Twenty years ago, Florida State sent another young signal caller to test his mettle against one of the most hostile environments in college football. Charlie Ward had only one game under his belt as a starter -- a win against Duke in which four interceptions marred a four TD performance.
A week later in Death Valley, Ward was picked off on FSU's first drive of the night. Nervous Nole fans wondered if the pressure cooker atmosphere was too much for a QB still learning on the job. In fact, Ward would throw three more INTs that night, one taken to the house in the third quarter to put the Tigers ahead 13-10 (seen in the video, along with other Clemson highlights).
Rather than rattling him, the gift wrapped pick six appeared to bring out the best in Ward. He tossed two more TDs, the last on a sustained drive beginning with a little more than five minutes left on the clock and the Clemson faithful making it impossible to hear anything on the field.
``I just decided to get in the huddle and throw the ball the way I know I can,`` Ward said. ``Our defense, receivers and offensive line had done the job all night. It was time for me to do my job."
The dramatic win at Death Valley served as a coming of age moment for the future Heisman Trophy winner, and a sign of things to come that season and the next.
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