The most important huddle of the season for the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind football team wasn't at the goal line. The players weren't even in pads or helmets.

Coach Don Creech stood Thursday on a chair in the cafeteria inside Walker Hall and signed to his 19 players the words they were hoping to see illustrated. Creech motioned the players to him, they locked arms around each other and joyfully roared.

The eight-man football team was named a team of the year by DeafDigest Sports, a private e-mail newsletter owned and operated by Barry Strassler, who also named Wisconsin as a team of the year. This is the first time SCSDB has been recognized.

Junior fullback/linebacker Michael McKelvey signed to assistant coach John "Dennis" White, who helped translate, that McKelvey was surprised and excited by the news.

"I am happy as I could be," McKelvey added. "I'm awake. This is something I will never forget."

SCSDB went 7-1 this season, with its only loss coming against Alabama School for the Deaf, which plays 11-man football. SCSDB was named conference champs of the Mason-Dixon Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association and placed into consideration for team of the year honors. Eleven schools in southeastern states belong to the MSDAA.

Strassler said in an e-mail that he looks at face-to-face competition between top deaf teams, and a key criterion is whether a deaf team defeats a non-deaf team in eight-man football. SCSDB defeated two non-deaf teams, which Strassler called "the clincher."

"I feel wonderful today," junior running back/linebacker Dedrick Simpson signed, adding that the team shares responsibility and players encourage each other to stay away from bad things and maintain good grades.

McKelvey, who injured his left foot in a game against the North Carolina School for the Deaf, said the team came together to finish the season.

Junior quarterback Justin Johnson agreed, saying the team responded to the injury by playing with heart and listening to the coaches.

"I hope the team will stay strong next year," said Johnson, who concurred with McKelvey and Simpson that he was already anticipating next season.

Creech, White and volunteer assistant coach Calvin Holst said receiving the news was like winning the Super Bowl, "only sweeter."