Shownotes Transcript
All right. So have you ever gotten 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 we're diving into today, it wasn't some breaking news alert or anything, but a simple email about an undefeated and get this, deaf person.
high school football team. Whoa, undefeated. Yeah, undefeated in Riverside, California. And this initial spark of curiosity 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. You know, it's like
On the surface, it's about sports, right? Yeah. High school football. But then you peel back the layers and it's about 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 Fuller in his book, The Boys of Riverside. Oh, I've heard of that one. Yeah. It's a fantastic read. And our mission for you in this deep dive is to really get to the heart of this inspiring story, the deaf world.
high school football team at the California School for the Deaf Riverside CSDR. CSDR, got it. We're going to be pulling from Fuller's insights to give you like a shortcut to understanding their incredible seasons
the unique individuals on the team, and the whole context of Deaf culture and history. Yeah, because you can't just talk about the team without talking about the culture, right? It's all connected. Exactly. We want to unpack what made this team so special, the obstacles they had to overcome, their huge triumphs,
and ultimately gain a deeper understanding of deaf 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 Fuller, it all started with this unassuming email. He was the San Francisco bureau chief for the New York Times. 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 deaf high school football team in Riverside that hadn't lost a single game it really hooked him undefeated wow and the school had been around for
quite a while without any major championship wins. So it was this like anomaly. And that spark of curiosity was so strong that he drove seven hours just to see what was going on. Seven hours. That's dedication. That tells you something right there. It really does. And when he got there, he stepped into the world of eight man football. Now, for anyone who might not know, this is a version of football played by smaller schools that don't have enough players for the traditional 11 man team. Right, right, right.
Makes sense. And the California School for the Deaf, Riverside, they only had 51 boys in their entire high school program. Nearly half of them were on the football team. Wow. So like almost everyone could play? Played.
Pretty much. It's known for being super fast-paced, hard-hitting, and some pretty big names in football got their start playing eight-man. Guys like Josh Allen, the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, and Rashawn Salaam, who won the Heisman Trophy. Oh, wow. So it's not like some minor league version of the sport. Not at all. It proves that talent can come from anywhere, any size school. For sure. For sure. Now, the Riverside Cubs, they were this really amazing mix of individuals.
Fuller does a great job of painting a picture of their diverse backgrounds, players from Mexico, Romania, El Salvador, Ethiopia. Wow. A real melting pot. And then there's their defensive coordinator, Kaveh Angorani. He was deaf and came all the way from Iran. His mom sent him to the U.S. after learning he was deaf. Wow. 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 dreamt of retiring on a Harley Davidson, you know, riding off into the California sunset. I love that. A classic American dream. It adds this whole other layer to the team's story. And then you've got Philip Castaneda, their lightning fast running back. His story is really powerful. That's his story. He was facing homelessness, actually living out of his dad'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 to focus on. Totally. Fuller actually mentioned that his first article about the team for The Times, it just blew up. People were so drawn to their story. It's just one of those stories that grabs you, you know, it's human, it's relatable. It really is. So this takes us to the start of their journey. Late summer 2021.
Fuller paints a really vivid picture of Philip as this like new kid, you know, still living in his dad's Nissan Sentra. Oh, man. 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 Sign Language is his first language. Exactly. It's like trying to learn a whole new language when you've never actually heard it spoken. It's a tough situation. I can imagine.
And his dad, Jude, who was a former deaf Olympian wrestler. Oh, seriously? Yeah, amazing, right? He had his own struggles with addiction, but he was really committed to giving Phillip a better life. He drove him all the way to Riverside, hoping for that fresh start. That's powerful. A father wanting the best for his son. And then came Hell Week, the preseason training. Fuller really makes it clear how intense this was. Hell Week.
The name says it all. Assistant coach Galvin Drake, a deaf weightlifting enthusiast, he really set this tone of like pure discipline. You got to have that, especially in preseason. And then head coach Keith Adams was totally committed to changing the team's history of losing. Fuller describes these brutal practices in the scorching riverside heat. Even Phillip, as
as fast and agile as he was, struggled big time at first. Makes sense. That heat can 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 of the players, they came from deaf families, so ASL wasn't just a way to communicate, it was
Right. It's their culture, their identity. Exactly. He even mentions this little detail about them finding ways to communicate when the weight room doors were locked, signing through the glass. It's this 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 Deaf in Riverside.
It was established after World War II because Southern California's population was booming and the existing school for the deaf was way up north in San Francisco. Yeah, that makes sense. It's a huge state. He talks about Riverside back then, a city really defined by its citrus industry. They played a big role in the history of the navel orange.
President Roosevelt even visited at one point. Initially, CSDR was in this picturesque setting surrounded by fields and orange groves. So a real change of pace from the hustle and bustle of big city. And as Riverside became more urbanized, the school remained a testament to the deaf community's commitment.
Fuller contrasts this early, almost country club feel of the campus with, you know, the later development of strip malls and housing tracks. So 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 Noly Indian, a hearing school, and let me tell you, they crushed it. Crushed it, huh? Fuller really points out the leadership of the older players. Felix, Enos, Jory, Trevin. And their success right out of the gate was incredible. Enos returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Trevin throws a long touchdown pass. Final score.
68-0. Whoa, that's a statement win. It was. Phillip even scored his very first touchdown in the fourth quarter. But what I thought was really cool was the reaction from Noli Indians coach, Coach Aguilar. He actually told his team to look to the Cubs' discipline as a model for their own play. Wow. So he saw something special in them, even in that defeat. He really did. And Fuller takes some time to explain how eight-man football works, and it's clear the Cubs had mastered it. They found their niche.
Now, this is where things get really interesting. Fuller starts talking about the advantages that deafness can actually bring to the football field. It's not just about overcoming a barrier, it's about actual strengths. Oh yeah, I've heard about this, like being immune to crowd noise and 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.
There's even research that suggests deaf individuals often have a wider field of peripheral vision. That's fascinating. It's like they're wired differently in a way that gives them an edge. And ASL itself is a huge advantage. Play calling can be much faster and quieter than in a huddle. Fuller tells this great story about the Cubs encrypting their signs when the other team brought in an interpreter. No way. Really? That's clever. Isn't it?
Coach Adams was all about taking what some might see as a weakness and turning it into a strength. It was a core part of his coaching philosophy. That's a great philosophy for life, really. Fuller also gives a sense of the Cubs' 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 it with sheer heart and incredible speed.
He really highlights Felix Gonzalez, their wide receiver, who was insanely fast and agile. He even mentions Felix's 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 there's Trevin Adams, the quarterback. Super strong runner, really powerful style. And Cody Metzner, who is the super smart player, but with a real intimidating presence on the field.
Fuller really emphasizes this powerful sense 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 bonded them.
It's really striking when Fuller compares the Cubs to these big, well-funded high school football programs. They were often playing against much smaller schools, mainly Protestant schools in the area. So they weren't exactly facing off against these powerhouse teams every week. Not at all. But they had this string of dominant wins than a much tougher game against Calvary Chapel.
It was a close one, and it really showed the Cubs' resilience, even with fatigue and some mistakes. Because you don't win every game perfectly, right? It's about pushing through those cuff moments. And that's where this story gets even more interesting. Fuller takes us into the lives of Keith Adams' parents, Linda and Roger.
Linda realized Keith was deaf when he was just a baby, and they really focused on oralism, teaching him to speak and lip read. Right, because that was the prevailing thought back 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 Linda's sister and a sign language teacher, and it just opened up a whole new world for Keith.
Fuller recounts this really touching moment when Keith asked about the "sound of sunshine." The sound of sunshine. Wow. That's really makes you think, you know, about how differently we experience the world. It really does. And this naturally leads Fuller into a broader discussion about deaf education. He talks about the long debate between oralism and the use of sign language. And he doesn't shy away from the historical marginalization of deaf people.
he brings up the development of natural sign languages. This fascinating example of deaf servants in the Ottoman court who used sign language, even discriminatory views towards deaf people in ancient times. Right, because it's not like this is a new issue.
Deaf people have been fighting for recognition and inclusion for centuries. Exactly. Fuller highlights this guy named Charles Michel de L'Epee who set up one of the first public schools for the deaf in the 1700s. That must have been huge at the time. It was, but then he talks about this major setback, the Milan Conference in 1880. They actually banned sign language in schools for the deaf. Why would they do that? It was this idea that oralism was the only way to truly integrate deaf people into society.
Fuller shares stories of students being punished for using ASL. It's heartbreaking. And then we hear about Linda Adams, Keith's mom. She fought hard for him to attend an all-deaf school where sign language was embraced, and he thrived there. It really shows how important language is for identity and community. Absolutely. Being able to communicate, to express yourself, it's fundamental. And then the story takes another turn, focusing on how technology has impacted the deaf community.
Fuller compares Keith and Carol, his wife, raising their hearing son Trevin to their own childhoods. It's night and day. Yeah, technology has changed everything, hasn't it? 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 fostered inclusion for deaf 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 Fuller introduces us to Dominic Turner.
He's a profoundly deaf player on the team and he has a cochlear implant. Interesting. I've always wondered about those. What's interesting about Dominic is that he can choose to hear or not hear depending on the situation. He joined the CSDR team after feeling like an outsider in mainstream schools.
Fuller explains how cochlear implants work, but he's careful to say they're not a perfect solution for everyone. And Dominic found real comfort in the deaf world. Right, because it's not about fixing deafness. It's about giving people options and respecting their choices. The book even touches on the history of cochlear implants and how their reception within the deaf community is complicated, even controversial. Dominic's story really shows how you can navigate both the hearing and deaf worlds. It's about finding your own path.
As October arrived, the Cubs were still undefeated, and Fuller captures this growing excitement within the Deaf community. He talks about Philip Castaneda having this standout game for touchdowns, 232 rushing yards.
His success had a huge impact on his mother. The games were becoming big community events. Alumni were traveling back to see them play. It's like they were carrying the hopes and dreams of the entire community. It really felt that way. Fuller even shares this touching story about the Valencia family. Their son Jory was on the team and they were so proud of him.
He talks about the unique atmosphere at the games, all the communication happening in ASL, even though their home field was kind of run down. They kept winning, getting closer to the championship. It's amazing how they thrived, even without those fancy facilities. And then, boom, the New York Times article goes viral.
Suddenly, this small school in Riverside is in the national spotlight. TV appearances, an invitation from the NFL. It's crazy. Fuller details all these positive changes that followed. California's governor announced funding for a new sports complex for the school. The Kelly Clarkson Show made a huge donation. Even the coach of Noli Indian, the team they blew out in that first game, he starts using the Cubs as an example for his players.
Wow. It's like their success opened all these doors. It really did. And this newfound attention intersected with some fascinating science. Fuller dives into research by Dr. Eddie Chang, who studies the brain and language.
He performed an awake craniotomy, which is wild in itself, and it showed that Broca's area, the part of the brain associated with language, it's involved in sign language too, not just spoken language. So scientifically proving that sign language is just as complex and legitimate as any spoken language. Exactly. And Fuller talks about how sign language was dismissed for so long. Then there's this linguist, William Stokoe, who in the 1960s proved how complex ASL really is. It's sad that it took so long for people to recognize that.
It is. Brain imaging studies later confirmed that the same brain pathways light up whether someone is using sign or spoken language. He even talks about deaf babies babbling with their hands, just like hearing babies babble with sounds. It shows that language is, at its core, a brain function. Like the brain wants to communicate no matter what. The Cubs' journey to the semifinals takes them to Santa Catalina 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 deaf? It's a really thought-provoking question. Oh, wow. That's deep. The media was all over this game. Their opponents, the Avalon Lancers, were physically much bigger. The game was a roller coaster with the Cubs struggling at first, them coming back, Avalon pushing back hard. But in the end...
The Cubs pulled out the victory. That must have been an intense game to watch. And Felix Gonzalez, remember him, the super fast receiver? He made this unbelievable one-handed catch. Pure athleticism. Even Avalon's co-captain showed real sportsmanship after the game. Felix signed, I'm proud to be deaf, and it just summed up their whole spirit. Man, I'm getting chills just thinking about it. As they headed into the championship game, they were pretty banged up.
Trevin was in a lot of pain. Felix was still out with an infection and Jory was sick. And they're trying to prep for the biggest game of their lives during Thanksgiving week, no less. Oh, man, that's rough. Talk about pressure. Their opponents, Faith Baptist, were a powerhouse with a history of winning championships. And to add even more pressure, their defensive coordinator, Coach Angarani, had planned for this to be his last season before retirement. So like the stakes couldn't be higher. Right.
Fuller then gives us more of Coach Angarani's backstory. His mom had prayed for him in Iran when she learned he was deaf. He was often treated poorly because of it, but he found belonging through soccer, then American football. He moved to the U.S., struggled with ASL at 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 Baptist's strong Christian values.
He introduces Faith Baptist's coach, Rob Davidson, some of their star players, a huge tight end, speedy receiver, and this incredible running back. It was a clash of athleticism, but also cultures, identities, with everything on the line. It was almost like a microcosm of society, you know, two different worlds 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 deaf community showed up in force. Media was everywhere. Fuller even mentions Tom Brady's production company being there.
The school superintendent gave a really moving signed interview. It was a big moment for the deaf community. Wow. They had the whole world watch it. The game started with Faith Baptist coming out strong, taking an early lead. But then the Cubs, they pulled off this trick play for a touchdown and that really sparked their comeback. Jory was playing sick. Caden was out there with a broken ankle. I mean, they were giving it everything.
By halftime, the momentum had shifted. It seemed like they could actually pull off the upset. Man, they just wouldn't give up. What heart. But the second half, it was tough. Faith Baptist got back in control. Their running back was dominating. And Trevin, he got a concussion. There was an interception thrown by Caden. They lost 74-22. But even though they lost, their fans were so supportive. Because they saw the fight, the determination. That's what matters. Right. But their story didn't end there.
Fuller takes us to Super Bowl LVI where the team got to attend. It was a bittersweet experience, the honor of being there, but also the sting of the championship loss. Coach Adams said they had unfinished business and Coach Angarani decided to put off his retirement. They were coming back. Wow. They weren't satisfied with just being there. They wanted more. They were hungry. Fuller describes their intense offseason training and Alfredo Baltazar, 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 Adams's office was this like organized chaos and their initial conditioning was way more intense than the previous year. They were focused on strength and speed. They took that loss and channeled it into motivation. But they had another setback.
Philip Castaneda, remember the running back living in his dad's car. He was ruled academically ineligible. It was a huge blow to him. Yeah, that's tough. Yeah. It's a reminder that these are student athletes and life throws curveballs. Absolutely. But the team, they were laser focused. Fuller talks about their insane strengths gains, the California rules around contact practices. Kuchma Bishoff was running these high energy drills.
Felix was back and playing like a beast. Fuller even introduces us to this other player, Andre Voynet, 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 of life. Their season opener was against Chadwick School, and Fuller points out the huge difference in resources between the two schools, even their playing fields. Ricardo Terraza's, he played with such fire, such determination.
Final score, 54-16. It was a statement win. A reminder that heart and grit can often overcome those resource disparities. And then there was this huge rivalry game against Fremont, the other deaf school in California. It was intense with this long history. Fremont had dominated for years.
Fuller even talks about some of the, like, dirty tricks Fremont tried to pull. But the Cubs shut them down. 54-6. They won back the big game trophy after 13 years. It was a huge moment for them. That must have been so satisfying to finally overcome their rivals. Fuller then shares this amazing story about Michael Pallone, a deaf football coach who became a successful quarterback, defying all the doubters. His team, the Deaf Hoosiers, ended up playing the Cubs and they lost pretty badly.
The Cubs faced some criticism for their dominant wins, people saying they weren't playing the best competition.
Coach Adams, he shut that down. He knew how hard his team worked no matter who they were playing. Because it's about the effort, the commitment, not just the opponent. And then there was this game against Calvary Chapel. Felix Gonzalez, he was on fire earning the nickname the Cheetah. But then he suffered a devastating leg injury. Fuller describes the chaos of trying to navigate the medical system, the emotional toll on Felix and the whole team. They made a pact to win the championship for him.
Coach Adams 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 ranked the Cubs as the number one eight-man football team in California.
The NFL came back to film another one of Kirch Adams' pregame speeches. The team went wild. In their next game, the Visco cousins stepped up big time, filling in for Felix. It was a team effort. So even with setbacks, they kept rising to the occasion. But as the playoffs approached, there were more hurdles. Jory had walking pneumonia. Felix was still out. But they had this next man up mentality. They won their first playoff game against Leadership Military Academy, even with Christian getting injured.
Their resilience was incredible. They just wouldn't quit. Their quarterfinal game was against Flintridge Prep. Fuller highlights the differences in resources and coaching between the two schools, but the Cubs fought hard. They won, and they were one step closer to the championship. Coach Adams used the memory of last year's loss to motivate them. He knew how to push the right buttons. And then it was time to face Faith Baptist again in the championship.
Fuller describes the intense preparation, the coaches studying every play, even using a tall assistant coach to mimic Faith Baptist's tight end in practice.
Christian was determined to play despite his injury everyone wanted to beat Faith Baptist the anticipation was through the roof the rematch everyone was waiting for the underdog story at Birmingham High School where the championship was held the Cubs were all business Faith Baptist made some early mistakes maybe thrown off by the Cubs silent Cadence Trevon scored early but Faith Baptist answered back it was a tense start back and forth like a heavyweight fight and then Fuller
Fuller brings in the story about David LaValley to illustrate how success isn't just about talent. It's about character, teamwork, grit. He connects this to social identity theory, how our sense of who we are is tied to the groups we belong to. That strong bond within the Cubs, it was a huge part of their success. He even mentions 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 negated a big gain for the Cubs. Trevin overthrew a pass, but then Cody had some great runs. And then Trevin threw this, like,
crazy pass that somehow landed in Cody's hands for a touchdown. They were back in the lead. Unbelievable. Those are the moments you remember. The second quarter was all Cubs defense. Big tackles, near interceptions by Trevin and Caden. Screen passes to Jory and Geo were working. Cody made a huge block and Trevin had a rushing touchdown and then an interception return for another touchdown. They were up big at halftime. A complete turnaround. They found their groove.
Fuller then circles back to Keith Adams' story. He was a deaf quarterback at a hearing high school, Lincoln High, and he was really good.
But college recruitment was tough because he was deaf. He ended up transferring to Gallaudet University, a renowned deaf university, and now he's coaching a deaf high school team. It's like his journey came full circle. That's powerful. He's using his experience to pave the way for others. The president of the CAF was at the game. It was a big deal. And right after Faith Baptist's halftime pep talk, the Cubs recovered an onside kick and...
Trevin Adams. He was on fire, scoring 60 points. Faith Baptist's coach was even impressed, saying you learn from both wins and losses. Final score, 84-48, a huge win for the Cubs. They did it. They overcame everything and achieved their goal. During the postgame handshake, one of the Faith Baptist players said he couldn't believe the deaf team had won. The Cubs celebrated, the CIF official congratulated them in sign language, and Coach Adams talked about finally breaking through those barriers he'd faced his whole life.
Felix 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, emotional, and a reminder that anything is possible. So let's take a moment to absorb all that. We've just witnessed the incredible journey of the Riverside Cubs. 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, their unwavering perseverance. And we learned about the history of the deaf experience, which makes their achievements even more significant. It really makes you question your own assumptions, right? It reminds you of 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 worlds? 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, I highly recommend Thomas Fuller's 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've finished it.
It's a reminder that even when faced with adversity, even when the odds are stacked against you, you can still achieve great things with hard work, dedication, and the support of a strong community. Well said. And on that note, we'll wrap up this deep dive. Thanks for joining us, and we'll see you next time. See you then.