Deaf America’s Team: the rise of the Gallaudet University Bison

Deafness, like any other attribute, comes with innate sporting benefits and cost. The Bison have spent years crafting football to their advantage

At first glance, it's not obvious that nearly everyone on Gallaudet University's football team, the Bison, is deaf or hard of hearing. In most ways, the game proceeds exactly as it would on a fall Saturday at any other small university in the US. Players bump chests animatedly after important plays. Cheerleaders try to pump up the crowd during timeouts. A fan of the away team loudly swears over the more polite cheers of those around him.

Certain differences, however, eventually emerge. Five strikes of a resonant bass drum alert Gallaudet's special teams units (many of whom are busy having sideline discussions with coaches) to upcoming punts and kicks. In lieu of using a headset, offensive lineman John Scarboro communicates with a coach standing far away atop the crowded stands via American Sign Language (ASL). And, instead of having someone sing the national anthem before kick-off, the cheerleading team performs it in ASL while standing at midfield.