In tough week for Miami, Freeman set to make first start

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Kirby Freeman has gone through the emotional wringer this week, bouncing between exhilaration and devastation.<br> <br> Under ordinary circumstances, this would be the most exciting week of Freeman&#39;s career at Miami. He will be the Hurricanes&#39; starting quarterback for the first time when they visit No. 23 Maryland on Saturday in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup.<br> <br> But that has been overshadowed, of course, by the news that came Tuesday night, when Miami defensive lineman Bryan Pata was shot and killed at his apartment complex.<br> <br> So Freeman is finding himself in an unimaginably tough situation. Not only is he taking over as the leader of an offense that&#39;s struggled throughout the season&#39;s first nine games, but he&#39;s doing so while the Hurricanes (5-4, 2-3) are still dealing with grief and frustration over the slaying of a team leader.<br> <br> ``We&#39;re an emotional football team. We have been all season,&#39;&#39; Freeman said. ``You&#39;ve all seen some occurrences of it, some good, some bad, but we&#39;re going to do the right thing ultimately. We&#39;re going to come out and we&#39;re going to play with our hearts more than we ever have.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Freeman is getting the start because Kyle Wright has a slight fracture on the inside of his right thumb. Wright had started Miami&#39;s last 22 games. He should be available to play some if needed Saturday, Miami coach Larry Coker said.<br> <br> Freeman has appeared in 13 games, mostly in mop-up duty, and has completed 25 of 49 passes for 310 yards, with four touchdowns and four interceptions in his two seasons with the Hurricanes. He&#39;s been called upon to make nine passes or more only three times, all in blowout Miami victories.<br> <br> ``He&#39;s a really intense competitor. He just needs to settle down and just play,&#39;&#39; Coker said. ``I don&#39;t want this to be (like) the world is on Kirby&#39;s shoulders. Just manage the game and do the things you&#39;re coached to do.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Freeman considered transferring this past offseason to seek more playing time elsewhere, so he is taking the opportunity created by Wright&#39;s injury as an audition of sorts.<br> <br> ``I&#39;m going to do the best that Kirby Freeman can do with the offense and they&#39;re going to make the decision whether I should continue to start or if we need to bring somebody else back or what-not,&#39;&#39; Freeman said. ``That&#39;s not my decision. ... If we&#39;re scoring points and we&#39;re moving the ball, then I feel like of course we&#39;ll be moving in the right direction. If we struggle, that&#39;s another story. But I&#39;m really confident.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Freeman&#39;s parents and brother will fly from their Texas home to Maryland for the game, in which the Hurricanes will wear decals with Pata&#39;s No. 95 on the back of their helmets.<br> <br> A win wouldn&#39;t make the team&#39;s pain go away, but would bring some measure of much-needed relief and Freeman is vowing to do all he can to make it happen.<br> <br> ``We think Pata would want us to go play this weekend,&#39;&#39; Freeman said. ``We&#39;re playing for Pata.&#39;&#39;