2.3L ('83-'97) '97 crank, no start, has fuel, but no spark

[Broke College Student]

It is possible that the fuel pump isn't working well, but I do have pressure at the rail. The main concern for me right now is spark

If I am understanding you correctly, with a wired in fuel pump and it ran itself dry, I wonder if you did not burn up the fuel pump. Pump still in the tank, I am guessing? If so, gas is actually a cooling agent for the pump, and it ran all night. I learned the hard way not to run in tank pumps all the way to empty because of burning up pumps.