Hawaii’s Norman ready for anything

To be a University of Hawaii offensive lineman means not to have a permanent address.

Matt Norman, who is the backup right tackle, was used as a blocking tight end the past two games. This past week, he began an apprenticeship at guard.

“It’s just a little bit different in there, the interior, a little quicker,” Norman said. “Tui (Eli) and John (Wa‘a) have been helping me a lot in the interior, changing my mind-set when I go from tackle to interior.”

At 6 feet 5, Norman’s biggest adjustment is getting into a lower stance.

“One of the things I have to work on is my pad level (because) I’m a tall guy,” he said. “That comes with getting into the weight room and getting stronger in the lower legs and lower body.”

Norman weighed about 240 pounds when he transferred from Fullerton College in July 2015. He spent that season as a redshirt, picking up weight and speed.

He said he has gained 35 pounds and weighs about 275. He wants to add another 10 pounds before the start of spring training.

Borden has timing down

Long-snapper Noah Borden’s recent coaching debut, like his UH playing career, went without a hitch.

His wife, Shayna, was scheduled for an induction, but when the couple arrived at the hospital, she went into labor.

“It was perfect timing,” Borden said. “I was there for moral support.”

Borden said the birth of his daughter, Lawea‘lani, was an “amazing experience. That and getting married to my wife were the two biggest things in my life.”

Football smarts unique

UH defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said there is a difference between a high football IQ and book smarts.

“Let me tell you something, I’ve coached in the Ivy League, those guys are brilliant,” Lempa said. “But they didn’t know their left from right sometimes. There’s no correlation between school and football.”

Could be all in the family

It will be a phonetic meeting when UH slotback John Ursua and Middle Tennessee quarterback John Urzua compete in the Hawaii Bowl.

“That’s been the joke of the week going around the team,” Ursua said. “It’s been pretty funny that he spells it with a ‘z’ instead of an ‘s.’”

Asked about the possibility of being distant relatives, Ursua said: “Who knows? This world is so small, we could be.”

Urzua said: “I think somebody back home told me they watched a game and saw somebody with a similar name. I mean, that’s awesome. I’d like to meet that guy.”

Ursua was raised on Hawaii island and graduated from a Utah high school. He was a standout in basketball and football. Urzua, who was raised in Suwanee, Ga., did not become a full-time starter in high school until his senior season. He started three games this season before suffering a concussion. He received medical clearance this past week.

“I’m fine now,” Urzua said.

Letoto’s gig ends

Receiver Kalei Letoto’s final UH gig will be the day after the Hawaii Bowl.

Letoto, who graduated Saturday, serves as the disc jockey at Stan Sheriff Center events. The Diamond Head Classic will be his final assignment as part of the Sheriff Center staff.

He runs the music during warm-ups and some timeouts. He said he gets input from the players while also searching on his own for new releases.

He also is part of the set-up team. The crew can place the volleyball TeraFlex floor in about two hours. It can take nearly a full workday to arrange the carpet, stage and portable chairs for a graduation ceremony.

Letoto, who once aspired to a career in medicine, now plans to enroll in an aeronautical mechanic program.