This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/lunchboxthegoat on 2023-08-09 15:02:36.

Counting down to the beginning of the season I’m going to attempt to post one player per day for the last 99 matching their jersey number to the days left until kick off. The players will be random. Use this thread to celebrate and Talk About Some DudesTM

Charlie Ward was a dual sport star at Florida State from 1989 to 1993 - as a point guard on the basketball team and quarterback on the football team.

He started his career in football sitting behind eventual Heisman runner-up Casey Wheldon and watching the Noles go 10-2, 10-2, 11-2 in his three underclassmen years.

Florida state started 1992 ranked #4 and lost just once but things just weren’t firing on all cylinders. Charlie and the Noles were immensely talented and winning games but the offense was mistake prone. Charlie was pulled multiple times in favor of eventual hot take artist Danny Kannell. He put up 11 passing TDs but 15 INTs through the first half of the season in a heavy I-form, two-back offense. But after a fateful night at Bobby Dodd stadium and some powerful insight from Katharyn Richt, her husband Mark and coach Bowden unlocked the offense for Charlie. FSU had stormed back from 18-7 deficit and a third quarter that featured 19 yards, no TDs and two turnovers to put up 22 points and 205 yards in the fourth. They defeated #16 GT 29-24 and the ‘fast-break’ offense was born.

Richt had mentioned to (eventual UGA legend) Mark how much better Charlie seemed to function in shotgun, no huddle situations and the coaching staff took notice. They rolled out a shotgun tempo attack two weeks later against Maryland and put up 69 points on 858 yards of offense scoring 10 TDs in 10 drives. Charlie had 506 total yards, 5 total touchdowns and 0 turnovers. Charlie would finish the season on a run of 11 passing TDs to just 2 interceptions to pair with 271 yards rushing and 3 TDs.

Charlie’s senior year saw him lead the Noles to their first ever National Championship, a 12-1 record, a stat line of 69.5% completions, 3032 yards, 27 TD just 4 picks and another 339 rushing yards and 4 TDs rushing. He won the Walter Camp, Johnny Unitas, Chic Hartley, Maxwell, Davey O’Brien and Heisman Trophies. He was a consensus All-American, the ACC Offensive Player of the Year and ACC Athlete of the Year. His margin of victory in the Heisman balloting remains the fourth highest difference all-time. He also won the James. E Sullivan award (AAU’s most outstanding amateur athlete).

Fifteen days after being awarded the Heisman, Charlie rejoined the FSU basketball team for his final season. He started 16 games, put up career highs in points, minutes, rebounds and steals per game.

Ward was selected in the first round of the NBA Draft by the New York Knicks and chose to play professional basketball. He became the first Heisman winner to do so and just the second Heisman winner to play in a professional Big 4 league other than the NFL (Bo Jackson was the other).

He spent 12 years in the NBA with the Knicks, Spurs and Rockets.

He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Ward in White, Ward at home, Ward with his Heisman, Charlie with the Knicks

Previously: 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 91, 90, 89, 88, 87, 86, 85, 84, 83, 82, 81, 80, 79, 78, 77, 76, 75, 74, 73, 72, 71, 70, 69, 68, 67, 66, 65, 64, 63, 62, 61, 60, [59](reddit.com/…/99_players_99_days_59_alex_agase_ill……

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