Maybe now they'll get his name Wright

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

When linebacker Matt Wright scored on a 90-yard interception return in the University of Hawai'i football team's 66-7 victory over Texas-El Paso Saturday night, a lingering mystery was solved.

UH linebacker Matt Wright, a former Iolani School standout, shares a special moment with younger brother Charlie following Saturday night's 66-7 victory over Texas-El Paso. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

When Wright's name was announced on the Aloha Stadium speakers, linebacker Chris Brown said, "A lot of guys found out his first name is 'Matt.' Half of the freshmen didn't know his first name. They call him 'Spaz.' "

Brown said Wright, a redshirt junior from Iolani School, received the nickname because of his unique style of dancing.

"He thinks it's cool, but we think it's weird," Brown said. "He's always dancing. If we go from the huddle to the play, he skips, like he's dancing. We say he's 'spazzing out.' When we go to clubs, sometimes he'll dance by himself. When we're ready to go, he says, 'I'll see you guys at home,' and he'll keep dancing by himself."

Wright's SUV has the vanity plate, "Spaz."

Wright said he used to envision scoring a defensive touchdown. In the dream, "I would start dancing," he said.

But after his touchdown return, Wright handed the ball to the referee and jogged to the sideline. "I didn't want to get flagged," he said. "Besides, I can't believe I scored a touchdown. It was surreal."

Wright, who is admittedly superstitious, said he will not watch a television replay of Saturday's game. Among his other quirks are showering three or four times each day, eating a pregame meal of a Brussels sprouts-and-tomato sandwich and three packets of honey, and hitting his head to "clean out the negative thoughts."

But perhaps his most useful ritual was his workout schedule this summer. He worked on improving his speed and strength. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Wright can run 40 yards in 4.7 seconds and bench press 345 pounds five times.

"When camp came, I wanted to get noticed," said Wright, who had become a fixture on special teams.

Wright, a lifelong UH fan, had been patient since signing with the Warriors in 1998. He chose UH because he wanted to help raise his brother, Charlie, now a seventh grader at St. Louis School, while his father worked two jobs.

But Wright, who was used at running back, had difficulty ascending the depth chart. He even considered transferring.

"I told him, 'Keep working and you'll get your chance,' " Kenneth Wright said. "There were a lot of good players in front of him. He couldn't walk out there and start. One of the players in front of him was Jeff (Ulbrich, now with the San Franciso 49ers), and look where Jeff is now."

In preseason training camp, Wright received extensive work at outside linebacker. With injuries to Joe Correia and Keani Alapa, Wright played in the fourth quarter against Nevada. Two weeks later against Southern Methodist, Wright earned his first career start.

Against UTEP Saturday night, the Warriors blew a defensive coverage. When strong safety Jacob Espiau blitzed, nobody rotated to cover tight end Joey Knapp. But the play was saved when Wright intercepted Wesley Phillips' pass.

After the touchdown, Wright gazed across the orange section. "I saw my dad, and I could see how proud he was," Wright said. "I remembered how he told me, 'If you work hard, something good will happen to you.' It was such an awesome feeling."

Said Kenneth Wright: "He's been around for a while. He's a dinosaur, really. But he paid his dues and kept plugging away. It was great to see him being rewarded."

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