12th Man

[ZagGrad]

What's everybody's take on the Seahawks using the "12th Man" slogan? Apparently, Texas A & M is filing suit on the matter.

[Gregg Pathiakis]

The Aggies don't even use the 12th man anymore. If this tradition was so important to TAMU, they shouldn't have stopped using it. This is as crazy as Paris Hilton trying to copyright "That's hot."

[wheelz33]

the seahawks have used it since the 80's if im correct. so if they had a problem with it they shouldve said something before now...of course, no one outside seattle probably knew about it till now cause the seahawks have always been worthless.

[Gregg Pathiakis]

the seahawks have used it since the 80's if im correct. so if they had a problem with it they shouldve said something before now...of course, no one outside seattle probably knew about it till now cause the seahawks have always been worthless.

1984 to be exact.

[Campbell]

The Aggies don't even use the 12th man anymore. If this tradition was so important to TAMU, they shouldn't have stopped using it. This is as crazy as Paris Hilton trying to copyright "That's hot."

WHOA! I never heard of TAMU not using the 12th man anymore. As far as I know A&M still runs a walk on player wearing number 12 in the kickoff unit. Regardless of whether they still use a walk on, the tradition of the 12th man is a very old (1924 I think) and cherished tradition at the school. However, I'm pretty sure we didnt coin the phrase and the use of it by other teams wouldn't seem like a big deal. Although, I have never heard of another team suiting up a student in the stands up to serve as a substitute. I call BS on A&M filing a lawsuit against the Seahawks, anyone have any proof of this?

[tamu33]

The Aggies don't even use the 12th man anymore. If this tradition was so important to TAMU, they shouldn't have stopped using it.

You should research before stating claims.

A&M uses its 12th man in every football game and in everyday life. Here a few examples.

1. One walk-on/non-scholarship player is designated the 12th man each week and is on the kickoff team.

2. The whole student section stands the entire game to show that they are ready if the team needs them.

3. We have the 12th Man Foundation.


A Seattle TV station (KIRO) is doing a poll concerning the 12th Man
controversy. The poll is on the right-hand side of the page:

http://www.kirotv.com/sports/6592616/detail.html



Here is the history of the 12th man

The tradition of the Twelfth Man was born on the second of January 1922, when an underdog Aggie team was playing Centre College, then the nation's top ranked team. As the hard fought game wore on, and the Aggies dug deeply into their limited reserves, Coach Dana X. Bible remembered a squad man who was not in uniform. He had been up in the press box helping reporters identify players. His name was E. King Gill, and was a former football player who was only playing basketball. Gill was called from the stands, suited up, and stood ready throughout the rest of the game, which A&M finally won 22-14. When the game ended, E. King Gill was the only man left standing on the sidelines for the Aggies. Gill later said, "I wish I could say that I went in and ran for the winning touchdown, but I did not. I simply stood by in case my team needed me."

This gesture was more than enough for the Aggie Team. Although Gill did not play in the game, he had accepted the call to help his team. He came to be thought of as the Twelfth Man because he stood ready for duty in the event that the eleven men on the gridiron needed assistance. That spirit of readiness for service, desire to support, and enthusiasm helped kindle a flame of devotion among the entire student body; a spirit that has grown vigorously throughout the years. The entire student body at A&M is the Twelfth Man, and they stand during the entire game to show their support. The 12th Man is always in the stands waiting to be called upon if they are needed.

This tradition took on a new look in the 1980's when Coach Jackie Sherrill started the 12th Man Kick-Off Team composed of regular students through open tryouts. This 12th Man team performed very well and held opponents to one of the lowest yards per return averages in the league. Later, Head Coach R.C. Slocum changed the team to allow only one representative of the 12th Man on the kick off team. The 12th Man tradition also took musical form. The 12th Man sings this song after each game in which the Aggies are outscored.

[Gregg Pathiakis]

The Aggies don't even use the 12th man anymore. If this tradition was so important to TAMU, they shouldn't have stopped using it.

You should research before stating claims.

A&M uses its 12th man in every football game and in everyday life. Here a few examples.

My bad, while reading something about this story, I read "[t]hey stopped using real students on special teams after getting burned on kickoff returns one year."

[Gregg Pathiakis]

A Seattle TV station (KIRO) is doing a poll concerning the 12th Man
controversy. The poll is on the right-hand side of the page:

http://www.kirotv.com/sports/6592616/detail.html

Surprisingly, a vast majority (80%) of voters (remember, this is a Seattle news station) say the Aggies have a good case.

[ZagGrad]

If it was another college football team trying to do this, I'd be a little more sympathetic to the cause. Since it's a pro team and, more or less, a gimmick, I think TAMU needs to get off the soap box.

[CyLaxKeeper00]

every team in EVERY sport designates a 'spot' on the team for the fans. it's just that A&M takes it a bit more seriously.

[Brent Burns]

every team in EVERY sport designates a 'spot' on the team for the fans. it's just that A&M takes it a bit more seriously.

Being the son and the brother of two Aggies, I know what it is like growing up with those Aggie traditions. Believe me, they do take it seriously. That is the way they are.

[KnoxVegas]

The 12th man arrived here in Detroit today. Seahawks fans are all over the place.

[jessexy]

The Aggies don't even use the 12th man anymore. If this tradition was so important to TAMU, they shouldn't have stopped using it.

You should research before stating claims.

A&M uses its 12th man in every football game and in everyday life. Here a few examples.

My bad, while reading something about this story, I read "[t]hey stopped using real students on special teams after getting burned on kickoff returns one year."

Jackie Sherrill used a full team of walk-ons to cover kicks when he was coach. Every player wore #12.

Then it went away when RC Slocum was coaching.

Supposedly, Franchione put it back in last year with the kickoff coverage team being all walk-ons, but they wore different numbers with only one person wearing #12

[LaxC21]

Besides playing on kick-offs, the 12th Man has STARTED at Linebacker and Safety at various times over the last few seasons...mostly due to injury...but it is still a VERY BIG part of the A&M tradition.

My take is, the Seahawks should of just made a formal request to the university and we would probably have never heard anything about it. However, that didn't happen so here we are.

[ZagGrad]

I really don't understand why this is such a big deal. Chances are, this whole Seahawks 12th man "version" will be long fogotten after the super bowl. Even though it's not football, my only way of relating to all of this is if there was an NBA team calling it's crowd the "Kennel Club." No big deal to me. Is it really that big of a deal to go through all this? I think it gives those attached to A&M a snooty reputation (sorry tamu33).