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The Advocate - www.newarkadvocate.com - Newark, Ohio
Denison football coach Nick Fletcher spent a season with Ed Hottle and four more with Ryan Hite.
To him, it was plenty of time to predict the job the two will do at Gallaudet University.
The team is the only all-deaf football team in the nation, and just moved to Division III after playing as a club team since the mid-1990s.
It withdrew from Division III competition during a span that included 34 straight losses to NCAA teams, but beat St. Vincent 32-12 in its season-opener on Sept. 1.
Fletcher said it's a sign of things to come.
"Those kids play hard for (Hottle), and he works hard for them," Fletcher said. "He's going to do a real good job there. He's a great coach and he's going to do well."
Both Hottle and Hite declined comment after the game.
Hottle was Denison's defensive coordinator under Fletcher in 2001 before taking the Gallaudet job three years ago. Hite, the Bison offensive coordinator, was a standout receiver after playing quarterback as a freshman in 1999.
Hite still holds the Denison single-season record for receptions (62) and touchdown catches (11) and is in his first season at the university located in Washington D.C.
The Bison fell 42-0 to Denison on Saturday, but have improved dramatically since Hottle first took over.
The team now has 65 players, triple the amount Hottle started with, and Denison players were impressed even in the dominating win.
"They're trying to legitimize themselves," junior lineman Josh Hamperian said. "They're really trying hard, and that means a lot to me."
Said quarterback Mike Barnes: "They play really hard and with a lot of passion. They make you work for everything."
Fletcher was impressed with quarterback Jason Coleman, who despite going 8-of-24 for just 84 yards, slipped away from a number of sacks and was instrumental in the team's first victory.
"Their quarterback is a hell of a player," Fletcher said. "They just don't have a lot of depth right now."
Hottle has learned sign language, and he signs all the plays to the team on the field, who in turn sign to each other to figure out assignments.
It can make things difficult at times, but the difference wasn't noticeable on the field.
"The only difference was how quiet it was," Barnes said. "It wasn't loud at all. They used a lot of hand signals, so it was a little different. But other than that, it was a normal game."
Denison football coach Nick Fletcher spent a season with Ed Hottle and four more with Ryan Hite.
To him, it was plenty of time to predict the job the two will do at Gallaudet University.
The team is the only all-deaf football team in the nation, and just moved to Division III after playing as a club team since the mid-1990s.
It withdrew from Division III competition during a span that included 34 straight losses to NCAA teams, but beat St. Vincent 32-12 in its season-opener on Sept. 1.
Fletcher said it's a sign of things to come.
"Those kids play hard for (Hottle), and he works hard for them," Fletcher said. "He's going to do a real good job there. He's a great coach and he's going to do well."
Both Hottle and Hite declined comment after the game.
Hottle was Denison's defensive coordinator under Fletcher in 2001 before taking the Gallaudet job three years ago. Hite, the Bison offensive coordinator, was a standout receiver after playing quarterback as a freshman in 1999.
Hite still holds the Denison single-season record for receptions (62) and touchdown catches (11) and is in his first season at the university located in Washington D.C.
The Bison fell 42-0 to Denison on Saturday, but have improved dramatically since Hottle first took over.
The team now has 65 players, triple the amount Hottle started with, and Denison players were impressed even in the dominating win.
"They're trying to legitimize themselves," junior lineman Josh Hamperian said. "They're really trying hard, and that means a lot to me."
Said quarterback Mike Barnes: "They play really hard and with a lot of passion. They make you work for everything."
Fletcher was impressed with quarterback Jason Coleman, who despite going 8-of-24 for just 84 yards, slipped away from a number of sacks and was instrumental in the team's first victory.
"Their quarterback is a hell of a player," Fletcher said. "They just don't have a lot of depth right now."
Hottle has learned sign language, and he signs all the plays to the team on the field, who in turn sign to each other to figure out assignments.
It can make things difficult at times, but the difference wasn't noticeable on the field.
"The only difference was how quiet it was," Barnes said. "It wasn't loud at all. They used a lot of hand signals, so it was a little different. But other than that, it was a normal game."