Deaf not Dumb- High School Football in California

         
        A couple of days ago I came across a fascinating video about a high school football team. At the California School for the Deaf-Fremont, all of the players are deaf, the coaches are deaf, and many of the fans are deaf. However, all of their opponents have working ears. How did the eagles fare this year? They finished the season with a 10-2 record.
              Using sign language to call plays at the line of scrimmage, the Eagles ran an up-tempo, Oregon style offense which, in a way, gave them a competitive advantage. The other team couldn't pick up on their play calling and audibles. The team averaged 32.9 points per game this season. But the astounding nature of that achievement is deeper than the numbers.
             The amount of focus and situational awareness to execute so precisely without being able to hear anything is remarkable. Each player had to have a deep understanding of the offense and their positions. Once the ball is snapped, the receivers can't sign that they are open and the lineman can't sign to pick up the extra blitzer, so everyone has to be on the same page each snap. Each player has to do his job, or else the entire offense will sputter. One could make this argument that every football team has to do this, but it is paramount on a team where none of the players can call out to each other. Without an easy system to alert each other, everyone must be fully versed in the complicated offense. Some kids would quit a team rather than try and pick up an extremely complicated system. I know because I've seen it happen. But for these kids, it means so much just to get on the field.
           If you watch the video below, you will see how motivated these players are to work their tails off because they weren't given many opportunities to play competitive sports at younger ages. No one wanted to give them a shot. They all share a blue collar work ethic because they understand they have to prove themselves every time they step out onto the field. I can imagine they didn't get much respect from opponents during the beginning of the season, but as they started to rattle of wins, the other teams were forced to bring their A game. And yet, the Eagles kept winning. The entire video documentary is displayed below. It's a heart warming story of courage and perseverance, a must watch in this columnists opinion.