MORGANTOWN, W. Va. -- West Virginia coach Bill Stewart stepped back from the podium at a recent news conference, allowing everyone to get a clear look at his chest.

He extended his index finger, bringing the point to his torso as if to draw on it in an imaginary fashion as he spoke of fifth-year senior quarterback Jarrett Brown, saying:

"He has No. 16, remember, a '1' and '6' on his chest, that isn't a big 'S' with a triangle on his shirt ... So let's let him come along as he comes along."

Two things:

• We get the illustration, coach. Brown is not Superman.

• If you are the West Virginia offense, the time for Brown to "come along" is right now. There's not much to be had in the way of patience.

After all, Brown has been standing there, on the sideline as a backup for three seasons, thinking about all that will go into the time when the Mountaineers will finally be his team -- and that time has come.

This season is truly a one-shot-deal for Brown, a West Palm Beach, Fla., native who will head into the home game tomorrow against Liberty as the starter at the beginning of a season for the first time since he arrived in Morgantown in 2005.

The reason is simple -- he had Pat White in front of him.

Brown, who at 6 feet 4, 221 pounds is more apt to throw and is more of a traditional passer than the speedy White was. He has started two games in the past, beating Rutgers in 2006 and Syracuse last season.

But, those were spot starts, game-time decisions, and it was clear they were fill-in roles. Now, he has been elevated to the unquestioned lead.

So, is there a chance, when he runs out there tomorrow with more than 60,000 people in the stands at Mountaineer Field that Brown could be too energized

It is part of Stewart's job to harness such energy.

"There is a rush that goes through you that is unknown to man, unless you have been in the arena," Stewart said of what Brown will experience tomorrow in the moments leading up to the noon kickoff. "It is absolutely breathtaking to come out of the tunnel in any stadium, on any field, on any level.

"I think I know what [Brown] is going to do since he has been in the arena before."

But there are no certainties, and Brown admitted to as much.

He has fared well in his past performances, winning those two games he started and appearing in 25 games in his career largely in a mop-up role, throwing for more than 800 yards and five touchdowns and rushing for almost 700 and seven more touchdowns.

As much as this game will be different, as much as being the starter carries a heavier weight than a backup, Brown is trying to make a point to not let the situation envelop him.

"I try not to get too excited," Brown said. "I have to live in the moment right now. I'm just getting ready and trying to execute the game plan. I don't think everything is going to hit me until [tomorrow]."

At which time, it could all hit him hard, or Brown could deal with the situation masterfully, making the situation, well, no situation at all.

"I am going to just have to wait until I get out there," he said. "And then I'll see what happens."

It seems everyone -- from the coaching staff, to his teammates, to the fans -- are eagerly waiting to see what happens, too.