Wright finally getting his chance to lead Hurricanes

Posted 5:45PM on Saturday 3rd September 2005 ( 19 years ago )

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) Kyle Wright's time has finally come. Over his first 2.5 years on Miami's campus, Wright's role was one of quarterback-in-waiting, the guy who the Hurricanes would someday entrust with running their offense. That chance arrives on Monday night, when No. 9 Miami opens the season at No. 14 Florida State. Wright's making his first start for the Hurricanes, who enter the year with their customary ultra-high expectations and dreams of national-title splendor. ``Everybody has their own story,'' Wright said. ``And I'm just hoping to create one for myself. ... With the type of guys that I have around me right now, if I go out and minimize the mistakes and get the ball to our playmakers, we're going to be just fine.'' The 6-foot-5, 208-pound Wright was considered the nation's top prep quarterback when he came to Miami, fresh off throwing for 5,925 yards and 66 touchdowns in his last two seasons. Since then, he's waited for the shot at being the next great one from 'Quarterback U.' ``He's done everything he can to be ready,'' Miami left tackle Eric Winston said. ``He'll be just fine. Going against our defense is probably the best preparation you can have for going against a team like Florida State, because the athletes are very comparable and the schemes are just as complicated and fast.'' Of the 11 first-time Miami starters since Steve Walsh made his bow in 1987, 10 have won their debuts. The lone exception, though, came at Florida State; the Seminoles beat Miami and Ryan Clement 41-17 on Oct. 7, 1995. Yet the Hurricanes have won six straight overall in the series with Florida State, and those around the program believe Wright who completed five of nine passes as an injury-plagued reserve in 2004 is more than prepared to continue that legacy. ``Anybody can handle throwing a touchdown pass, or engineering a drive for a touchdown,'' said Art Kehoe, Miami's assistant head coach. ``But what happens when you throw your first pick, or ... things go wrong? How's a guy going to handle that? I just feel good about him he's a real cool, composed guy.'' Although he's never played in Tallahassee's Doak Campbell Stadium, Wright is somewhat familiar with what scene awaits him on Monday night. He traveled with the Hurricanes there in 2003, when Miami survived a rainy, sloppy day and prevailed 22-14. Wright didn't find the 84,336 decidedly anti-Miami members of the Seminole faithful intimidating. He found the scene exciting, and cannot wait to experience it from a vantage point other than the sideline. ``I can't really envision much more of a hostile environment,'' Wright said. ``It's on national TV. Monday night football. Everybody's going to watch it. But you've got to put that aside. Bottom line is, it's still a game. It's still going to be 11 guys on offense, 11 guys on defense.'' Wright was particularly enamored with the tradition he saw that day, the same sort of thing he'll see Monday night. He was mesmerized by the fans' tomahawk chop and seeing Chief Osceola gallop downfield on an Appaloosa horse and put a flaming spear at midfield a pregame ritual. ``Growing up as a kid, I hate to say it but I loved FSU,'' Wright said. ``Even the guys on our team, they love the chop, love the whole thing. We do it in the shower. It's something that gets you hyped up. When you see that Indian, what ever his name is, throw the spear into the ground, it's something that's electrifying, not intimidating.'' Miami's last two full-time starters, Ken Dorsey and Brock Berlin, each won their debuts against Florida State. Dorsey threw for 328 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-24 win in 2000; Berlin had one touchdown and three interceptions in the rainy 2003 game, yet still won by eight points. Each say they'll never forget their first time starring in one of college football's top rivalries. ``It's easily one of the most exciting games I've ever played in,'' said Dorsey, now with the San Francisco 49ers. Wright acknowledges that the butterflies are beginning to set in, with the game imminent. As a high schooler, he started before a crowd of about 25,000 people for a playoff game, and he's never played in any setting quite like what awaits him now. But he truly believes that he's up to the challenge. ``I think about it at all times of the day,'' Wright said. ``It's definitely sunk in. I'm accepting the challenge, I can't wait to get there and I think we're going to be ready.'' (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/9/127089