HAMBURG, N.Y. - The Hilbert College Hawks football team will play against Gallaudet University, the global leader in bilingual education for deaf and hard of hearing students, in the first-ever NCAA match involving on-field, 5G-connected football helmets. The Gallaudet University athletes will use the helmets during their home game against Hilbert College, this Saturday, October 7 at 12 p.m. ET. at Hotchkiss Field in Washington, D.C.
Gallaudet University teamed up with AT&T to create the first 5G-connected football helmet—making the game more inclusive by enhancing on-field communication for student-athletes who use American Sign Language.
"We're honored to be the first team to compete against Gallaudet during this historic moment for the deaf and hard of hearing community," said Tim Seil, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Hilbert College. "This moment marks expanded possibilities for inclusion in sports—even beyond football and beyond the NCAA."
By displaying the coach's play through augmented reality (AR), AT&T's helmet technology eliminates a gap for deaf and hard of hearing athletes, making football more inclusive. It can also reduce miscommunication and unwarranted penalties.
"The new AT&T 5G-connected helmet will have a major impact on the game of football, especially for our deaf and hard of hearing players who lacked direct access to communications with their coaches during their high school years," said Shelby Bean, special teams coordinator and former player for Gallaudet University. "This will help to level the playing field for mainstreamed athletes. As a former player, I am very excited to see this innovative technology change our lives and the game of football itself."
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About Hilbert College
Hilbert College is a Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) accredited not-for-profit institution offering two-year, four-year, and graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines. Hilbert is home to 770 students studying in traditional undergraduate programs within a residential, NCAA III setting in Hamburg, New York and 200 additional students in online and graduate programs.
About Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language (ASL) and English. Gallaudet maintains a proud tradition of research and scholarly activity and prepares its graduates for career opportunities in a highly competitive, technological, and rapidly changing world.
About AT&T
AT&T helps more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com.
