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Alright
So have you ever gone an email like totally out of the blue that just completely shifted your focus
Oh Yeah
For sure
Those can be the best kind
Sometimes the ones that like totally surprise you exactly
And for the author were diving into today
It wasn't some breaking news eert or anything
But a simple email about an undefeated and get this death high school football team wodedeated ated yeah defeated in riverside california
And this initial spark of curiated accity really set him on this incredible path
And well that's exactly what we're going deep on today
I love these kinds of stories
Know know it's on on sursurace
It's about sports ay yeah high school football
But then you peelback back layyer
Ah it's a so much more overcoming challenges the strength of community
All that absolutely it's a window into the human spirit
For sure
And the person who captured this amazing story is thomas folller in his book
The boys of riverside
And i heard of that one
Yeah
It's a fantastic read and our mission for you in the steep dive is to really get to the heart of this inspiring story
The death high school football team at the california school for the death riverside
Csdrcsdr
Got it
We're going to be
Be pulling from follers
Insights
To give you like a shortcut
To understanding their incredible seasons
The unique individuals on the team
And you know the whole context of death culture and history
Yeah
Because you can't just talk about the team without talking about the culture
Right Yeah
It's all connected
Exactly tly we want to pack what made this team so special
The obstacles they had to overcome their huge triumph and ultimately gain a deeper understanding of death culture and honestly the power of perseverance
Because like you see these stories
And you think how did they do that
What can we learn from them right and for thomas fufuler it all started with this unassuming email
He was this saanfranscobarougy for the new york time
So he was you know neck deep in some pretty big news stories
All the time i bet high pressure intense stuff exactly
But this message about a death f school school oooobball team in riverside
That had lost a single game
It really hooked him undefeated
And the school had been around for quite a while without any major championship p in
So it was this like annoralally
And that spark of curiosity was so strong
That he drove seven hours
Just to see what was going on seven hours
That's dedicication tells you something right there it really does
And when he got there
He's stepped into the world of eight man football
Now for anyone who might no
This is a version of football played by smaller schools
Ls don't have have ough players for the tratraditional eleven man team right make sense in the californiy school for the death riverside
They only had josh allen in their entire high school program pretly hhalf them we're on the football team
Wow
So like almost everyone to go play
Played pretty much
It's known for being super fast paced hard hitting and some pretty big names in football out their start playing ying men guys like josh allen the quarter back for the buffalo bills
Much
Joon sallam who won the husband trophy
Oh wow
It's not like some minorly version of the sport
Not at all
It proves that talent can come from anywhere any side school
For sure
For sure
Now the riverside cubs
They were this really amazing mix of individuals plaooler does a great job of painting
A picture of their diverse backgrounds
Players from mexico
Romania
Elsvvor
Ethopopa
Wow
A real melting pot
And then there's their defensive ordinator covey on garorone
He was duff and came all the way from me ong on his mom sent into the us after learning
He was death
Well what a story talk about a huge life change right
And he not only adapted
But he also found this huge passion for american football
He even jumped of retiring on a hardly davidson
You know writing off to the california sunset
I know that a classic american dream
It has his whole other layer to the team's stall
Then
Then 've got phillip cstinatata lilightening fast
Ununning back
His story is really powerful
It's his story
He was facing home
Actually living out of his dad's 's car football became this like anchor for him
Wow
I can see how that would give him a sense of purpose
You know something that to focus on
Totally fuller actually mentioned that his first article about the team for the times
It is blew up
People were so drawn to their story
It's just one of the stories that grabs you
You know it's humantes relarelaable
He really is so this takes us to the start of their journey
Late summer
Twenty
Twenty one fuer paints a really vivid picture of philip
As this like new kid
You know still living in his dad's neece on center
Oh Man
It's just trying to make it work
He had these big dreams of football success
But he was also dealing with some academic struggles
Especially with english
Oh Right
Because american sound language is his first language
Exactly
It's like trying to learn a holly language
When you've never actually heard it
Spoken it's a tough situation
I can imagine and his dad jeeed who was a former def olympian rerestler
Oh
Seriously yeah
Amazing right
He had his own struggles with addiction
But he was really committed to giving philip a better life
He drove him all the way to riverside
Hoping for that fresh start
That's powerful a forther wanning the best for his sun
And then came healweek the preseason training foller really makes it clear
How intense this was healthick
The name says it all assistant coach glvin drake a def weight lifting enthusiasts
He really set this tone of like pure discipline
You got to have that especially in preseason
And then head coach keep atams was totally committed changing the team history of losing folier describes these brutal practices in the scscorching riverside heat
Even in felp as fast fast atural as he was struggle big time at first makes sense that he could be brutal and pushing yourself to the limit
It's not easy totally
But here's the thing even with all that intensity fuller highlights this incredible sense of community within the team
You know for most the players
They came from their family
So asl wasn't just await to communicate
It was everything right
It's their culture
Their identity
Exactly
He even mentioned this little detail about them finding ways to communicate when the weeet room ors ors relocked signing through the glass
It's is a little moment that speaks volumes about their connection
They find a way
I love that to really grasp the whole story fuller digs into the history of the california school for the death in riverside
It was established after world war two
Because southern california's population was booming
And the existing school for the death was way up north and sentances go
Yeah that makes sense
It's a huge state
He talks about river side back
Then a city really defined by at sititss industry
They played a big role in the history of the naval
Orange president rosevvoeled even visited orpoint point initially csdr was in the picture resssettings surrounded by fields and orange groups
So a real change of pace from you know the husle and buzsel at big city and as riverside became more urbanized
The school remained you know a testament to the def communiy's commitment fuller contrast this early almost country club fuel of the campus
With you know the later development of strip malls and housing tracks to the world around them is changing
But the school stays right yeah adapting but staying true to its core mission
Then comes the first game of the season
And it was a huge turning point the cubs were up against nowly indian a hearing school and limiitya
They crushed it
Crasshed it follow really points out the leadership of the older players
Felix X Ens
Jury travin and their success right out of the gate was incredible
Eos returned the opening kick off a touch down travven through was a long touchdown pass final score sixty eighth zero zero ow
That's a statement
When it was philiilippsscores very first touch down in the fourth quarter
But what i thought was really cool
Was the reaction from knolly indi's cococoach aggoloar
He actually told his team to look to the clubs discipline as a model for their own play
Wow
So he saw something special in them even than that defeat
He really did and fuller takes some time to explain
And how eight man football works since clear
The cubs had mtered it
They found their niche
Now this is where things get really interesting
Fuwlers starts talking about the advantages
That definness can actually bring to the football field
It's not just about overcoming a barrier
It's about actual strength
Oh Yeah
I heard about this like being immunent to crowd noises stuff that's one of them
But fuller goes deeper
He talks about how the team developed these really sharp visual communication techniques
Even using visual snap counts
还有一个
There is even research that suggests definite individuals often have a wider field of propheral vision
That's fascinating it's like they're wired differently in a way that gives them an edge and asl itself as a huge advantage playcalling can be much faster and quieter than in a huddle fultells this great story about the cubs encrypting their signs
When the other team brought in an interpreter
It was a
That's clever isn't
It coach atams was all about taking what some might see as a weakness and turning it into a strength
It was a for part of his coaching philosophy
That's a great philosophy for life
Frefrely fufuler also gives a sense of the cub's physical presence
Because of the pandemic
They couldn't use the weight room for a while
So they were generally a smaller team physically right right those were tough times for everyone
But they made up for with sheer art and incredible skid
He really highlights felilix kinsolous their wide receiver who was insanely fast and agile
O he even mentions feellix his tougher times playing on a hearing pop warner team
Where he felt isolated
Oh Man
I bet trying to fit in when you communicate differently it can't be easy
And then
Then is travin adams the quarter back superstrong runner really powerful style and cody metoner who is the supersmart player
But with a real intimidating presence on the field
Fular really emphasizes this powerful ence of brotherhood within the team
It was like they were even closer because of the challenges
They faced in the hearing world
It makes sense right
They had the shared experience that bond them
Them
It's really striking when fuller compares the cubs to these big well funded high school football programs
They were often plaagainst much smaller schools
Mainly protestant schools in the area
So they werenexexactly facing agaagainst these powerhouse schools every week not at all
But they had this string of dominant winins than a much tougher game against coverage
It was a close one
And it really showed the cubs resilience even with fatigue in some mistakes
Because you don't win every game perfectly right
It's about pushing through those tough moments
And that's where this story gets even more interesting
Fuller takes us into the lives of keith
Adams as parents linda and roger
Linda realized keith was death
When he was just a baby
And they really focused on oralym m teachhim him spespeak and lippred right because it was the prevailing thoudback
Then wasn't it
It was
But it was a really tough process
And then there was this turning point sign language was introduced through lyda sisiter and aa sign language teacher
And it just opened up a whole new world for keith
Fller recounces really touching moment
When keith asked about the sound of sunshine
The sound of sunshine and it just kes
Kes think you know about how differently we experienced world
Really really does
And this naturally leads fuller into a broader discussion about def education
He talks about the long debate between oralism and the use of sign language
And he doesn't shy away from the historical marginalialization of death people
He brings up the development of natural sign languages
This fascinating example of death servants in the autommn corore who used sign language even discriminatory views towards death people in ancient times
Right
Because it's not like this is a new issue
Def people have been fighting for recognition in inclusion for cencenturexexacfuller highlights
The sky name
Charles
Michelle
Dilapay who set up one of the first public schools for the death in the seventeen hundreds that was have in huge at the time
It was
But then he talks about this major setback the malanan conference in eighteen
Eighty they actually banned sign language in schools for the death
Why would they do that
It was this idea that oororism was the only way to truly integrate def people into society
Fuller share stories of students
Being punished for using asl
It's heartbreaking
And then we hear about lindatams keeps mum
She fought hard for him to atend end all dedef school
Where sign language was embraced and he thrived there
It really shows how important languages for identity and community absolutely being able to communicate to express yourself its fundamental
And then the story takes another turn focusing on how technology has impacted the death community
嗯
Fuller compares kekeh and carol ll his wife raing ing
Their heering son traven to their own childhoods
It's night in day
Yeah
Technology is changed everything as man
He talks about the iphone real time captioning glasses
Sign language translation apps
It's amazing to see how technology has broken down barriers and foster inclusion for death people
It's like they're finally being given the tools to fully participate in a world
That wasn't always designed for them
And then fulller introduces us to dominic turner
He's a profoundly deaf player on the team
And theyyco they are implant interesting
I'm always wondered about those
What's interesting about dominic
Is that he can choose to hear or not here depending on the situation
He joined the csdr team after feeling like an outsider in mainstream schools
Fuller explains how cocklair implants work
But he's careful to say they're not a perfect solution for everyone domomicfound found real comfort in the death world
Because it's not about fixxing deness
It's about giving people options
Tions resrespecting their choices
The book even touches on the history of cock clear and plants
And how their reception within the death community is complicated
Even controversial dominic story really shows how you can navigate both the hearing and death worlds
It's about finding your own path as october arrived the cubs were still undefeated and fuller captures
This growing excitement within the def community
The talks about philip cstinate a having the stand out game for touch downs two hundred and thirty two rushing yards
His success had a huge impact on his mother
The games were becoming big community events
A lumnni were traveling back to see them play
It's like they were hearing the hopes and dreams of the entire community
It really felt that way fuller even shares the touching story about the vallenca family
Their sn jury was on the team
They were so proud of him
He talks about the unique atmosphere at the games
All the communication happening in asl
Even though
Though their mefild ld the kind of run down
They kept winning
Getting closer to the championship
Because amazing how they thrived even without those fancy facilities
And then boom the neyear times article goes vial suddendenly the school in ribbside is in the national spotlight tv appearances and invitation from the nfll
It's crazy fuller details all these positive changes that followed california governor announced funding for a new sports complex for the school
The kelly clarkson show made a huge donation
Even the coach of nolly indian the team
They blew out that first game
He starts using the cubs as an example first players
Wow
It's like there's success open all these doors it really did
And this new detats not detention intercepcted with some fascinscience ence fuller dives into research by doctor eddishshang who studies the brain language
He performed ing a wake craniatomy which is wild in itself
And it showed that brokers area the part of the bran associated with language
It's involved in sign language too not just this spolanlanguage so scientifically proving that sign language is just as complex and legitimate is any spoken language exactly and fuller talks about how sign language was dismissed for so long
Then there's this languiswwilliam dogo who in the nineteen sixties proved how complex asl really is it said that it took so long for people to recognize that it is brain imaging studies later confirmed that the same brain pathway is light up
Whether someone is using sign or spoken fguage
He even talks about death
Baby's babbling with their hands just like hearing baby's babble with sounds
It shows that language is at core a brain function
Like the brain wants to communicate no matter what the cubs journey to the semi finals takes them to sana catalinina island
And fuller paints this picture of them on the ferry
Almost like this small army heading into battle
He recounts this moment
Where the coach asks a reporter
Don't you wish you were deep
It's a really thought provoking question
Oh wow
That's deep
The media was all over this game
Their opponents
The avavalon lanswers were physically much bigger
The game was a roller coaster with the cub struggling at first some coming back avavon pushing back hard
But in the end
The cubs pulled out the victory that must to watch even avelxmonenzall the remeliism
The superfessor receiver
He made this unbeliebelievable one hand of catch pure athleticism
Even avalan's co captain showed real sportsmanship
After the game me ellix signed i am proud to be death
And it just summed up their whole spirit
Man
I'm just thank you about it as they headed into the championship game
They were pretty bangup
Travain wasn't a lot of pain
Feelicx was still out with an infection and jury was sick
And they're trying to prep for the biggest game of their lives
During thanksgiving weak no less
Oh Man
Man hirough talk about pressure
There were a postory of fake baptist
Where a power house with the history of winning championships
And to add even more pressure their defensive coordinator coachangerironi had planned for this to be his last season before retirement
So like the stakes can be higher right
Fuller
Then gives us more of coachangang irirony's back story
His mom had prayed for him in iran
When she learned he was def
He was often treated poorly because of it
But he found belonging through soccer
Then american football
He moved to the us struggled with as sallete first
But eventually embraced
It found his place in the football community
And ended up coaching at csdr
It's a powerful story of resilience and finding your passion
It's a testament to the power of sports
To bring people together
To give them a purpose
The cubs and faith baptist were from very different worlds
Fuller points out the stark differences in their school environments and faith back to strong christian values
He introduces faith baptist coach rob
Davids in some of their star players
A huge tighand speedy receiver
And this incredible running back
It was a clash of athleticism
But also culture identities with everything on the line
It was almost like a microcosm of society
Yeah
Two different world colliding and fuller brings us right into the championship game
It was held at john w north high school and the crowd was enormous
The school def community showed up in force media was everywhere fuller even mentioned tom raity's production company
Being there the school superintendent gave a really moving signed interview was a big moment for dedef ununwww
They're the whole world watch the game started with faith baptice coming out strong taking an early lead
But then the cubs they pulled off the trick play for a touch down
And that really sparked their comeback jury was playing sick
Kade was out there with a broken ankle
I mean they were giving it everything by half time
The momentum had shifted
It seemed with they could actually pull off the upset man
They just wouldn't give up what hard
But the second half it was tough faith babs has got back in control
That running back was dominating and travin
He got a concussion
There was an interception thrown by kadin they seest seven
Ty Four
Twenty two
But even though they lost their fans are so supportive
Because they saw the fight
The determination
That's what matters right
But their story didn't end there fuller er takes us a super boall lvi
Where the team got to attend
They was a bittersweet experience
The honor of being there
But also the stying of the championship loss coach adam said they had unfinished business and coachhagererne decided to put off his retirement
They were coming back
Wow
Weren't satisfied which just being there
They wanted more
They were hunger fuoufoler describes their intense off season training and afraid of bldezre one of the players was working so hard to improve he really paints this picture of the cubs preseason how visual their communication was the diverse coaches
They had coach atams his office was this like organized chaos
And their initial conditioning was way more intense in the previous year
They were focused on strength and speed
They took that loss and channel led into motivation
But they had another set back philip cstininata remember the running back living in his dad car
He was ruled academically ineeligible
It was a huge blow to him
Yep Yeah
It's a reminder
That these are ood naleites and life throws
Curve balls absolutely
But the team they were laser focused
Fuller talks about there insane strength gains the california rules around contact practices hushmmoa haffwas running high enerergy drilfeellix was back and playing like a beast
Fuller even introducces us to this other player on jravoin a who had this whole other life as a video game programmer
But he found his place
His connection through football
Another example of how the team brought together
People from all walks off life
Their season opener was against chadwik school
And fuller points out the huge difference in resources between the two schools
Even the playing fields ds reccardo to rosses
He played with such fire
Such determination final score fifty four sixteen
It was a statement win a reminder
That heart in grid can often overcome those resource disparities
And then there was a huge drivelay game against freemont the other death school in california
It was intense with this long history of free t had dominated for years 对不对
Fuller even taltalks about some of like like dirty tricks free much tried to pull
But the cubs shut them down fifty four to six
They won back the big game trophy after thirteen years
It was a huge moment for them
That must been so satisfying definally overcome their provals
Fuller then shares this amazing story about michael polloone a def football coach
Who became a successful quarter back defying all the doubters
His team the death whojers ended a playing cubs
And they lost pretty badly the cubs facace some criticism for their dominant wins
People saying they were playing
The best competition coach atams
He shut that down
He knew how hard his teamwork in no matter who they were playing
Because it's about the effort
The commitment
Not just the opponent
But then there was this game against covary chapel feliic's consulas
He was on fire earning the nickname
The cheea
But then he suffered a devastating leg injjury
Fuler describes the chaos of trying to navigate the medical system
The emotional toll on felix in the whole team
They made a packed in the champion enship for him
Cojadams was determined to find a way to succeed
Even without their star player
That's when you see what a team is really made of how they rally around each other in tough times
And get this a computer algorithm ranks the cubs as the number one eight men football team in california
The nfl came back to film another one of church adams 's pregame speeches
The team went wild in their next game
The visco cousin stepped up big time filling in for felicx
It was a team effort
So even with setbacks
They kept rising to the occasion
But as the playoff approached there were more hurtles
Jury had walking nnemonia
Felix was still out
But they had this next next man up mentality
They won their first playoff game against leadership military academy
Even with christian getting injured their resilience with incredible
They just wouldn't quit their quarterfinal game was against flincherge prep fuller highlights
The differences and resources in coaching between the two schools
But the cubs ought hard they won
And they were one step closer to the championship coach atams used the memory of last year's lost to motivate them
He knew had to push the right buttons
And then it was time to face faith pactist again in chachaionship
是的 对的
Fuller describes the intense preparation
The coaches studying every play
Even using a twl assistant coach to mimic faith bactists tight end in practice
Christian was determined a play despite his injury
Everyone wanted to beat faith paptice
The anticipation was through the roof
The rematch
Everyone was waiting for a birdog story
A birming in high school
Where the championship was held
The cubs were all business faith baptice made some early mistakes maybe thrown off by the cubs silent catents travinscored early
But faith baptiansansred back
It was a tent start back in forth like a heavyweight fight
And then fuller brings in the story about david levalley to illustrate how success isn't just about talent
It's about character teamor grit
He connects this to social identity theory
How our sense of who we are as tied to the groups
We belong to that strong bond within the cubs
It was a huge part of their success
He even mentioned the harvard study about happiness being linked to strong relationships
So it's not just about winning
It's about the connections
The bonds you build along the way
That first quarter was a roller coaster
A holding penalty
Innogated a big game for the cubs
Travan overthrow row pass
But then cody had some great runs
And then traven through this like crazy pass
That somehow landed in codi's hands for a touchdown
They were back in the lead believable those of the moments
You remember the second quarter was all cubs defence big tackles near interceptions by travelin in kain screen passes to jury and geo were working code
Him made a huge block and travin had a rushing touch down
And then an interception return for another touchdown
They wrote big at half a compleplete turn around
They found their grove fuller
Then circles back to keitthams a story
He was a death
Quarter back at a hearing high school lincolenhye who was really good
But college recruitment was tough
Because he was death
He ended a transforer to galladete university
Ity renowned def university
And now he's coaching a def high school team
It's like his journey came full circle
That's powerful
He's using his experience to pay the way for others
The president of the cif was at the game
It was a big deal and right after faith back to his half time peptok the cubs recovered an onside kick the travin adams
He was on fire scoring sixty points
Faith back disccoach was even impressed saying you learn from both wins and losses final score eighty four forty a huge win for the cups
They did it
They overcame everything and achieve their goal
During the post game handshake one of the faith baptist players said
He couldn't believe the def team had won the cub celebrated the cif official congratulated them in sign language and coach adams talked about finally breaking through those barriers
He'd fachis whole life feellix was so proud of his team
Even though he couldn't play
It was a perfect ending to their story
A true underdog story
Inspiring atmotional through a reminder
That anything is possible
So let's take a moment to absorable
That we've just witnessed the incredible journey of the ruciite abs
We saw how they turned what some might see as limitations into strength
We saw the power of their visual communication
The strength of their community
They're unwawavering perseverance
And we learned about the history of the def experience
Which makes their achievements even more significant it
It makes you quesquesing your own assumptions right
And it remds you the power of the human spirit
The importance of inclusion and understanding it really does so here's a question for you
Could we in the hearing world learn from the cubs visual awareness
Could we be better at bridging the communication gap between the hearing and deaf world
I think so we can all be more mindful of nonverbal communication
Be more open to different ways of connecting it's about empathy understanding and valuing everyone's unique experiences
If you're interested in learning more about this incredible story
It's highly recommend thomas fulerers book the boys of riverside
It's a truly moving and insightful read
It's one of those stories that stays with you long after you finished it
It's a reminder that even when faced with adversity
Even when the odare stacked against you
You can still achieve great things with hard work dedication and the support of aa ong ong community well said on on note
It will wrap up this dededive
Thanks for joining us
And we'll see you next time
See you then
