Miami's Wright Grows in One Year

The question comes often for Kyle Wright, not that he minds. Wright perks up whenever anyone wants to know: How much different does he feel from this time last year?

"I keep getting more excited every time somebody asks me that," Wright said.

A year ago, Wright was readying to be dropped into his role as Miami's starting quarterback, one of college football's most distinguished and pressure-packed positions, with a season-opening game against Florida State looming. In that debut, he led the Hurricanes to only seven points in an uneven performance. That game -- a 10-7 loss -- set the stage for an admittedly up-and-down season that was salvaged by a ferocious defense.

In Wright's second season, Miami's NASCAR-quick defense will still hold down opponents. But the onus of whether or not Miami -- fresh off one of the worst losses in the program's history and an overhauling of its coaching staff -- will reclaim a spot on top of the college football universe and take the heat off Coach Larry Coker falls mainly on Wright.

And, with a year under his belt, he can't wait.

"I don't feel like a rookie anymore," said Wright, a junior. "It's starting to feel like second nature. Back in high school, it was so easy. It was nothing. I'm kind of beginning to get that confidence where I know it's my offense. It's my team. I'm just ready to go, really. That helps when you know you're the man on offense."

Wright learned last season the spotlight that comes with playing quarterback for Miami. His debut came on national television, in prime time and in one of the nation's marquee rivalries. He was playing a position once manned by some of the sport's best, from Jim Kelly to Gino Torretta to Ken Dorsey. Star tight end Greg Olsen dubbed Miami, "Quarterback U."

While he struggled early -- he threw a pair of interceptions in the Florida State game -- Wright knew what he was in for.

"I don't think I ever fought it," Wright said of the pressure. "Playing quarterback for the University of Miami, you're going to have it, whether you like it or not. The type of guys that have been at UM before me, they've put the spotlight on me. They've set the bar really high. I definitely don't deny it. It's something that comes with the territory, and I just play."

Wright grew into the role. He finished the season with 10 interceptions against 18 touchdown passes. He threw for 200 yards a game, leading Miami to nine victories and a trip to the Peach Bowl.

Once there, though, the wheels came off.

LSU stomped Miami, 40-3, in one of the most damaging losses in school history. In response, Coker reassigned or fired every offensive assistant, including his longtime right-hand-man and offensive line guru Art Kehoe. The game still wears on the minds of Miami's players.