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Florida State to retire Charlie Ward's basketball jersey this Sunday

by: Special to Warchant.com3 hours ago
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Photo: FSU Sports Information

Courtesy of Florida State University Sports Information:

Charlie Ward, who led the Florida State basketball team to three NCAA Tournaments and who is still the only player in history to win the Heisman Trophy and be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft, will have his basketball jersey retired and hung in the rafters at the Donald L. Tucker Center.

The ceremony will take place prior to Florida State’s exhibition game against Florida A&M on October 26 at 4:00 p.m. Tickets to the FAMU exhibition on sale here: https://seminoles.evenue.net/events/MBSINGLE. Student tickets are free to students from both schools – all they will need to do is show their I.D. upon entering.

Ward will be the first student-athlete in Florida State history to have his number retired in both football (No. 17) and basketball (No. 12).

Ward, the most decorated player in the history of college football, is also one of the top basketball players in Florida State history. After leading the Seminoles to the 1991 Metro Conference Championship, he helped usher the Seminoles into the ACC in 1992. Ward then led the Seminoles to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the Elite 8 in 1993 and the Sweet 16 in 1992.

Ward’s career as a Seminole basketball player spanned 91 games. He averaged 8.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and a program-record 2.6 steals per game. He is the Seminoles all-time leader in steals with 238 – more than 30 years after his career at Florida State concluded. Ward’s nine steals against South Carolina on March 2, 1991, also still ranks tied for the second-highest single-game steals total in school history. He totaled six or more steals in seven different games during his career.

“I am thrilled to honor Charlie Ward as we hang his jersey in the rafters inside the building where he made so many basketball memories,” said Florida State head coach Luke Loucks. “Charlie is one of the greatest athletes college sports has ever known. His incredible career as a Seminole basketball player saw him lead Florida State to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments including the Elite 8. As great as an athlete that he is, both as a football player and a basketball player, he is an even better person. It will be an honor for every Seminole and every Rattler to honor him on October 26.”

Ward’s career spanned four seasons and two incredibly successful runs in two different conferences. He helped the Seminoles win the 1991 Metro Conference Championship. In that win over Louisville, Ward led Florida State to the conference championship clinching victory after the Seminoles had trailed by 20 points (56-36) with under 16 minutes remaining in the game.

Ward then led the Seminoles into the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1992 and did so by engineering an 86-74 win over No. 5 North Carolina at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill on December 15, 1991, in the Seminoles’ first ACC game.

Ward would lead Florida State to the NCAA Tournament in 1991, 1992, and 1993. The Seminoles advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in 1992 for only the second time in school history.

Ward was named to the Metro Conference All-Freshman team in 1991, to the All-ACC Tournament Second Team in 1992, and was an Honorable Mention selection on the All-ACC Tournament Team in 1993.

“I enjoyed every moment of my college experience,” said Ward. “I’m grateful for the honor of having both of my jerseys retired. It’s truly a blessing from my Heavenly Father to be acknowledged in this way and see the work I put in as a student-athlete was recognized by others. Grateful for all of my family, coaches, administrators, professors, and teammates for assisting in my success.”

Ward became Florida State’s first Heisman Trophy winner in 1993 after completing 69.5 percent of his passes for 3,032 yards with 27 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He won the Davey O’Brien and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Awards, was named Walter Camp Player of the Year, and Toyota Leader of the Year. He became just the second college football player ever to win the Sullivan Award. The Sullivan Award is presented annually to the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate or Olympic level in the United States.

Ward was selected with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 1994 NBA by the New York Knicks. Ward is the only Heisman Trophy winner to play in the NBA.

Ward, who graduated from Florida State University in 1994, played for 12 years in the NBA with the Knicks, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Houston Rockets. The point guard averaged 6.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 630 career games played in the NBA. Ward helped lead the Knicks to the NBA Playoffs four times including the 1989 NBA Championship Finals.

Champions First Credit Union, who is the presenting sponsor of this special game, will provide a unique Charlie Ward 1993 Jersey rally towel giveaway for the first 1,000 fans.

“What Charlie meant to Florida State is undeniable,” said Florida State Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford. “As incredible as his football career was, his contribution to FSU basketball is just as enduring. Charlie not only earned a unique place in American sport as one of the most talented two-sport athletes ever, but he has been a model of integrity, class and character for all Seminoles that have followed him.”

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