DOUBLE THREAT

As a two-sport athlete, G Charlie Ward shined on the hardwood and the gridiron. He focused on basketball in his redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons, playing 58 games for the squad, before becoming the football team’s starting QB and an eventual Heisman winner. Ward faced college basketball legend Christian Laettner and Duke twice in his sophomore season of 1991-92, both tough losses to the eventual National Champions. The first game took place just days after Ward traveled with the football team for the 1992 Cotton Bowl. Naismith Basketball Hall-of-Famer and longtime Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski praised Ward before the rematch. “The major difference in Florida State now is Charlie Ward is in basketball shape,” he said. “Having Ward, as a real good leader … it’s settled their team down.” Ward suffered a shoulder injury in FSU’s first-round matchup with No. 14 Montana in the 1992 NCAA Tournament, but his leadership remained steady as the Seminoles made their first Sweet 16 appearance in 20 years.