2023-09-28 11:02:03
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Orono, Maine — Rameek Wright is a study in perseverance and maturity.
He had hoped to be entertaining scholarship offers from higher-profile football schools coming out of high school in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. But those opportunities did not materialize.
Wright carried high expectations when he enrolled at the University of Maine in 1993, but admits he wasn’t ready to commit himself to his education. As a result, his football scholarship was revoked and he left school.
“It was a long road for me,” Wright said. “I had to mature in a lot of ways and I had to put my pride aside.”
Eventually, Wright made things right. He attended Hudson Bay Community College, regained his academic eligibility and returned to Orono in 1995 determined to prove himself.
“I definitely thank coach Cosgrove and [assistant coach] Scott Walker for giving me another chance,” Wright said.
By the time he graduated from UMaine in 1998 with a degree in history, the 5-foot-9 wide receiver had become an All-American, set several Black Bear records and established himself as one of the program’s most prolific offensive players.
“I get goosebumps just thinking regarding him and some of the trials and tribulations that we had early, and then a lot of the smiles and the high fives that we had later on,” said former Black Bears head coach Jack Cosgrove.
Wright developed into a game-changing wideouts and garnered Atlantic 10 all-conference, second-team honors in his junior and senior seasons. He was an Associated Press All-American in 1996.
He still owns program records for receptions (88) and receiving yards (1,169) in a single season, both in 1997, and also ranks No. 2 in both categories.
Wright, who posted a 17-reception game, is second all-time at UMaine with 2,384 receiving yards and is third with 175 catches. He also returned a punt for a touchdown to share a program record and is the only UMaine player to post back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
The rewards on the field did not materialize until he had re-committed himself to the entire process of being a Division I student-athlete.
“I said to myself, this is the only opportunity you have, you have to make the most of it,” he said. “I’m so grateful that it happened that way, because I learned a lot from those trials and tribulations.”
Wright’s production was the result of his speed, elusiveness, sure hands and the tremendous chemistry he developed with quarterback Mickey Fein.
“The combination of him and Mickey Fein was really something special,” Cosgrove said.
“You might hit him on a hitch and he’d break a couple of tackles and he was a deep threat,” Cosgrove said.
It was Cosgrove and UMaine who hired him for his first full-time job.
“Things were meant to be. Coach Cosgrove was looking for a young person to help mentor football student-athletes,” Wright said.
The importance of academics and the building blocks of success outside the team framework has been the focus of Wright’s professional life, during which he has been known by his first name, Anthony. Everyone at UMaine knows him as Rameek, which is his middle name.
He went on to work in student support roles at Arizona and Iowa State before an eight-year stint at Louisville, including six years as the director of academic services for the men’s basketball team.
Wright is in his sixth season as the director of player personnel for the North Carolina State men’s basketball team.
“I mentor the men’s basketball players outside of basketball. My involvement is with academics, community service, life skills, housing and financial aid,” he said.
The same dynamics that had been such a struggle for Wright as a student-athlete are now his professional focus.
“It makes me smile that his major function is as their academic advisor,” Cosgrove said.
While his football playing career is a distant memory, Wright cherishes his time in Orono, difficult though it was at times. His Hall of Fame selection reminded him regarding the importance of his teammates.
“I started to reflect and talk to them and just think regarding how many great players I played with, what great guys those guys were and the times we had there,” Wright said.
He has a special fondness for Fein and fellow wide receivers John Tennett and Drew O’Connor, who all blossomed together in the passing game, along with teammates Ves Lugo and Derek Carter.
“Once he got it, he took off as an athlete and was one of the greatest big-play guys I’ve ever been around at Maine. He was just electrifying,” Cosgrove said.
Wright retains a tremendous amount of respect and gratitude for the coaches, teammates, staff members and professors who helped him earn a college degree while having a fun and successful football career.
“I enjoyed being at the university. I had a wonderful time,” he said.
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The 2023 UMaine Sports Hall of Fame class will be officially inducted at a banquet held at Jeff’s Catering on Friday, Sept. 29. For more details on this year’s class, please click here.
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