Sun, Nov 22 2009
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Little big men enjoy proving people wrong Norman, Farabi play major offensive roles despite lack of size “Short-yardage plays can be a little tough on me,” Farabi said. “I feel like I can get things done, and I’m sure he has the same attitude I do, go out every day and prove guys wrong.”
“When it comes to blocking, it’s kind of tough,” Farabi said. “I can do it, but I’m definitely outsized. I have to work extra hard to get my body in position and using not so much core strength but technique to seal the block. That’s probably the most difficult thing. Other than that, I hold my own pretty much.” Ironically, a block by Farabi helped spring quarterback Mark Smith loose for the game-winning 61-yard touchdown run in the Gorillas’ 38-31 victory last week at Chadron State (Neb.). “I don’t think I have a problem with (blocking),” Farabi said. “When you have a 6-2, 6-3 linebacker coming at you and you’re standing still, that’s hard. But other guys standing still have the same problem when someone is running full speed at them.” The coaches didn’t shy away from recruiting Norman or Farabi because of their size. “I just watched the film,” Tatum said. “I wasn’t fired up about a 5-5 receiver, but I was very excited when I saw him play. “The thing that Isaac is, and we didn’t learn this until after he got here and was here for a while, he’s far better off the field than he is on the field in terms of what he brings to our program. He’s a junior, and his peers elected him captain. Five-foot-5, not even a senior yet, and he’s elected captain. That says a lot about him right there.” “We’ve known about Caleb for years,” Broyles said. “We used to have passing and option camps. He’d come as a sixth grader or seventh grader, and we always put Caleb with the ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th graders because no one could tackle him in camps.” Farabi and Norman have been told they were too small for years. “I’ve heard that ever since I started playing football,” Norman said. “I was a running back, and I didn’t play a lot because they said I was too small. When I did get to play, I ended up scoring two touchdowns ... in the first game I played.” “I was 7 years old, playing flag football,” Farabi said. “I’ve done it most of my life. I’m sure he’s the same way, too. “It’s a drive from within, and for me, also part of it is to prove people wrong. I read on message boards, and people say I can’t do things in a game and need time off. The way I look at it, I have three months left to play football, my body can take the pounding, and I have the rest of my life to recover.” 
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