Published: August 25, 2008 11:52 pm         

Williams will start vs. ’Nova

MORGANTOWN — Coach Bill Stewart said Monday that veteran middle linebacker Red Williams has proved in practice that he’s ready to play football again and will start in West Virginia’s season-opener here Saturday against Villanova.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior from Moorefield has recovered completely from operations on both of his shoulders last Feburary.

Speaking on the Big East’s first weekly media teleconference of the year, Stewart said that Williams was impressive in last week’s hard-hitting practices. So much so, that he impressed the trainers and doctors as well as coaches and teammates.

“He’s very much able to play,” the Mountaineers’ new head coach said. “The way I saw him hitting last week in practice, I think he’s wanting to play real, real bad. So he’s doing very good.

“Everybody is pleased that Reed rapidly and quickly has come back. He’s right on schedule.”

Williams has said all along that he really wants to complete his eligibility in 2008. He was the team’s leading tackler last season with a career-high 107. He also had five and a half tackles for lost yardage, forced three fumbles and recovered one.

He was named the most outstanding defensive player in West Virginia’s 48-28 upset of No. 3-ranked Oklahoma last Jan. 2 in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

As for Saturday’s game, Stewart said, “Our guys seem to be in good spirits getting ready for Villanova. Like all coaches, going into the first game, the old saying is ‘We respect all and fear none.’ And we certainly respect the Villanova Wildcats and coach Andy Talley.”

He recalled that the Division I-AA football school defeated a Big East team (Rutgers) in 2002 and last year had Maryland down 14-10 at halftime.

“Andy has one of his best teams coming back, with several starters and 33 lettermen,” Stewart noted. “Quarterback Antwon Young is back and he’s a good player. Their whole offensive line is back, too.

“On defense, like us, they return a lot of players and also their punter and kicker. So they are a very solid football team and are supposed to make a run for the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Talley is in his 24th year at Villanova. He’s a friend of mine who coached at William & Mary years ago when I was at VMI.”

Stewart concluded by saying, “It’s going to be a tough game. I just hope we come out and play well.”

While admittedly excited making his official debut as the head coach, he vows to be very, very loose “but mean.” He continued, “I’m the same guy as a head coach as I was as an assistant. I just switched offices.

“But I’ll be loose. I’ve got to be able to think. I’ve got to be able to keep cool, calm and I’m not going to get all hyped up. Hopefully, I’ll not stumble and embarrass myself.”