Drumline + Football = Drumfoobaline
Catagory: world-drumline-news
Issue 10
Gridiron Warriors depend on bass drum for action.
WASHINGTON, DC – Despite not ever playing a single quarter of football in his entire life, Dr. Orin Cornett revolutionized the game for deaf players. Cornett – a physicist by trade – was a spectator at a Gallaudet University football game in 1965. His exceptional observation skills allowed him to notice a disadvantage the deaf players of Gallaudet’s offensive line possessed. Unlike their able bodied opponents, the players had to watch for the snap.
This innovative thinker started experimenting with a multitude of ideas to overcome the deaf players’ disadvantage.
First, a complex radio transmitter that was planted on the center’s hip, in turn feeding vibrations into small receivers built into each player’s helmet. Then he tried a strobe light system mounted on the goal posts. Then the strobe signal was moved from the goal post to the sideline where it caused reflectors on the players helmets to flash. None of these unique concept seemed to bring the team together.
If Cornett was to go down in history he would need to work a little harder. In keeping with the Red Blooded All American Spirit, Cornett was bound and determined to solve this problem.
Daily mind bending brainstorming sessions continued until one morning when Cornett awoke from a dream. Nearly five year after sitting in the stands watching deaf players get creamed, the inventor, and soon to be icon of invention, had formulated a solution that would forever revolutionize the game of silent football.
Cornett had been dreaming of his own college days on the campus of the University of Texas. You see, UT was home to Big Bertha, not the circus side show freak, but the bass drum. Cornett had, in his dreams, connected the dots and realized that a massive bass drum like Big Bertha could alleviate the players’ lack luster jump from scrimmage.
Without hesitation, the good doctor relayed his wacky dream inspired scheme to head coach Bob Colbert. Soon after the “Bison Drum” was born. With just three games left in the 1970 season, the Bison Drum was just in time.
Of course there were concerns that the drum’s rhythm would throw off the players mo-joe. Coach Colbert even wondered if the gigantic drum would cause his hearing impaired boys to be nailed with an onslaught of offsides penalties. Nothing of the sort, Gallaudet was charged with a trio of scrimmage related penalties in those final three games, but the deaf players had responded so well to their new team mate, Big Bertha, that they racked up a pair of wins to conclude their 1970 season.
The legacy of the Bison drum lives on to this day.