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SILENT COUNT: Coaching the World's Only Deaf College Football Team ...
You don’t have to like football to enjoy reading SILENT COUNT. You don’t have to know American Sign Language to understand the narration. And you don’t have to be able to hear in order to experience the entertaining resonance of SILENT COUNT.
SILENT COUNT is the true story of a high school football coach who hears perfectly well, but finds himself coaching the country’s only deaf college football team. Set in our nation’s capitol at Gallaudet University during the fall of 2007, SILENT COUNT is an easy read that will make you smile, chuckle, and even laugh. It will also bring a frown to your face, at times. Share the coach’s unique journey as football becomes a bridge between cultures, a story that neither the coach nor the reader will ever forget!
SILENT COUNT is the true story of a high school football coach who hears perfectly well, but finds himself coaching the country’s only deaf college football team. Set in our nation’s capitol at Gallaudet University during the fall of 2007, SILENT COUNT is an easy read that will make you smile, chuckle, and even laugh. It will also bring a frown to your face, at times. Share the coach’s unique journey as football becomes a bridge between cultures, a story that neither the coach nor the reader will ever forget!
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 19, 2013
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9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 13, 2018
Fate, faith, and football come together in Coach Jim Overmier's memoir of joining the Galludet University's coaching staff during its inaugural year as an NCA Division III football team. Coach "O" as his players call him, takes us with him through the team's season in an open, honest, and bright narrative that breaks the 4th wall with the reader. From the first moment we sit with Jim in the head coach's office, we feel his apprehension about the job. He's not worried about his ability to jump from a high school coach to a college coach, he's worried how he's going to connect with a team of deaf football players. Throughout the book, we see that the only disabilities on display are from Jim as he struggles with learning American Sign Language (ASL) understanding deaf culture, and at times getting along with the coaching staff.
Jim's year with the university team served as a capstone year in his own coaching career as he grew as a coach and a mentor. As the demands of the position grew through an intense practice schedule, comical bus trips, and late nights, Coach begins to question his own goals. Yes, it's a bucket list item to have coached a collegiate team, but is it worth stressing his family life for his own ego? His passion for football shines in this story and his deep affection for the team is evident too. Jim, always the optimist, turns introspective and to his faith to find his position on the team.
As we watch players JC, Fletch, and Jimmy grow in their skills, we also have an intimate look at life on the gridiron and the challenges and triumphs that come from being deaf with ASL as your language. This story is about football as life and life that sometimes knocks you around but always leaves you stronger.
Jim's year with the university team served as a capstone year in his own coaching career as he grew as a coach and a mentor. As the demands of the position grew through an intense practice schedule, comical bus trips, and late nights, Coach begins to question his own goals. Yes, it's a bucket list item to have coached a collegiate team, but is it worth stressing his family life for his own ego? His passion for football shines in this story and his deep affection for the team is evident too. Jim, always the optimist, turns introspective and to his faith to find his position on the team.
As we watch players JC, Fletch, and Jimmy grow in their skills, we also have an intimate look at life on the gridiron and the challenges and triumphs that come from being deaf with ASL as your language. This story is about football as life and life that sometimes knocks you around but always leaves you stronger.
September 16, 2014
I love the book not just cuz it mentioned my friends, teammates, and colleagues but Overmier's writing style was nearly perfect. Filled with good sense of humor, Christianity and hearing views, Jim Overmier has done the masterpiece that covered the Gallaudet University 2007 season. It's awesome to know much more abt my former coaches in the meetings and their motives toward returning to Division III. Without it, my memories of 2007 season wld be blurred forever. If you want to know more abt what happened in the camp, what happened to coaches, and the rest, this book is for you to find out and learn the insight of Gallaudet University life.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews