Charlie Ward

Host Dave Fiore speaks with legendary FSU quarterback and community leader Charlie Ward. Charlie's resume also includes 1993 Heisman Trophy winner, 11-year NBA veteran, longtime high school coach and public speaker. But to the Thomasville, Ga., native, the roles of mentor, husband and father have always been most important. Charlie and his wife, Tonja, run the Ward Family Foundation and are currently developing the Champions Ranch, the vehicle for the foundation's mission to develop youth character rooted in Christian principles through sports, arts, education and wellness. One of Florida's State's most beloved athletes, Charlie shares about his college journey that included a detour through Tallahassee Community College (now Tallahassee State College), how Coach Bobby Bowden had to be convinced that Charlie for a good fit for his program, balancing the demand of basketball and football and breaking the race barrier as FSU's first black quarterback. We also talk a lot of football – so much that for the first time, we are offering bonus content to our email newsletter subscribers. Subscribe today to hear Charlie talk about the 1992 football season, including the birth of the fast-break offense against Georgia Tech, getting booed after early-career interceptions, his season-saving pass to Warrick Dunn against the Gators on the national championship run and finally playing basketball and living in New York City. If you are a fan, you won't want to miss it! _________________________________ Thanks for listening to Tallahassee's Podcast. Enjoying the conversation? Please share this episode. Love the show? Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.  About the Podcast: How I Got Here is hosted by Dave Fiore and features Tallahassee leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers sharing the experiences and pivotal moments that shaped their journey. The show is produced by Fiore Communications, a Tallahassee-based strategic marketing firm that helps businesses build trust with the audiences that matter most. Visit hightlh.com for more great episodes and to suggest a guest or sign up for email updates.  Connect with Dave Fiore: LinkedIn Explore more local podcasts: Tallahassee Podcast Network Follow or Subscribe to How I Got Here Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube