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CFB

    NCAA Approves Gallaudet CFB Team's Use of Helmet for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Players

    Mike Chiari@@mikechiariX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVSeptember 14, 2024

    Brandon Washington, junior quarterback at Gallaudet University, wears a 5G-connected football helmet designed for deaf and hard of hearing players, at Hotchkiss Field in Washington, DC, on October 26, 2023. The experimental helmets might just be the university's next communications contribution to the sport. Developed by telecoms giant AT&T, they mostly look like classic football helmets: hard shell exterior, grilled face mask, and the bison mascot logo on the side. Plus the clear, plastic lens hanging over one eye. Coaches send in the play calls from the sidelines via a tablet. "It allows deaf and hard of hearing athletes to see play calls as quickly as their opponents can hear them," says Andrew Bennett, assistant vice president of mass market 5G products at AT&T. (Photo by Agnes BUN / AFP) (Photo by AGNES BUN/AFP via Getty Images)
    AGNES BUN/AFP via Getty Images

    The NCAA has given Gallaudet University's Division III football team approval to wear helmets tailored to deaf and hard of hearing players for the rest of the 2024 season.

    According to Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press, the helmets, which Gallaudet wore for one game last season, project a play from a coach's tablet on the sidelines into the quarterback's helmet, allowing them to see it visually.

    Gallaudet, which is located in Washington, D.C., was founded in 1864 and is the oldest university in the world meant primarily for deaf and hard of hearing students.

    Last season, Gallaudet was permitted to wear the special helmets for one game, and it coincided with the the Bison's first win of the season after an 0-4 start.

    The helmets, which were co-developed by Gallaudet University and AT&T, are meant to get ahead of the technological advancements coming to college football.

    Gallaudet Bison @GallaudetBison

    AT&amp;T and Gallaudet University collaborated on this one-minute national commercial about the AT&amp;T 5G Helmet and the Bison football program.<a href="https://twitter.com/ATT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ATT</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/GallaudetU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GallaudetU</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HomeOfTheHuddle?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HomeOfTheHuddle</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GUBison?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GUBison</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ConnectingChangesEverything?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ConnectingChangesEverything</a> <a href="https://t.co/cAV30gWZfR">pic.twitter.com/cAV30gWZfR</a>

    Starting this season, FBS teams are now allowed to utilize audio communication inside helmets, and Gallaudet head coach Chuck Goldstein told Whyno that helmets with visual technology will allow his team to keep pace with others if and when audio helmets are approved for Division III:

    NCAA Approves Gallaudet CFB Team's Use of Helmet for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Players
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    "It's just a matter of time before it comes on down to our level, which would really put us at a disadvantage if we didn't have an opportunity like this. We're grateful to have that opportunity to keep going and learning and see what feedback we can give the NCAA and kind of tell them about our journey."

    Gallaudet opened its 2024 slate with a 17-6 road loss to Albright, and its home opener is Saturday against the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

    Unfortunately for the Bison, they won't be able to use the new helmets Saturday because their top two quarterbacks got injured and there was not enough time to get another helmet fitted for a third quarterback before the home opener.

    However, Goldstein is hopeful the helmet will be ready to get rolled out in time for Gallaudet's next home game against George Mason on Sept. 28.