Sophomore Nathan Ford keeps his eyes on the prize as he juggles classes and coursework along with practices and games for two varsity sports.

The quarterback takes the snap from center and drops back to survey the field, dodging an onrushing lineman and, while running to his right, rifling a pass downfield to an open receiver. It’s another first down for the Big Red football team and signal-caller Nathan Ford of Palo Alto, Calif., a skilled and versatile athlete who somehow finds time to meet the demands of pursuing an engineering degree while playing two varsity sports.

Last spring the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Ford was handed the starting quarterback’s job by Cornell coaches and he’s stepped into that role with confidence and poise. “He’s a great leader, and an intelligent young man who works hard,” head football coach Jim Knowles says. “It’s unusual to put a sophomore at such a critical position, but he’s handled the pressure very well.”

As a dual-threat quarterback who can beat teams with his legs as well as his arm, Ford is a gifted athlete who presents a problem for the opposition that must guard against either option, Knowles says.

Indeed, five games into the 2006 football season Ford was among the Ivy League’s total offense leaders with more than 900 yards passing, 200 rushing, and seven touchdowns. After engineering a 38-14 homecoming romp over regional rival Colgate in early October, Ford earned league offensive player of the week accolades.

At season’s end, he won’t have much time off to catch up on his studies before putting on a baseball uniform and taking the field as a catcher/infielder for the Big Red. He recorded a respectable .290 batting average as a freshman despite getting a late start due to a lingering leg injury suffered during the football campaign.

Ford acknowledges that juggling classes, coursework, team practices, training, and games is a challenge. “Time management is key. I use any free time to stay ahead with my school work, and I’ve learned not to procrastinate,” he says. It’s all part of staying on track to graduate with a degree that leads to a career in industrial engineering.

With a mother, father and sister who all graduated from Notre Dame, it’s a wonder Ford isn’t suiting up for the Fighting Irish. “I looked at Notre Dame, but they saw me as a walk-on candidate and would not guarantee a spot on their teams,” he says. “And unlike Cornell, they would not let me play both football and baseball.”

When asked to pick which sport he favors, Ford equivocates, saying both football and baseball provide opportunities to use his athletic abilities and establish strong relationships on close-knit teams.

By all accounts, Ford has handled this double duty with aplomb. Baseball coach Tom Ford (no relation) notes that two-sport athletes are more common at Ivy League schools than institutions that grant athletic scholarships with players focusing on a single team.

Still, coach Ford says, “It’s very demanding to play two sports, especially football and baseball. Nathan has worked hard to improve his game; he has a quick bat, with some power, and a strong arm. He’s a good teammate and is the type of person we want to represent our program.”

Knowles echoes that sentiment, describing his quarterback as a player who makes smart decisions under pressure and is a model Cornell athlete. “He takes his academics seriously, and pursues sports with a passion,” the coach says.

Ford, in turn, credits his mentors and teammates for his success on the field. “Starting at quarterback as a sophomore is an honor,” he says. “The football coaches have done a great job in preparing me to lead the offense, and I have a lot of good athletes around me.”

— Jay Wrolstad