You knew him in high school. He was the guy who had good grades, a big smile and played every sport under the sun and played them all with confidence. After high school, he headed off for a terrific college and you knew he was bound for more academic and athletic success. You'd hate him, if he weren't so darned personable.
D. Bryant was just that guy in high school, but that's not to say Duke's senior quarterback has hit some bumps along the way. What he considers important, and what has gained him the most success, is how he dusted himself off and came back to lead his team in one of the nation's biggest football conferences.
Bryant (whose first name is simply the initial "D") took over as the signal caller for the Blue Devils early last season, and although his team has struggled through a 15-game losing streak, Bryant has managed to make his mark on the program.
He holds the school record for most consecutive completions after he had 16 straight against N.C. State last year in a game that Bryant still considers the best of his collegiate career.
"We thought we could pull that one out," Bryant said of Duke's 35-31 loss to the Wolfpack.
Duke's athletic program benefited from Bryant as an athlete not only as a football player, but also as a basketball player. In his freshman year, he walked on to the 1998-1999 team that appeared in the national championship game. It seemed like the perfect college start for a Detroit native who was named all-city in football, baseball and track, but Bryant still had to learn some lessons the hard way.
"In high school you can play four different sports, and I thought I could do the same thing here," Bryant said. "It was kind of a whirlwind turnaround, coming to college and playing two big-time college sports, I just got caught up in the hoopla."
Unfortunately, Bryant was so caught up that he left his academics behind. He did not obtain academic eligibility to play any varsity athletics in 1999.
When he regained eligibility in the spring of 2000, Bryant was a year older, a year wiser, and decided to stick with a single sport: football.
"I love football," Bryant said yesterday with enthusiasm. "Taking a year off just made me appreciate it a little bit more."
Since dropping basketball, Bryant has concentrated on his football game, and people are starting to take notice. He was named Duke's most improved offensive player this spring for his hard work, earning his teammates' trust and improving himself in spring practice.
"I had an advantage," he said. "I was around all summer and I knew I was going to be the starter so I had to work hard to get that camaraderie. I think I put forth a great effort and I was rewarded."
Bryant has thrown 527 yards and three touchdown passes in three games against Florida State, Rice and Northwestern this year. He also has added 48 yards rushing, but the Blue Devils have yet to chalk up a win under Bryant's watch.
The losing streak "will be broken in due time," Bryant said. "We still haven't gotten over that hump yet, but we're still striving. Our coaches stress that if we can get out and play a full 60 minutes, we'll have it."
Duke coach Carl Franks admits that his team has been struggling with the losses on and off the field.
"Losing's tough," Franks said in a teleconference yesterday. "It doesn't matter when it happens to you or how often or how rarely."
But no one in the Blue Devils' camp seems to be losing hope - least of all Bryant - even as they head into this weekend's game against Virginia.
"We're very confident," Bryant said. "We beat Virginia two years ago. It was Coach Franks' first win, so we hope to be able to repeat that and break the streak."
If anyone knows about bouncing back after rough times and coming back hard with all intentions to be a winner, it's Bryant, and he intends to prove the critics wrong. Peter Mina recently started a skateboarding club at the University to provide an outlet for their passion.
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