Michael Norwood Jr.

Michael Anthony Norwood Jr. otherwise known as "Tha Wood", is a professional and semi-professional football player for Team USA Football and Stallion's Football. Norwood is a football player, as well as a former United States of America Power Lifting Association Lifter, Northern Illinois University Rugby Player, and a high school star athlete at Rich South H.S. in the United States.
Early Life
Born in Chicago, Illinois to Michael Sr. and Sonya Norwood on January 16, 1980. Norwood is the oldest of 6 children. Norwood was born with asthma, but grew out of the condition around age thirteen. Norwood attended St. Albie in Chicago, up until 3rd grade when his family moved to Matteson, IL, where he would start his athletic and social life.
Norwood, while at Marya Yates Elementary School in Matteson, IL, competed on the school band, chess team, Boy Scouts, Basketball Team, Soccer Team, and was a lunchroom helper. He would then graduate in 1994 and move on to Rich South High School in Richton Park, IL. Where he was a 3-sport athlete (Football, Wrestling, Track) and also participated in the band and on the chess team. Norwood was selected as "The Most Valuable Athlete" in his sophomore, junior, and senior years at Rich South. He was a all-conference defensive lineman as well as Star Newspaper All-Area Honorable Mention as well. In wrestling he would become a two-time sectional qualifier, regional champion, conference place winner four years straight.
Collegiate
In 1997, Norwood was being recruited by the University of Cincinnati for football, but then a mid-season wrestling knee injury sidelined Norwood and cost him a opportunity of playing at Cincinnati. After the wrestling season Norwood moved on to track, but mid-season the knee injury got worst. He would have surgery by Chicago Bulls Doctor, Dr. Benard Bach from Midwest Orthopedics in Chicago, in June of 1998. He also graduated from Rich South H.S. He did not sign with Cincinnati, but he would later on signed with the University of South Dakota in 1998 for football.
He also brought along high school teammate Sylvester Smith to U.S.D. After one year of medical redshirtting at U.S.D., Norwood transferred after being cut by newly head coach, John Smith from Iowa. Norwood followed assistant coach Rob Barnhill to Southwest State University in 1999, where he once again redshirt. Norwood decided to transfer to Northern Illinois University in 2000 after his scholarship was not increased. Norwood played rugby for the Huskies for two years. He ran into some academic trouble which led him to take classes at Kiswaukee Community College in 2002 to bring up his GPA. While at Kiswaukee, Norwood met trainer Andy Bramer, who would not only be Norwood's teacher, but became his trainer Norwood in his winning of the 2002 USPL Illinois State Championship. With this, Norwood's phone begin to rang once again as football coaches from loacl colleges wanted to use his abilities on the gridiron. Norwood was led to North Central College in 2002 where he lettered in football and in track for the Cardinals. He came in weighing 396 lbs and it was too much for him to work with. It took a toll on his playing time at NCC. He would lose the weight when he joined the track team in the spring of 2003. At the end of his first year at NCC, he weight 326 lbs. Since he had been in school for more than five years, Norwood's NCAA eligibility had ran out. He than became stressed. His weight shot up to 405 and he was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea due to the lack of activity. Norwood graduated with his Exercise Science Degree in June 2010.
Football Career
After graduation, Norwood still had two remaining courses to take, but is currently taking now. Norwood would still continue to train for combines and other pro tryouts. Norwood would land a tryout with the Ottawa Renegades in the Canadian Football League (CFL) in the fall of 2005. He then went out to Memphis, Tennessee for his tryout where he made the team's preseason roster in 2006. Norwood prepared all winter and spring for camp in Ottawa. While in camp for a week and heading into the first preseason game, the Renegades Ottawa Renegades organization calls the team up for a meeting about the team's future. The Renegades lost over 4 million dollars in profit in the 2005 season, which put them in a financial crisis. The CFL made an executive decision of suspending the Renegades season, due to instability of owner Larry O’Brien Larry O'Brien (Canadian politician) financial situation. O’Brien would file for bankruptcy, which causes Norwood to end his short CFL career and to head back home. Norwood was advice to look into a supplemental draft of all the Renegade players. But he decided just to remain at home and work. He would be out of football for another year, but still continue to train. He went back to Rich South in the fall to coach and work as an aide. He coached football and wrestling. Norwood wrestled in a tournament with some of his wrestlers in the summer 2006, where he injured his left knee. He would require surgery on this knee and got it done in the spring of 2007 by Dr. Bernard Bach once again. This time he trained and rehabbed very hard to get back to playing shape.
In 2007, Norwood inquired on playing semi-pro football in Illinois. He got in contact with Stallions of Country Club Hills owner, John Irving and played for the Stallion mid way through their season with the Great Midwest Football League. Norwood would have an outstanding rookie season with the Stallions. He would be named, 2007 GMFL 1st Team All-Star, 2007 GMFL League MVP Nominee, and 2007 Minor League Football News 1st Team All-American. In 2008 he was named captain and was selected to play for TEAM USA Football. He would become a 2008 Alliance Football League All-Star, 2008 M.L.F.N. All American, 2008 All-American Bowl Participant.
In 2009, Norwood took a year off with Team USA and decided to play just for the Stallions that year. Despite having a minor medical problem which sidelined Norwood for 5 games, he still manages to have another All-Star season. Norwood would be awarded on a controversial stage the 2009 Alliance Football League Defensive Player of the Year. Norwood stated that his fellow teammates did not agree with this accolade and he was suspected of pushing his name on it. This was never referenced nor proven. Norwood will be back on the Team USA's roster in 2010 in their games vs. Italy and in the Mediterranean Cup Championships in Italy as well. He will also return to the Stallions this year as well.
Personal Life
Norwood dated Tiffany Hardaway, owner of Phizzaz Designs and graduate of the International Academy of Design and Technology in Chicago, in his sophomore year of high school for a few weeks. He would soon meet back up with her in 2004 on a train ride to Chicago, IL for a job interview. They became friends and started dating again in 2008 on New Years Day. They would eventually get married in 2009 at Chicagoland Christian Center. Now they have one child, Michael Anthony Norwood III, who they hopes follows in his father's footsteps. The family still resides in Matteson, IL. Norwood stills to continue to work at Rich South High School as an instructional assistant and he also continues to mentor the teens all over the area.

References
^ Minor League Football News
^ Team USA Football
^ Stallions of Country Club Hills Football Team
^ Steve Smetsch, Southtown News 2010

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