Fall 2005 - Ohio School for the Deaf

“We actually have anadvantage with communicationwhen we play againsthearing teams because Ican speak with my playersfrom the sideline atany time,” Estes said. “Ofcourse, when we play otherdeaf schools, I can’t signalto my players like thatbecause our opponents willpick up on what I’m saying.”Layne Hazlipp, a freshmanrunning back and linebackerfor the Crusaders, said itwas strange not being ableto talk with his opponentson the field.“It was definitely very differentwith the drum andeverything. It felt very weirdwhen we were on defensebecause we were able totalk out loud about whatwe were going to do, evenwhen we were at the line ofscrimmage.“We’re a team that doesn’tdo much trash-talking, but itwas strange not being ableto say, ‘Good run’ or ‘Nicetackle’ at the end of a play.”The closest thing that cameto trash-talking on the fieldcame when OSD seniorlineman Shane Henderhanmade a tackle for a 5-yardloss. After the play, Henderhanleaped to his feet andshook his finger from sideto side.Referee Mark Boyce, whohas officiated many highschool and college gamesover the last decade, saidit was one of the cleanestcontests he’s witnessed.“It was an honor to do thisgame,” Boyce said. “Youget trash-talking and (dirtyplay) at even the youngestlevels of the game, but therewas none of that here.“I’m real impressed withhow well this team is playingin its first game. Thisgame is more skilled andadvanced than a typicaljunior-varsity game.”The halftime entertainmentwas far from typical as well.The Ohio State School forThe game on the field was football as usual with the Spartans’ Terrell Thomas trying toelude the Crusaders’ Kolin Koehl.the Blind marching band,in uniforms donated byNapoleon High School,performed during a footballgame for the first time.“A lack of time has been ourbiggest challenge becauseI get to work with the kidsonly two days a week forone 45-minute period eachday,” OSSB music directorCarol Agler said. “Learningto march was easy, but it’s alot harder with instrumentsin their hands, particularlythe drums.“We have music on braille,but they all had to learntheir songs by ear becausewe had such a short amountof time.”The band is made up of 11students, with three playingdrums, two playing saxophonesand one each onbaritone, clarinet, glockenspiel,flute, cymbal andtrombone.The musicians sat in metalfolding chairs along thevisiting team’s sideline andplayed during the appropriateintermissions beforebeing led to a 20-yard lineduring halftime. With thehelp of four adults leadingthe way, the band marchedto the center of the field,where it formed the word“Ohio” in braille and playedthe song “Go Big Blue,”which is the color of theSpartans’ uniforms.“This is a challengebecausethis isour firstmarchingbandand we’renervousplayingin frontof a bigcrowd likethis,” saidfreshmanTyroneFall 2005Referee Mark Boyce tosses the coin as the Spartans’ Zach Stein and Matt Ellison and theCrusaders’ Josh Sinclair and Jake Ritter watch.Each play begins with the beat of a bass drum. Team manager Jerry Theinstrikes the drum to start a running drill during warmups.FALL, 2005 THE OHIO CHRONICLE PAGE 5