Matt Norman had to get special permission to take a break from his student-teaching practicum this week.
He had an unusual - but quite legitimate - reason.
The B.C. Lions need him to help provide depth for a wounded offensive line in Sunday's Western Final against the Calgary Stam-peders. He started the CFL season with the Lions but left in the middle of the campaign to pursue his teaching certificate at the University of Western Ontario.
"I kept myself ready [for the playoffs] just in case, but I didn't really expect a phone call," said Norman after practising with the Lions on Wednesday at B.C. Place Stadium for the first time since late August.
Norman was teaching Grade 10 civics at Lucas High School in London, Ont., when the call came from the Lions. He kept the word of the summons quiet to all but family and close friends.
But as he was flying from Ontario to B.C. on Tuesday, he could not quite believe that the Lions had asked him to put down textbooks and pick up his playbook.
"Ever since I was young, I've been following the CFL," said Norman, a 24-year-old Châteauguay, Que., native who was chosen by the Lions in the third round (22nd overall) of the 2012 CFL draft. "So to actually be in the Western final game is beyond words."
Either as a backup or starter, he is expected to play a prominent role against the Stampeders. Veterans guards Jon Hameister-Ries (back, knee), Dean Valli (knee) and Jesse Newman (knee) are battling injuries that have bothered them since the first week of training camp.
In addition to teaching in the classroom, Norman stayed football-ready by helping coach a Lucas High School squad and his former University of Western Ontario Mustangs while also working out on his own.
"Certain days, I'd go through the drills with the guys, show them how to do it, and then the last couple weeks, I just started running," said Norman.
The Lions officially suspended him after they gave him permission to leave so that he could get his teaching qualification in one year before Western's program expands to two years in 2013-14. He was added to the team's 46-man roster Wednesday.
Norman said he is as ready as anybody to play against the Stamps, who registered eight quarterback sacks against the Lions while pounding them 41-21 in the last regular-season meeting between the teams on Oct. 26.
"I'm just going to take advantage of the time that I have on the field, keep myself fresh and then keep my face in the playbook," said Norman.
