European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 01, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Johnnie Wright football Star in t satisfied with his memories by Bucky Fox staff writer an t anything go right Lor Johnnie Wright i to dished lot the  yardage in the University of South Carolina s history yet Lew remember him because he played in the same talc yield As Heisman trophy Winner go True Rogers alter College Wright thought he would make a line running Back in the National football league but he ran into the Baltimore Colts crowded Backfield of Curtis Dickey and Randy Mcmillan 1 Hen  1989 and West Grimany Wright a specialist in the Aimy. Pined the Ramstein rams to play his first football in live years he Tod Safe s Continental sprays con Clrence in Rushing alter three weeks but then ruined ins Kern and Nic season anytime i seem to got a Brook this happens he laments it probably was t a Neon Lobo " Trio Tacl news that he has arthritis in his knee came on his 31sl birthday. Sept 13 to heat this 6 loot-1,225 Pounder speak is to follow dark Crovi Coo inside a big Man s mind the biggest thing about coming Back this year was knowing that it would bring Back a lot of bad  he says i had a Good time playing football in High school and College and i also know that politically i got destroyed it s Good to play Lor coaches at Marnstein who Are honest. But Afler what i went through in College and the pros when any Little thing goes wrong i have a Flashback. I would t even want to be out  Wright wants to be out there now. Ii pains him to stand on the sideline As his rams Roll toward the playoffs. They re & t and counting he remembered his last run of 1989 and maybe of his me on sept. 2 a two Yard burst Oil left tackle in the second Quarter of Ramstein s 34 9 Triumph at Wiesbaden. Despite his limited duty Wright led All rushers with 40 Yards. His 310 Yards were still Lilly Best in the Csc in the fourth s Rushing standings. What did you expect from an sex nil player Wright so dominated this air Force league that he Sal out tie opener with a hamstring pull and led the Csc in Rushing with 270 Yards through week 3. It s a privilege to Block for someone like that said Ramstein tackle Willie Mccray who can appreciate runners since he rushed Lor 200 Yards in the 1985 Csc title game. He s a hard runner. And for a former pro he s a Down to Earth Guy the Best in Europe phooey said Hahn s All Star linebacker Bruce Davis. Alter Wright ran Over the Hawks Lor 153 Yards in a 13 0 Victory on aug. 26, Davis made two Points 1 he played football at Morgan state in Baltimore in 1982. The year Wright played Lor the Colts and never heard Wright s name and 2 Ramstein relied on its line not Wright he was  said Davis who has since left the team and the air Force when there was t a  busted him up hey Ramstein has monsters on the line Milch guarded Mitchell and tank Mccray. He followed his blockers most of the game and they re the Best in the Csc Davis has a Point. Tony Phillips won the Rushing title behind that line in 1988. And since Wright went Down Phillips has rushed to the lore and taken the 1989 Csc Rushing Lead countered Pam Stein s offensive coordinator Bill Schultz we have a Nice line but Wright s a horse. Page 16 the stars and stripes running Back Johnnie Wright Welches his Ramstein rams from the sidelines Early this season. Sis kongoolol2l give him his due. Ii you look at the runners in the Csc he s one of the Best with Ramstein s Tony Phillips and Hahn s Ryan  Wright s response i think it s a Good thing Davis gives credit to the line. You can t really judge running backs. You can judge offensive linemen because a running Back is no Good without  he s certainly no Good without healthy Knees. Wright s damaged right knee ruined his second year at South Carolina now his wrecked left knee has probably finished his Csc career. Bad Breaks said Wright. I thought i was the same Caliper As George Rogers Herschel Walker those Guys until my injury at South Carolina. And if i had t been Cut like i was my pro career should be winding Down now. I have bad feelings i think i should be gotten More  Wright knew Long ago he had a Knack Lor running a joined pop Warner football in 1970. While in High school he ran the 100-Yard dash in 98 seconds. He also ran the football so impressively that he was named player of the year in fort Myers Fla by the time he graduated from Cypress lakes High school in 1977, he had been recruited by the big Florida colleges and Navy and by South Carolina. I made my decision Loo Quick. Otherwise i m proud to be a Gamecock says Wright. But maybe i should be gone to Navy. The Navy would be taught me about life after sports. But that s mostly Rny Lault. I did t  Wright admits he never hit the books the Way he nit linebackers. He earned an associate s degree in commercial education but is Short a Lew classes sunday october 1,1989 toward a Bachelor s degree. I was at a great University Wright says of his school in Columbia . I had proper tutors. But All i saw at the time was being a pro running Back. The big dollars. Ii was my dream As a kid professional football. It s All i saw. I was told the value of education but it s hard to Tell an 18-year-old." Wright says his Gamecock coach Jim Carlen urged him to study harder but i did t really get along with  on the football Field Wright rushed for 371 Yards in his freshman season of 1977 As Carolina went 5-7. He shifted into High gear As a Sophomore gaining 903 Yards in a 5-5-1 Campaign. By that 1978 season Wright had switched from tailback to fullback Carolina had another Star Back named George Rogers and he needed the blocking of Wright. Rogers rushed Lor 1,006 Yards and the two gamecocks headed into the 1979 season As preseason All America candidates. I was friends with George but it was competitive recalls Wright. The problem was i thought the coaches were pushing George for All America More than me. I asked one of the coaches about it and to said George had a belter Chance at All America than i did. I did t really believe  How could Wright believe that in that 1978 season he romped for 156 Yards against Georgia. Then came 1979. A week before the opener. Rainy practice. Wright took the Ball and Cut. His knee could t take it. Torn ligaments. End of season. That was the turning Point in my career he says. Without Wright South Carolina went 8 3 and earned