Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind

John Burns ‘77 – Athletics

Football

• He participated in Varsity football for two years with notable achievements.
• In 1975, he contributed to a record of 8 wins and 2 losses.
• The following year, in 1976, the team achieved a perfect record of 10 wins and 0 losses, culminating in the Mythical Prep National Championship awarded by Deaf American Magazine.
• Individually, he made 5 interceptions, forced 2 fumbles, and had 1 fumble recovery during the 10 games.
• A highlight of his performance came in the first game of the 1976 season against Flagler Palm Coast, where his interception in the final two minutes helped secure a 17-12 victory.
• Additionally, in a game against Georgia School for the Deaf, he recorded 2 interceptions, one of which resulted in a touchdown.
• His skills earned him a spot on the 1st Defense Team in the 2AA Class.

Basketball

• He participated in Varsity Basketball for two years, with the team achieving notable placements in the Mason-Dixon Tournament.
• In 1976, they secured 5th place, and in 1977, they improved their standing by finishing in 3rd place.

Track & Field

• He was a long-distance runner for the Varsity Track team for two years, specifically participating in the 1975-1976 seasons.
• His events included the 880-yard run, as well as the 1-mile and 2-mile runs.

Recognitions

• After graduation, he played softball for 11 years from 1979 to 1990 with the West Coast Club of the Deaf (WCCD) in Tampa, Florida.
• In addition to softball, he also dedicated 10 years to basketball, serving as both a player and coach from 1980 to 1990. His contributions to the sport were recognized in 2011 when he was inducted into the Southeastern Athletics Association of the Deaf (SEAAD) Hall of Fame as a Basketball Coach.
• That same year, he took on the role of Chairperson for the 25th Anniversary Reunion of his FSD Dragons team, which celebrated their achievement as the 1976 National Football Champions.