By Anthony Shingler | Assistant Sports Editor
While the APSU Govs football team battled Youngstown, Ohio, freshman Mike Williams was fighting a different battle against the NCAA, for reinstatement of his eligibility to play college football.
“I really enjoy the game, and I am not looking to go to the NFL,“ Mike Williams said.
“I just love to compete and it is what I want to do.”
Williams, a 36-year-old father of four, started his education at Cameron University in August of 1995. While he was enrolled, Cameron University did not field a football program.
As a result of personal choices at the time to leave school, he went into the military, went through a divorce and he lost custody of his son.
“At the time I had a lot of trouble my senior year of high school, so I went into the military after high school,” Williams said.
“I went to Cameron, and I was planning on going back into the military as an officer, but that never panned out.”
When asked why he wants to play football now he said, “I just miss it. I enjoy the game, I am in good shape, fit and looking for the opportunity to play,” Williams said.
“I have played ever since the second grade until my senior year of high school and I just miss it.”
As an employee of the Foy Fitness and Recreation Center, he works out daily to stay in shape physically so if he is granted eligibility he can step in and compete for playing time.
When asked what position he intends to go out for if given eligibility, Williams said, “I played tight end and middle linebacker in high school, so I will play whatever [the coaches] need me to [play].”
As Williams works toward his degree in special education, his intentions are to coach football and become a special education teacher in Tennessee.
Williams has the GPA is required by NCAA rules, and his grades during his period at Cameron University are covered by APSU CARE (Credentials Analysis and Re-Evaluation) policy.
Williams is working on his eligibility appeal by himself; he plans to send it to the NCAA by the end of the week if it is complete. If the request does not succeed, he said, “I will appeal it if it is turned down.”
– Anthony Shingler, Assistant Sports Editor
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