The Football Drum

Although Gallaudet no longer uses a drum to signal the start of plays in football games, a drummer still bangs one when it's time to switch warmup exercises during pregame stretching. A hand signal or a touch on the center's leg is used to call for the snap to the quarterback. Rather than feeling the vibration from the drum, players now watch for ball movement to start plays. The Bison keep defenses off balance by calling plays in sign language at the line of scrimmage, although the huddle was created at Gallaudet back in the 1890s.