Northwestern University Athletics
Survive and Strive: Rasheed Ward
10/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 16, 2008
Rasheed Ward is one of Northwestern's true success stories.
He's not only one of the top success stories as far as the football program is concerned, but throughout the University as a whole. To fully appreciate where Ward is today, one must look at where he has come from.
The number of individuals who are able to make their way from the Chicago Public School system to become student-athletes at Northwestern University are few. Add in the fact that Ward came to Evanston from Harper High School in Englewood, located on Chicago's southside and a neighborhood with the highest crime rate in the city, and that makes his accomplishments that much more impressive. Just surviving where he came from is a feat in and of itself.
Rasheed is listed as the son of Albert and Yvonne Ward in his biographical information when in fact they are his grandparents. Together, they have helped raise him and six of his siblings.
Despite attending a high school where few truly succeed, Ward focused on his academics to the point that he became an honor roll student and a National Honor Society member. In turn, he became the first member of his family to attend college. Still, coming to an institution of higher learning like Northwestern proved to be an uphill climb.
"It was challenging at first as far as the academics and coming from a Chicago public high school," Ward said. "It was another level of academics and something I probably wasn't totally prepared for. But with the help of the advisors and all of the tutors, it has worked out.
"Just my coming here, there was a lot of publicity over it, being the first (Public League recruit at NU) in 19 or some odd years. I take pride in that. The main thing I want to do is graduate and show people that it can be done."
Even though he had never played organized football until the time he entered high school, Ward went on to become a second-team all-state selection as a senior thanks in large part to the tutoring of his head coach, Terry Lewis, and others. A learning and organizational change major, Ward plans to get involved in coaching after he graduates because of the impact that his coaches have had on him.
"That's big part of the reason why I came here and the reason why I was able to do so, because of my high school coaches," he said. "They were always on me and were a big positive influence. I want to be that influence in someone else's life."
Ward made an instant impact upon his arrival at Northwestern, catching a pair of passes against Ohio, today's opponent, in his first game as a true freshman and hauling in five receptions, including scoring a touchdown, two games later at Arizona State.
After making 22 catches as a sophomore, he hauled in 46 a year ago. This year he's back for his senior year as a member of a deep Wildcat receiving corps that many view as one of the strengths of the team.
"We always look at ourselves as being the heart and soul of the offense and this team," Ward said. "In order for us to do well, we have to come out and play and contribute to the team.
"As receivers, we're all competitive. We want the ball every time. We know that's not going to happen in this type of offense, but when something like that comes around, we try to take advantage of it."
Described as someone who always has a smile on his face, Ward tries to bring a positive attitude with him every day.
"I hope that carries over to others," he said. "I'm just always trying to smile about everything and trying to stay positive no matter what happens. I guess it's just something that I've always had, that smile. The main thing you can say about me is I always have a smile on my face. I guess I owe that to myself."
Even though he has yet to return to the end zone since that third game of his freshman season, Ward says it's not something that weighs him down.
"I think about it, but at the same time I'm concerned about the way we play as a team and if we're going to come out with a win. If I leave here with just one touchdown and we win a Big Ten championship, I'd be great with that. I'd rather leave here with a Big Ten championship than with 30-some touchdowns."
One thing is certain; whether or not Rasheed Ward returns to the end zone, he has already scored big.
