The Eric Thunander file

Published: June 24, 2008

Former Oklahoma football player

•Born: April 19, 1980, in Paradise, Calif.

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•High school: Lee's Summit (Mo.)

•College: Oklahoma, bachelor's degree in communication, 2007

•His football career: Thunander was one of four true freshmen to see playing time in 1999.

Late that season he moved from linebacker to defensive end, where he was a key reserve on the 2000 national championship team.

An ear canal injury ended his career after that season.

•His autobiography: Thunander wrote "Silent Thunder,” a book about his life which is being released nationally today.

•Notable: Thunander is deaf. He communicates via sign language or by reading lips and speaking.

•Quotable: "A lot of people give up too easy because society says, ‘You're deaf. You can't do this. You can't do that.' People have always told me what I can't achieve, but I don't listen to them.”

By Jenni Carlson


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