MORGANTOWN - It was somewhat surprising to the media members surrounding WVU's Tony Matteo on Tuesday.
Really, though, upon reflection, it shouldn't have been.
Why in the world wouldn't Matteo be, well, guarded?
Hey, Tony, how would you compare or contrast your game to that of suspended left guard Adam Pankey?
"I won't talk about that," Matteo said. "Next question."
All right, then. So for WVU football fans that haven't seen you play, what skills do you bring to the team?
"Ah, I don't know," he said. "Next question."
OK, so Matteo, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound redshirt senior, might be a little afraid to tip the Mountaineers' hand with Missouri coming to town. Maybe he's simply not a candidate for the school's debate team.
Whatever the case, there's no debate left guard will be an area of focus with Pankey serving a one-game suspension and a brutal Tiger defensive front looming.
Here's a little secret though:
No one within the Mountaineer football circle seems worried.
"I couldn't feel better about [Pankey's] replacement," said WVU coach Dana Holgorsen. "The truth of the matter is before Tony got hurt week one [of preseason camp], he was arguably our best guard."
Matteo was then slowed a bit because of an ankle tweak. But, again, no one seems concerned as the opener fast approaches.
"Really the only difference [between Pankey and Matteo] is a few games of experience," said Mountaineer offensive line coach Ron Crook. "Tony is one of our best workers in the weight room. He's one of our stronger guys. Football is extremely important to him. I'm really excited about the preseason he's had, the spring he's had and the winter he's had.
"He's ready for this. I don't expect us to look any different."
Even center and All-America candidate Tyler Orlosky, who will be more affected than anyone, shrugs.
"There's not much of a difference," Orlosky said. "Both have played a lot. Obviously, Pankey has started more [25] than Tony [2], but Tony has a significant amount of playing time. I think I feel as comfortable with Tony as I do Pankey."
In one sense, Orlosky suggested, Matteo might have an edge.
"Tony has played center too, so he knows what I'm looking for," Orlosky said. "He sees the same thing I do."
Matteo has seen action going back to 2014, when he was a redshirt sophomore and replaced then-hobbled Quinton Spain for a game versus Iowa State. When Spain and Mark Glowinski left, Matteo seemed ticketed for a starting gig, along with Pankey, until Kyle Bosch transferred in from Michigan and was granted a waiver. So, as a redshirt junior, Matteo started just once, but played in 12 games.
Now?
"I've been here five years and worked a lot," Matteo said. "This will be a great opportunity to play."
He sounds very confident he's on the same page with Orlosky and quarterback Skyler Howard in regard to play calls.
"Yeah, I think so," Matteo said. "We've all been together a long time. Tyler was my roommate my freshman year. We've known each other almost five years now. Skyler has been here the last three years. We know each other pretty well on and off the field. We're synced up pretty well."
That will be imperative against a Missouri defensive front that Holgorsen calls one of the most impressive he's seen.
"Their front is a little bit different than what we've gone against," Matteo said. "I think they're really good. I think they're really physical. I think they're big and talented."
Different how?
"I think that's more scheme stuff," Matteo said. "I don't want to talk about it."
Oh. Forgot.
What Matteo would talk about, though, is trotting out on Saturday with the other offensive line starters.
"It means everything to me," he said. "That's why I'm here. I'm here to play. I'm here to make the team better. I'm here to win."
And he's definitely here to guard.
Contact Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvingle@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MitchVingle.