Central Michigan University Athletics
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
Sizzle & Steak: Determined Jonathan Ward Delivers In Senior Season
12/6/2019 8:15:00 AM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The last season, the last yard, the last chance.
Jonathan Ward has, unquestionably, made the most of it.
The senior running back from Kankakee, Ill. has been at the core of a resurgent Central Michigan football team, one that will play for the Mid-American Conference championship on Saturday (noon) at Ford Field in Detroit against Miami (Ohio).
Ward ran for 88 yards and a touchdown last Friday as the Chippewas closed the regular season with a 49-7 thrashing of Toledo, giving CMU its first outright MAC West Division title since 2009.
The beatdown of the Rockets – who had won nine consecutive games against CMU -- was somewhat symbolic of a proud CMU program that hit rock bottom a year ago, winning just one game, and had now rebounded and come out swinging to an 8-4 record (6-2 MAC), the biggest turnaround in college football this season.
Jim McElwain was named to lead the Chippewas last December, bringing a fresh approach and turning the page.
Ward, like many of his teammates, bought in immediately.
"They (coaches) emphasized being professional and in order to be the best, we have to prepare the best," Ward said. "They try to get it instilled in our minds that every day is an opportunity to get better whether that's watching film or whether that's practicing; you've got to take a professional approach."
While the entire program has turned the corner, it is Ward who is perhaps the poster child for its improvement. It's simply that way, for better or for worse, when you're in the high-profile position as the No. 1 running back.
A year ago – seems more like a decade ago, in light of what has transpired since – Ward rushed for just 212 yards and scored once. Adding to the disappointment was the expectation entering that season after Ward had amassed nearly 1,500 yards in total offense and scored 13 touchdowns in a sensational sophomore campaign.
Ward, like so many of the veterans on the team, channeled the frustration of 2018 into energy for offseason workouts ahead of 2019.
"Adversity either makes you or breaks you," Ward said. "Stuck around and stuck it out and the best outcome. Pressure can burst pipes or pressure can make diamonds, it's either one or the other."
Ward is the first Chippewa runner since 2004 to have two 1,000-yard rushing seasons on his career ledger. His 15 rushing TDs this season tie him for sixth in program history, and his 28 career TDs rank eighth.
Making it all the sweeter is depth from which Ward, and the program, has risen in a relatively short amount of time.
"The leadership that he shows, gathering the team up at the end of practice, saying whatever message that needs to be said, he knows exactly what to say," CMU offensive coordinator Charlie Frye said. "I see a guy that brings in donuts for his offensive linemen, brings in tacos, he understands that it's not about him, it's about his teammates.
"That's maturity. Sometimes you go through things that are hard. You learn a lot more from your failures than you do from your successes. … That will help take him to the next level on his journey. Wherever that is, whatever that may be, those are the lessons you'll be able to carry forward."
Ward is both sizzle and steak. Among his TD runs are highlight-reel worthy bursts of 86 and 75 yards, and a 64-yard catch-and-run. In all three cases, he put on display what McElwain calls "finishing speed."
Just as importantly, Ward has put on display drive and heart which has perhaps been steeled from his experiences in 2018. Case in point: He scored a career-high four rushing TDs in the Chippewas' 45-44 comeback victory nearly three weeks ago at Ball State.
All four of those TD runs were of the short move-the-pile variety. All grind.
"It just comes from the grit," Ward said. "Going back to summer camp, thinking about those long workouts and all those extra sprints that we did. Too much work to be denied on the 1-yard line.
"If we can't win 3 feet then we don't deserve to be on the football field. I tell my offensive line that nothing is accomplished until we get in the end zone. We can go 99 yards but if we don't get that last yard then it doesn't matter."
Last yard, last season, last game, and a chance to win a championship. Jonathan Ward has gotten up, grown up, and put up.
Jonathan Ward has, unquestionably, made the most of it.
The senior running back from Kankakee, Ill. has been at the core of a resurgent Central Michigan football team, one that will play for the Mid-American Conference championship on Saturday (noon) at Ford Field in Detroit against Miami (Ohio).
Ward ran for 88 yards and a touchdown last Friday as the Chippewas closed the regular season with a 49-7 thrashing of Toledo, giving CMU its first outright MAC West Division title since 2009.
The beatdown of the Rockets – who had won nine consecutive games against CMU -- was somewhat symbolic of a proud CMU program that hit rock bottom a year ago, winning just one game, and had now rebounded and come out swinging to an 8-4 record (6-2 MAC), the biggest turnaround in college football this season.
Jim McElwain was named to lead the Chippewas last December, bringing a fresh approach and turning the page.
Ward, like many of his teammates, bought in immediately.
"They (coaches) emphasized being professional and in order to be the best, we have to prepare the best," Ward said. "They try to get it instilled in our minds that every day is an opportunity to get better whether that's watching film or whether that's practicing; you've got to take a professional approach."
While the entire program has turned the corner, it is Ward who is perhaps the poster child for its improvement. It's simply that way, for better or for worse, when you're in the high-profile position as the No. 1 running back.
A year ago – seems more like a decade ago, in light of what has transpired since – Ward rushed for just 212 yards and scored once. Adding to the disappointment was the expectation entering that season after Ward had amassed nearly 1,500 yards in total offense and scored 13 touchdowns in a sensational sophomore campaign.
Ward, like so many of the veterans on the team, channeled the frustration of 2018 into energy for offseason workouts ahead of 2019.
"Adversity either makes you or breaks you," Ward said. "Stuck around and stuck it out and the best outcome. Pressure can burst pipes or pressure can make diamonds, it's either one or the other."
Ward is the first Chippewa runner since 2004 to have two 1,000-yard rushing seasons on his career ledger. His 15 rushing TDs this season tie him for sixth in program history, and his 28 career TDs rank eighth.
Making it all the sweeter is depth from which Ward, and the program, has risen in a relatively short amount of time.
"The leadership that he shows, gathering the team up at the end of practice, saying whatever message that needs to be said, he knows exactly what to say," CMU offensive coordinator Charlie Frye said. "I see a guy that brings in donuts for his offensive linemen, brings in tacos, he understands that it's not about him, it's about his teammates.
"That's maturity. Sometimes you go through things that are hard. You learn a lot more from your failures than you do from your successes. … That will help take him to the next level on his journey. Wherever that is, whatever that may be, those are the lessons you'll be able to carry forward."
Ward is both sizzle and steak. Among his TD runs are highlight-reel worthy bursts of 86 and 75 yards, and a 64-yard catch-and-run. In all three cases, he put on display what McElwain calls "finishing speed."
Just as importantly, Ward has put on display drive and heart which has perhaps been steeled from his experiences in 2018. Case in point: He scored a career-high four rushing TDs in the Chippewas' 45-44 comeback victory nearly three weeks ago at Ball State.
All four of those TD runs were of the short move-the-pile variety. All grind.
"It just comes from the grit," Ward said. "Going back to summer camp, thinking about those long workouts and all those extra sprints that we did. Too much work to be denied on the 1-yard line.
"If we can't win 3 feet then we don't deserve to be on the football field. I tell my offensive line that nothing is accomplished until we get in the end zone. We can go 99 yards but if we don't get that last yard then it doesn't matter."
Last yard, last season, last game, and a chance to win a championship. Jonathan Ward has gotten up, grown up, and put up.
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