BOCA RATON, Fla. ― Brian Wright was unexpectedly thrust into coaching in 1994, when a leg injury ended his playing career.
He made the best of that situation.
He’s determined to make the best of another unplanned move now.
One day after Carl Pelini sent Florida Atlantic’s program into a tailspin by acknowledging to school officials that he used an illegal drug and tendering his resignation, Wright ran the reeling Owls through practice for the first time since agreeing to be the interim head coach.
“I’ve been prepared for a long time for this opportunity,” Wright said Thursday at a post-practice news conference, with his family looking on. “Didn’t quite think it would be under these circumstances.”
Wright spoke for about 20 minutes, the emotions and strain of the situation very clear to see. His voice cracked a couple of times, he vowed to do right by the Owls’ senior class, and he adamantly insisted that he had no knowledge of Pelini, or now-former defensive coordinator Pete Rekstis, who also resigned as part of the scandal, doing any drugs.
Maybe most telling, he began his remarks by saying “our thoughts and our prayers” are with his former colleagues and their families.
