Transcript of 'World News' Story on Gallaudet Women's Basketball
John Donvan's story about school for the deaf's winning ways.
— -- Four minutes into the game... and it's 10 nothing Gallaudet. Six minutes in and it's 15 nothing.
And when half time sounds ... the Gallaudet women are still way out in front
Although when the buzzer went off, most of them didn't hear it...
And during the halftime talk ... they also don't hear their coach either ... not his voice anyway.
It's a whole new season for the women's varsity team at Gallaudet university ... where the student body is nearly 100 percent deaf or hard of hearing ... where the fans in the stands root more with their hands than their voices ... and where the rustle of pom poms comes across loud and clear to those who can hear.
And what's new ... is how the women are winning ...
NUKEITRA HAYES /Gallaudet Basketball Player
SOT: It's like night and day. It's like, Jeez, now we are showing the world where Gallaudet University is ...
The women's place in the school record book ... had to await the arrival of a new coach a few years back ... Kevin Cook ... who's coached all over the world ... and who relies on a translator when the heat is on ...
But part of his deal was that he had to study sign language ... and use it. In practice he DOES ... not ... perfectly ...
KEVIN COOK / Coach, Gallaudet Women's Basketball
I'm not fluent, that's for sure...
Cross-talk.. YOU HAVE A HEAVY ACCENT
They say coach you don't have to tell us you're from Texas, because you sign so slow.
Some basketball specific signs? See what she's doing ... it's called a layup ... in Coach Cook's sign ...
KEVIN COOK / Coach, Gallaudet Women's Basketball
SOT: It's just pretty much like a person who can hear a voice would do a layup (makes a layup motion)
IT'S THAT OBVIOUS
Yes, that obvious...
What's works against the players ... they need to be looking at each other to communicate ... a fact the coach says may cost 4 or 5 point a game ...
On the other hand, if in the past ... opponents tended to underestimate this team ... this year ... they're learning not to ...
NUKEITRA HAYES /Gallaudet Basketball Player
SOT: We can play ball just like anyone else.
Related Stories
ABC News Live