunung Fitriana, mendorong Kementerian Agama (Kemenag) untuk mengambil langkah tegas agar kasus kekerasan seksual di pesantren tidak terus berulang. Akan tetapi, Imam Raziqin, kerabat MS yang sempat menjadi pengurus di pesantren tersebut, tidak sepakat dengan dorongan aktivis agar izin pesantren dicabut hanya karena ulah satu oknum.
Pihak keluarga telah bersepakat untuk tetap menjaga eksistensi pesantren demi melanjutkan keberlangsungan pendidikan di sana, menurut Imam.
“Jangan lantas satu orang yang melakukan hal tidak baik, malah tempatnya yang dapat. Tapi saya tetap tidak mentolerir perilaku ini,” katanya.
Terkait adanya doktrin agama yang mewajibkan santri patuh atau takzim kepada pimpinan pesantren, ia tak menampik bahwa dalam beberapa kasus hal ini dimanfaatkan atau dijadikan peluang oleh oknum untuk melakukan hal-hal yang tidak baik.
“Pesantren di mana pun, ketakziman tetap diutamakan. Tapi dalam kurung pelaku atau oknum tersebut atau oknum tertentu ketakziman ini dijadikan peluang. Ini juga harus kami evaluasi ketakziman dalam apa, konteks bagaimana, keadaan bagaimana yang kemudian menjadi hal yang wajar dan tidak wajar,” jelasnya.
Baca juga: Nunung juga mendesak kepolisian lebih cepat dalam menangani kasus kekerasan seksual karena sudah ada unit khusus yang terpisah dari kasus kriminal lain.
Mantan aktivis Pergerakan Mahasiswa Islam Indonesia (PMII) ini juga mendorong agar kasus kekerasan seksual tidak diselesaikan melalui restorative justice (RJ).
Ia mendapati beberapa kasus kekerasan seksual yang terjadi di Sumenep justru menempuh opsi damai.
“Saya tidak merekomendasikan kekerasan seksual itu untuk RJ, pasti merugikan korban,” kata Nunung.
Yang tidak kalah penting, menurut Nunung, adanya sosialisasi tentang bentuk-bentuk kekerasan seksual, sehingga tidak terjadi normalisasi.
“Kalau masyarakat enggak ngerti kan dinormalisasi,” jelas Nunung.
Bagaimana pengawasan Kemenag?
Kementerian Agama sudah mengeluarkan Peraturan Menteri Agama Nomor 73 Tahun 2022 tentang Pencegahan dan Penanganan Kekerasan Seksual di Satuan Pendidikan pada Kementerian Agama.
Di dalamnya, diatur tentang definisi, bentuk, pencegahan hingga sanksi kekerasan seksual di lingkup pendidikan keagamaan.
Kemenag menerbitkan peraturan itu pada awal Oktober 2022 sebagai respons atas terungkapnya kasus pemerkosaan pimpinan sebuah pondok pesantren di Bandung, Herry Wirawan kepada 13 santriwatinya.
Kepala Kemenag Kabupaten Sumenep, Abdul Wasid, berjanji akan melakukan investigasi menyeluruh terkait kasus dugaan kekerasan seksual di lingkungan pesantren tersebut.
Sumber gambar, TIMUR MATAHARI/AFP via Getty Images
Keterangan gambar, Herry Wirawan (tengah) dikawal sebelum persidangannya di pengadilan Bandung, Jawa Barat, pada 15 Februari 2022. Ia dijatuhi hukuman penjara seumur hidup karena memerkosa 13 santri, semuanya di bawah umur. Namun, Wasid belum bisa bicara lebih jauh terkait sanksi yang akan diberikan terhadap pesantren yang dipimpin MS.
“Kita lihat santrinya bagaimana, kondisi pondoknya bagaimana, baru kita lakukan evaluasi lebih lanjut sesuai dengan aturan yang ada,” kata Wasid.
Disinggung terkait pengawasan, Wasid mengakui bahwa Kemenag tidak bisa terlalu intens sebab setiap pondok pesantren memiliki aturan tersendiri.
Pengawasan, kata Wasid, menjadi tanggung jawab pimpinan pesantren.
“Kita itu paling hadir ke pondok menanyakan beberapa hal. Bagaimana kita melakukan pengawasan 24 jam ke pondok, itu sudah ada pimpinannya kan?” dalih Wasid.
Sumber gambar, CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN/AFP via Getty Images
Keterangan gambar, Foto yang diambil pada 24 April 2014 ini menunjukkan sekelompok ibu di Indonesia yang sedang melakukan protes menentang kekerasan seksual terhadap anak di Banda Aceh, Provinsi Aceh. Dia tak menjelaskan lebih lanjut bagaimana pengawasan ditegakkan jika pimpinan pesantren yang melakukan pengawasan, justru menjadi pelaku kekerasan seksual terhadap santri.
Untuk memberikan rasa aman kepada anak yang bermukim di pesantren, kata Wasid, pihaknya akan menggalakkan kembali pesantren ramah anak dengan menggandeng sejumlah lembaga terkait dan organisasi masyarakat.
“Kita itu terus melakukan sosialisasi tentang penguatan pesantren ramah anak ke beberapa pondok pesantren dan beberapa pengurus pesantren,” katanya.
Dalam Keputusan Menteri Agama Nomor 91 Tahun 2025 tentang Peta Jalan Program Pengembangan Pesantren Ramah Anak yang diterbitkan awal tahun ini, diatur pengembangan kompetensi ideal ustadz dan ustadzah di pesantren, baik pada aspek kepribadian, sosial, pedagogik, maupun profesional.
Direktur Pesantren di Kementerian Agama, Basnang Said, mengatakan peta jalan ini dimaksudkan untuk menjadi panduan bagi pengasuh dan pendiri pesantren, pimpinan pesantren, tenaga pendidik, dan tenaga kependidikan serta Kementerian Agama untuk mengembangkan pesantren yang ramah anak dengan memberikan pelindungan dan memenuhi hak santri anak.
Reportase oleh wartawan di Jawa Timur, Ahmad Mustofa
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Bangkok Post – Cambodian border provinces prepare for return of workers from Thailand
Thai PM says no plans to deport Cambodians amid dispute
Thai officials open the gate at Ban Laem checkpoint in Pong Nam Ron district in Chanthaburi province on Sunday. The international crossing was abruptly closed on Friday by Cambodia. (Photo: Chanthaburi Public Relations Office Facebook account) Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has ordered authorities in provinces adjoining Thailand to stand ready to take in workers returning home from Thailand.
Thailand, however, has no policy to send them back, despite the ongoing territorial dispute between the two nations.
The Cambodian prime minister said in a Facebook post on Monday that seven provinces bordering Thailand had been instructed to prepare for workers choosing to leave Thailand.
“Assign the task to the ministry-related institutions and the capital authorities – seven provinces near the border to provide the necessary services and coordination to the Khmer workers who want to return to Cambodia,” he wrote.
The seven Cambodian provinces sharing the border with Thailand are:
- Banteay Meanchey
- Battambang
- Koh Kong
- Oddar Meanchey
- Pailin
- Pursat
- Preah Vihear
The Khmer Times reported on Monday that Prak Sokhonn, who doubles as deputy prime minister and foreign minister, was instructed to visit the Cambodian consulate in Thailand to facilitate documentation needed by returning Cambodian workers.
Cambodia has a consulate in Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaeo province.
The order by Hun Manet followed the Joint Boundary Commission meeting that ended on Sunday with the two sides unable to settle their differences on how to settle their territorial current disputes.
It came one day after Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra outlined Thai policy, which includes no plan to deport foreign workers.
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Warm welcome for President Prabowo from Indonesians in Singapore
Jakarta (ANTARA) – The state visit of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to Singapore was warmly welcomed by Indonesian citizens (WNI) residing in the country, including students from the Indonesian School in Singapore (SIS) and university students.According to an official statement, shortly after arriving at his hotel on Sunday evening (June 15), President Prabowo was greeted by two Indonesian children dressed in traditional Nusantara attire who enthusiastically awaited his arrival at the hotel entrance.
Not far from the entrance, a group of Indonesian university students was also gathered, eagerly waiting to welcome the president.
Prabowo responded with a warm greeting, engaging in friendly conversation and graciously accommodating requests for selfies. “Thank you, thank you,” said the president as he shook hands with each of them.
The atmosphere grew even more festive when dozens of SIS students from grades 3 to 6 lined up inside the hotel premises. Clad in blue batik uniforms bearing the SIS logo, the students waved small Indonesian flags with excitement.
With great enthusiasm, the children chanted, “Selamat datang, Bapak! Selamat datang, Bapak! Selamat datang, Bapak Presiden!” (“Welcome, Sir! Welcome, Sir! Welcome, Mr. President!”)
President Prabowo beamed as he heard their greeting. He walked toward the students, shook hands with each of them, and happily posed for photos.
“How old are you?” he asked the children.
“Ten!” they replied in unison.
“You’re already grown up. What do you want to be when you grow up?” he asked again.
“Soldier!” one of them shouted.
“Soldier?” Prabowo responded with a smile.
A student named Nailun had the opportunity to take a photo with the president. Though nervous, he expressed his excitement and offered his hopes.
“As a keepsake of meeting Mr. Prabowo. I hope you lead this country very well and keep up the spirit, Sir,” said Nailun.
The moment was also a source of pride for SIS teachers. One of them, Michael Hary, expressed his appreciation for the president’s visit.
“We are proud to welcome you in person here in Singapore. The children are even more enthusiastic about learning and building this country in the future,” said Michael.
Earlier that day, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong personally welcomed President Prabowo upon his arrival at Paya Lebar Air Base. In a gesture of high honor, PM Wong greeted the president at the foot of the airplane stairs.
On Monday, President Prabowo is scheduled to undertake several key engagements in Singapore.
He will be officially welcomed in a state ceremony by Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at Parliament House, a symbolic moment marking the strengthening of bilateral ties between the two nations. He will also pay a courtesy call on President Tharman and attend the Leaders’ Retreat with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
“These meetings reflect the deepening relationship and shared priorities between Indonesia and Singapore,” said Yusuf Permana, Deputy for Protocol, Press, and Media at the Presidential Secretariat.
Related news: Indonesia, Singapore to invest over US$10 bln in green energy
Related news: Indonesia keen to expand cooperation with Singapore: Prabowo
Related news: Indonesia, Singapore bolster synergy in women’s empowerment
Translator: Fathur, Azis Kurmala
Editor: M Razi Rahman
Copyright © ANTARA 2025 -
Titans’ Cam Ward reflects on dad’s impact for Father’s Day
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The smile on Cameron Ward‘s face said it all when asked what he wanted to get his dad, Calvin, for Father’s Day.
“Shopping for Father’s Day, that’s the hardest shopping to do,” Ward told ESPN. “I mean what do you get for someone who already has everything? I don’t know what I’m going to get him, because he ain’t really ask for s—.”
Having already paid to have his parents’ house built last year when he was in college at Miami, Ward struggled to come up with a physical gift for his dad. He laughed as he recalled gifting his dad an ATV for Christmas years ago, when his mom, Patrice, had gotten him a mini NASCAR race track.
Then the perfect idea came to mind.
“I just really want to spend time with him,” Ward said.
Time. That’s the best gift he could give.
The Tennessee Titans made Ward the No. 1 pick in April, hoping he could become the answer at quarterback that they had been searching for. He attributes his journey to his parents, with sports being a staple in their household.
“I just always had sports around me,” Ward said. “I come from a sports background with my dad and my mom. I just always wanted to play professional sports. I think that was just my calling.”
The Ward family, a close-knit group of five, has bonded on many trips — loading up the SUV and hitting the road to attend various sports camps. They started by going to camps at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, when Cameron was in fourth grade. He tagged along with his two older sisters, Aaliyah and Chantel, who were basketball players.
Calvin supported his son as he played various sports such as basketball, football, baseball and even golf, but having been a former walk-on college quarterback at Houston, Calvin taught his son the sport he knew best when Cameron was 8 years old — setting up nets in the backyard to throw into.
“Cameron fell in love with the workouts,” Calvin said. “From a young age he was always like, ‘I want to be a professional athlete in something.’ My philosophy was always to play as many sports as you want. The road would eventually narrow on its own.”
THE PROCESS OF getting noticed by colleges wasn’t easy, but Cameron leaned on his dad throughout his playing days at West Columbia High School, which is about an hour outside of Houston.
Playing in a run-heavy Wing T offense limited his passing opportunities, as he attempted 267 passes for 2,261 yards in three years. To put that into perspective, Hudson Card — the No. 1-ranked quarterback in the state for the 2020 class according to the ESPN 300 (No. 40 overall) — attempted 216 passes in nine games during his senior year, according to Max Preps, and 369 passes in 15 games as a junior.
Calvin emailed college coaches during his son’s junior year in hopes of getting the zero-star recruit his first offer. He sought out other parents whose kids went to the NFL for advice on how to get more exposure.
He did not want to be a parent who felt his son was better than everyone else, so he focused on getting feedback to make his son better.
“I trusted the parents that I talked to that might have had kids that been through [this],” Calvin said, “[telling them], ‘I need you to be realistic about my son. He wants to play on a higher level. I don’t need you to sugarcoat anything with me.’”
Some of the feedback was to work on his footwork by incorporating jump ropes into his drills. They also worked on agility.
“It wasn’t so much about chasing a scholarship per se, it was just chasing improvement,” Calvin said.
They also took road trips to football camps in hopes of getting Cameron on the radar of colleges. One of those trips called for a 3 a.m. wake-up to leave by 5 a.m. for a six-hour ride to East Texas Baptist University, only to return home the same day.
“That’s impressive dedication to helping his son,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said of Calvin chauffeuring his son across Texas just to give him a chance to be noticed.
During those road trips, they talked about more than just life. Even though they didn’t like the same music genres, they found common ground by listening to local radio stations. The trips provided opportunities for Cameron to ask about his grandparents and what life was like growing up for his dad, so Calvin shared his insight.
“My parents was like, ‘Hey, we don’t care about football, basketball or whatever. You better get them grades,’” Calvin said.
“These are things I want to put in your life because these are things I wanted to do as a kid that I didn’t get to do.”
That’s one reason why it was important for Calvin to make sure his son got to attend as many camps as possible.
“I’m going to knock on every door, and you know, eventually one of these doors going to open,” Calvin said.
An eye-opening weekend came when they drove just over two hours to College Station for Texas A&M’s camp. A&M was Cameron’s preferred school, so his dad made sure to get him there.
He got to compete with several high-profile quarterbacks — including four-star prospect Haynes King from Longview High School in Texas, who was ranked No. 46 in the ESPN 300 for the 2020 class. He would go on to commit to the Aggies.
“Everyone knew that Cameron out-threw all of those guys,” Calvin said. “But King won state championship his junior year and then you had Cameron Ward that don’t nobody knew of and you got one scholarship. So who do you think a scholarship’s going to go to?”
The journey continued the next day when they drove to San Antonio for Incarnate Word’s satellite camp. According to Calvin, the camp started at 1 p.m. but the coaching staff “shut it down at 2 p.m.” because the school’s offensive coordinator, Mack Leftwich, wanted to hide his future quarterback from other schools that had access to the camp.
“I’m like, ‘What the heck is going on?’” Calvin recalled. “It took us three and a half hours to drive there. They didn’t want no other schools to see Cameron because they picked up how his arm talent was different.”
The final straw came when Cameron drove a pass from the opposite hash marks to a receiver running a comeback route toward the sideline. Leftwich told the Ward family they ended the camp because they were nervous that he “wouldn’t be available” after other schools saw him throw.
“Cameron looked at me and was like, ‘What is he talking about? We’re not hearing from anyone,’” Calvin said with a laugh.
The trip was worth it. Cameron got an offer from Incarnate Word head coach Eric Morris, and he would end up there for the 2020 season to begin his college career.
CAMERON SHOWED PROMISE early at Incarnate Word, where he won the Jerry Rice Award given to the most outstanding freshman in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. He followed that up with 4,648 passing yards, 47 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a sophomore and was named the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
Now schools that ignored him coming out of high school were showing interest.
“OK, dude, we have options we ain’t had before,” Calvin told his son. “Let’s be patient and check some of these out.”
But they remained loyal, and Cameron followed Morris to Washington State for his junior year in 2022 before eventually ending up at Miami for his final season.
It was a big decision given that Incarnate Word was within driving distance from the Ward family’s home.
Now, Calvin had to drive a little over an hour to Houston Hobby Airport before even hopping on a plane to see his son play, but Cameron’s parents never missed seeing him play.
“All 57 games,” Calvin said when asked how many of Cameron’s games they attended, which included 25 with Washington State and 13 more with Miami.
Calvin feels one of Cameron’s biggest tests came before the 2023 season when Morris left Washington State to take over as the head coach at North Texas.
“That was the year that made him,” Calvin said. “Because the whole narrative was that he was a product of Eric Morris’ system.”
Without Morris, Cameron wanted to prove he was a premier quarterback regardless of what offense he was playing in.
“OK, guess what? Morris is gone now,” Calvin said. “Your system is gone now. Now it’s Cameron Ward.”
The future No. 1 pick completed 66% of his passes for 3,736 yards, 25 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, which set up another big decision: declare for the NFL draft or play another season of college football?
WITNESSING NFL COMMISSIONER Roger Goodell calling his son’s name on draft day was easily Calvin’s proudest moment.
“Cameron going No. 1, that’s still surreal to me, knowing how he got there,” Calvin said. “It was like a dream knowing your son is the No. 1 quarterback.”
It also sets up what Cameron said is the best advice he has gotten from his dad who told him this is his one opportunity to play in the NFL and “not to f— it up.”
“[My dad] wouldn’t let me take no for an answer,” Cameron said. “That’s what kept me steady throughout the whole process knowing that I’ll eventually get an offer, but he just constantly motivated me. He constantly told me the journey is never going to be easy.”
When Cameron contemplated going pro after his fourth year in college, he leaned on his dad — who advised him to not hire an agent so there was no confusion concerning his eligibility.
“My parents really let me make my own decisions,” Cameron said. “But they give me different angles to look at it. They see it from their point of view then they also got to see it from the other person’s point of view as well.”
He decided to forego the draft to better his stock for 2025 before transferring to Miami.
He made a big statement in his debut with the Hurricanes, throwing for 385 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-17 win over one of their biggest rivals, and Calvin loved every bit of it.
“That Florida game,” Calvin said, “all the talk — ‘Oh, he hasn’t played in this size of a stadium’ — they didn’t know what was [about] to hit them because they didn’t know him. He doesn’t care about all of that. Cameron just wants to go play football.”
Cameron passed for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns last season — both Miami single-season records. He also won the Davey O’Brien Award, given to the nation’s top quarterback, and finished fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy. He set the career combined FCS (71) and FBS (87) record with 158 touchdown passes. The performance helped cement him as the top quarterback in the draft.
“His journey I think is really unique and cool,” Callahan said. “A lot of it comes from how he was raised. All the things you see from his parents trying to pour into him and give him all the opportunities to succeed I think is admirable, and I think it paid off for him.”
Fast-forward, and the first impression the rookie has made with the Titans is a good one. Whether it’s having the rookie pass catchers meet with him for film study at 5 a.m. or pulling a veteran aside after a missed rep, Cameron has already started to have an impact.
If Cameron’s career for the Titans is as successful as his college career was, Tennessee’s quest to find its franchise quarterback will be fulfilled.
Armed with a newly signed contract worth $48.7 million, Cameron can give his dad whatever he wants for Father’s Day. But above all else, Cameron just wants to give him thanks.
“Thank you for all the time you put in for me and my siblings,” he said when asked about his Father’s Day message. “The money that you put in and all the behind-the-scenes stuff from the emailing coaches to put my face out there and get me a chance to be who I am today. Just know that I’m trying to do my part and create a legacy for our last name.”
