Sammy Marvin OATES

United States

Deaflympic / World Championships Medals:

First Deaflympic Games: Milan 1957

Born: 1938

Deceased: 06 Oct 2010

Gender: m

Sammy grew up in Austin, Texas where he attended Texas School for the Deaf. He then entered Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.
He was a rarity, moving up from football on deaf high school level to a NCAA-I college level in the late fifties. At that time Hardin-Simmons was a NCAA-I program and played against big time NCAA-I teams. He was a 4-season starter at Hardin-Simmons, first as running back and then as wide receiver. He was drafted by Houston Oilers in the American Football League and was one of the late cuts. He then tried out in Canadian Football League but was cut again. He then played a couple of games in United Football League and quit this sport for good. Many deaf high school football players end up playing at Gallaudet, a NCAA-III program, but not Oates, it was NCAA-I for him.