Printable Biography of Charlie Ward

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With such pressure on him every week, Ward responded not only with many a marvelous performance at passing and running, but also with the kind of inspired leadership which is present in only the finest of quarterbacks. Analysts noted that the 6-foot 2 inch, 190-pound Ward did much better when lined up in the "Shotgun" formation, wherein he stood some seven yards behind center. This enabled him to get a better view of the defense and to use his phenomenal escape skills to avoid the oncoming defensive linemen. Indeed, he averaged six yards every time he ran with the ball. But it was as a passer that Ward ruined a defense, with an almost unbelievable near - 70 percent completion average, and the ability to throw the long pass as well as the short. Even in the furiously exciting heart-stopping loss to Notre Dame at South Bend in mid-November '93, Ward still managed some 300 yards passing and came within a whisker of saving the day for the Seminoles. Charlie is the starting point guard for the New York Knickerbockers of the NBA, who selected him 26th overall in the 1994 NBA draft.