Written By
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Gallaudet’s athletic director, Warren Keller, graciously answered some questions about the school’s football program’s polarizing move to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) for the upcoming season. We covered this earlier in an interview with SCAC commissioner Dwayne Hanberry.
Q: What was your initial reaction to receiving the offer to play in the SCAC's Championship Weekend as an affiliate?
Warren Keller: It was truly an honor for our program to receive the opportunity to participate in the SCAC Championship Weekend as an affiliate member. The SCAC has a rich tradition in football, and the chance to compete on a stage like War Memorial Stadium made the opportunity even more special.
From the beginning, one of the most important factors for us was providing our student-athletes with a clear pathway to postseason competition and the NCAA playoffs. Whether a program is competing for a championship or working through a rebuilding process, having that goal to pursue is critical to the student-athlete experience.
The opportunity to compete for a conference championship and earn access to the NCAA playoffs aligned perfectly with what we were seeking for our football program. It provided a pathway that otherwise would not have been available to us, and that made it a very exciting and meaningful opportunity.
Q: Do you plan on treating this experience like a "bowl game"?
Keller: In many ways, yes, it does have a bowl game feel to it. One of the things that makes this opportunity special is that it gives our student-athletes a chance to travel to a part of the country where Gallaudet football does not typically compete and to face an opponent we likely would not see during the regular season.
Beyond the game itself, experiences like this create lasting memories for our team. The opportunity to represent Gallaudet on a larger stage, travel together, engage with a new community, and compete against a quality opponent makes it a unique and meaningful experience for our student-athletes.
Of course, our goal is always to compete for a championship and earn a spot in the NCAA playoffs. But regardless of where we finish in the standings, participating in Championship Weekend provides an exciting postseason opportunity that has many of the same qualities people associate with a bowl game.
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you have had in building an independent schedule as one of the Division's only independents?
Keller: To be honest, it was not as difficult as I initially expected. We had already prepared for the possibility of competing as an independent and felt confident we could build a strong schedule.
The greater challenge was creating a pathway back to postseason competition and the NCAA playoffs. Fortunately, what we thought might take several years came together in just a few months, and we are very pleased with the outcome.
Q: What impacts will this game have in increasing the university's profile in the Arkansas/Deep South?
Keller: This opportunity has the potential to increase awareness of both Gallaudet University and our football program throughout Arkansas and the broader Deep South. Historically, we have attracted outstanding student-athletes from that region, and Arkansas is a football-rich area with a deep passion for the sport.
Beyond recruiting, this game gives us a chance to introduce more people to Gallaudet's unique mission and the opportunities available for Deaf and hard of hearing students. Anytime we can compete in a new region and share our story with new audiences, it is a valuable opportunity for our university and our football program.
Q: Does Gallaudet plan on doing any community outreach leading up to the game?
Keller: Absolutely. The Arkansas School for the Deaf is only about 10 minutes away, and we definitely plan to connect with their community while we're there.
It's a great opportunity for our student-athletes to engage with local Deaf and hard of hearing students, share their experiences, and represent Gallaudet beyond the football field.
