privatefootball quarterbacks, Brandon Washington and Trevin Adams, athletic director Warren Keller, ’10, and associate athletic director for communications Sam Atkinson attended the College Football Playoff Championship Weekend January 5-9 in Houston, Texas. While there, the Bison contingent represented Gallaudet, worked with AT&T on national media interview opportunities related to the new 5G-connected football helmet, and made public appearances throughout the weekend. They spent much of their time at Playoff Fan Central, a four-day exposition at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, and attended the 2024 College Football Playoff Championship Game on Monday evening, January 8 at NRG Stadium. The #1-ranked University of Michigan Wolverines won the national championship, defeating the #2 University of Washington Huskies, 34-13. AT&T was the main sponsor for this game.  

Gallaudet has worked with AT&T for the last two years to develop a 5G-connected football helmet. The helmet allows coaches on the sideline to select a play from a tablet that sends the play to a lens inside the helmet. The quarterback wearing the helmet receives the play in augmented reality on the digital display located within the visor. This new technology debuted during Gallaudet’s October 7th game against Hilbert College, and has brought unprecedented media coverage to the university. The helmet was featured in AT&T national commercials throughout the 2023 college football season, and technical.ly DC named the helmet its 2023 Invention of the Year. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is reviewing the AT&T 5G-connected football helmet for future use. 

The AT&T space at Playoff Fan Central, in the George R. Brown Convention Center, had American Sign Language interpreters on-site throughout the weekend. 

Dana Miles, ’98 & G-’00, was also at College Football Playoff Championship Weekend. Miles, the 2022 Washington State Teacher of the Year, was one of 55 teachers from around the United States who attended the game at the invitation of the Council of Chief State School officers.  

Tasha Lemke, ’09, who has played for the Austin Outlaws in the Women’s Football Alliance for over ten years, was also featured in an AT&T commercial. Lemke played in the WFA All-American game in 2021. 

@GallaudetU and @GallaudetBison on Instagram both contain behind-the-scenes footage and photos of the trip.