UC senior feeling at home
By Rich Stevens
Charleston Daily Mail
University of Charleston defensive back Mike Williams is far from his native town in Florida.
And the edges of the Kanawha River are nothing like the Gulf Coast.
Still, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound defensive back is feeling right at home in the Golden Eagle secondary and only 850 miles from his birthplace.
University of Charleston is 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the West Virginia Conference, its best start since reinstating the program in 2003 following a 45-year hiatus.
Williams is a big reason for the resurgence in his second year at the former Morris Harvey College.
"It's a lot different from home, but it's all right," said Williams, the 25-year-old senior who seven years ago was a two-way player at Brandon High School, in Brandon, Fla. - a suburb of Tampa. "It's a little bit slower here than at home. There's a lot to do at home."
He's finding plenty of activity on the football field, hoping it continues when the Golden Eagles play host to Concord (0-4, 0-2) in their Homecoming game at 2 p.m. Saturday at University of Charleston Stadium.
Last Saturday against Kanawha County rival West Virginia State, Williams had three of UC's five interceptions returning two for touchdowns in the Eagles' 49-32 victory at Lakin Field. In two career games against the Yellow Jackets, Williams has four interceptions for 152 return yards and three touchdowns.
Last year, Williams had a 41-yard interception return against the Yellow Jackets.
His performance, which also included two tackles, earned Williams D2football.com's national Defensive Player of the Week honor and College Sports Report Division II Performer of the Week.
"All week we concentrated on formations," Williams said. "When we see a certain formation, the coaches reminded us what to run."
He's scored as much as some offensive players in the WVC, which is something Williams wouldn't mind trying since he played both ways in high school.
Since then, the dread-locked star has been around, playing junior college football before attempting a transfer to Tennessee Tech. When his paperwork "got messed up" he sat out one season and came to Charleston, where he's making a name for himself at corner back.
Even after two years of being in the WVC and facing West Virginia State, Williams has yet to grasp the rivalry with the Yellow Jackets.
"I didn't understand it, but the coaches and guys have been telling me about it all week," Williams said.
Somehow he got it right.
Charleston Daily Mail
University of Charleston defensive back Mike Williams is far from his native town in Florida.
And the edges of the Kanawha River are nothing like the Gulf Coast.
Still, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound defensive back is feeling right at home in the Golden Eagle secondary and only 850 miles from his birthplace.
University of Charleston is 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the West Virginia Conference, its best start since reinstating the program in 2003 following a 45-year hiatus.
Williams is a big reason for the resurgence in his second year at the former Morris Harvey College.
"It's a lot different from home, but it's all right," said Williams, the 25-year-old senior who seven years ago was a two-way player at Brandon High School, in Brandon, Fla. - a suburb of Tampa. "It's a little bit slower here than at home. There's a lot to do at home."
He's finding plenty of activity on the football field, hoping it continues when the Golden Eagles play host to Concord (0-4, 0-2) in their Homecoming game at 2 p.m. Saturday at University of Charleston Stadium.
Last Saturday against Kanawha County rival West Virginia State, Williams had three of UC's five interceptions returning two for touchdowns in the Eagles' 49-32 victory at Lakin Field. In two career games against the Yellow Jackets, Williams has four interceptions for 152 return yards and three touchdowns.
Last year, Williams had a 41-yard interception return against the Yellow Jackets.
His performance, which also included two tackles, earned Williams D2football.com's national Defensive Player of the Week honor and College Sports Report Division II Performer of the Week.
"All week we concentrated on formations," Williams said. "When we see a certain formation, the coaches reminded us what to run."
He's scored as much as some offensive players in the WVC, which is something Williams wouldn't mind trying since he played both ways in high school.
Since then, the dread-locked star has been around, playing junior college football before attempting a transfer to Tennessee Tech. When his paperwork "got messed up" he sat out one season and came to Charleston, where he's making a name for himself at corner back.
Even after two years of being in the WVC and facing West Virginia State, Williams has yet to grasp the rivalry with the Yellow Jackets.
"I didn't understand it, but the coaches and guys have been telling me about it all week," Williams said.
Somehow he got it right.