The Seahawks Alphabet
The latest in the NWSB Moments In Time series. Hope you enjoy this one Seahawks fans. I take a look at the Seattle Seahawks in an A-Z format.
A
- Alexander the Great aka Shaun Alexander. Seattle’s one and only MVP (though Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson should be co-winners). Alexander rushed for 1,880 yards, 27 rushing TD’s and a receiving TD on his way to breaking NFL and franchise records in 2005.
B
- Beast Quake. The name aptly given to Marshawn Lynch‘s 67 yard touchdown rush against the New Orleans Saints in the 2010 playoffs. The Seahawks went on to upset the defending champs as Lynch broke half a dozen tackles and stiff armed players down the field. The run also caused a minor earthquake in the Seattle area from the crowd going so insane after the run.
C
- You can’t talk about the Seahawks without talking about their best head coach and NFL legend Mike Holmgren. “The Czar” led the Seahawks to an 86-74 regular season record and 4-6 postseason record during his tenure as head coach. In that time, the Seahawks won 5 division titles, an NFC Championship and went to Super Bowl 40. (Here is my list of favorite Mike Holmgren moments in Seattle)
D
- The Seahawks have their own in-house drum line named Blue Thunder. Does YOUR team have a drum line? I didn’t think so.
The Seahawks have their own drumline. Does YOUR team have one?
E
- You’ll need earplugs if you’re new to CenturyLink field. The 12th man is loud and proud in the noisiest atmosphere in all of football. From a Seahawks.com piece: “On gameday the 12th MAN produces as much as 112 dB, nearly as much noise as a Boeing 747 when the opposing team is on offense, but quiets down to an amazing 87 decibels when the Seahawks’ offense takes the field.”
F
- In 2005 , the 12th man was SO loud at Qwest Field (now CenturyLink) that the New York Giants were penalized 11 times for false starts, an NFL record.
G
- Legendary Seahawks coach Chuck Knox was given the nickname Ground Chuck because of his affinity for running the ball consistently. (Read about Knox in action as Seahawks head coach here)
H
- The Seahawks over time have had 7 NFL Hall of Famers play for the franchise, although only 2 are credited as Seahawks. Besides the two Seahawks in Steve Largent and Cortez Kennedy, the team also employed the services of Franco Harris, Carl Eller, Warren Moon, John Randle and Jerry Rice at one point.
I
- The Seahawks have been part of many infamous plays in the NFL. How about when Bo Jackson leveled Brian Bosworth on his way into the endzone and Jackson’s run down the sideline on Monday Night Football into the players tunnel. Or Emmitt Smith breaking the NFL career rushing record.
And a positive: Tony Romo bobbling a field goal snap and being stopped just short of a first down and a touchdown. (Read more about this playoff game here)
J
- The very first head coach of the Seahawks was a man named Jack Patera. The Nordstrom family were the first owners of the team, with Lloyd Nordstrom as the representative of the family. He hired ex-UW Executive John Thompson as the first GM of the franchise who then, in turn hired the ex-Minnesota Vikings assistant Patera.
K
- The Seahawks almost moved to Los Angeles in 1996 thanks to ex-owner Ken Behring, who moved the team’s operations to Anaheim, California. The trucks were packed and ready to go until Seattle’s knight in shining armor, Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen, stepped in and bought the team in 1997. (Behring also made the top of this list)
L
- On August 26, 1976, before their inaugural season, the Seahawks traded their 1977 8th round pick to the Houston Oilers for a WR named Steve Largent. Largent went on to make 819 receptions for 13,089 career yards and 100 touchdowns on his way to 7 Pro Bowls and 8 All-Pro teams.
M
- The new franchise awarded to Seattle was yet to be named and the front office had a fun idea…a naming contest. Over 20,000 entries were entered and 151 submitted the name “Seahawk.” Mary Hoolihan is the only credited name, yet there is no confirmation.
N
- The Seahawks very first draft pick (non-expansion draft) was pick #2 in the 1976 NFL Draft. The team selected Notre Dame DT Steve Niehaus. Niehaus set the Seahawks rookie record with 9.5 sacks and went on to win the 1976 Defensive Rookie of the Year.
O
- The Seahawks have had 38 first round draft picks in their history and used 10 of them on Offensive Linemen, more than any other position on the roster.
The Original voice of the Seattle Seahawks: Pete Gross
P
- Pete Gross. The first voice of the Seattle Seahawks who held that position until his untimely passing before the 1992 season. Gross is the only non-player in history to be named to the Seahawks Ring of Honor.
Q
- The Seahawks ushered in their first full-time home after the Kingdome in Qwest Field (Now CenturyLink Field). Even with the name change, fans and players around the league still call it Qwest Field.
R
- There may only be 2 Seahawks in the NFL Hall of Fame, but they have a few more enshrined in their very own Ring of Honor. The Ring of Honor acknowledges players and coaches for their contributions to the Seattle Seahawks franchise.
The list of inductees: Dave Brown (CB 1976-86), Kenny Easley (S 1981-87), Jacob Green (DE 1980-91), Pete Gross (Original Voice of the Seahawks 1976-92), Cortez Kennedy (DT 1990-2000), Chuck Knox (Head Coach 1983-91), Dave Krieg (QB 1980-91), Steve Largent (WR 1976-89), Curt Warner (RB 1983-89) and Jim Zorn (QB 1976-84).
S
- Every team has a cheer squad in the NFL and the Seahawks are lucky enough to have the best cheering them on each Sunday. You can’t talk about football and NOT mention cheerleaders. Especially our smoking hot SeaGals.
T
- The Seahawks had their second ever player inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame this year, in the HOF Class of 2012. Cortez Kennedy, or Tez Rex, is one of the most dominant Defensive Tackles in history and dominated the 1990′s. Kennedy registered 668 tackles, 58 sacks and 3 interceptions on his way to 8 Pro Bowls, 3 First Team All-Pro selections, 1992 Defensive Player of the Year and of course this year’s Hall of Fame induction.
U
- A dominant linebacker with the Seahawks from 1988-1994 and a fan favorite. His name? The fans called him RUUUUUUUUUUUUfus Porter. Porter played in 135 games, sacking QB’s 41 times and picking off 3 passes.
V
- Virginia Mason Athletic Clinic (VMAC), the Seahawks training facility located in Renton, Washington since 2008. The training home was located back and forth between Carillon Point, Kirkland and Cheney before the new, scenic, expansive, high-tech practice and training facility was built in Renton.
VMAC offers views that you don’t get at most college or professional venues, period.
W
- The Seahawks drafted Offensive Tackle Walter Jones with the 6th overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft. The Florida State alum went on to become arguably one of the best OT in the history of the NFL. Big Walt played his entire 12 year career with the Seahawks on his way to 9 Pro Bowls and 7 All-Pro teams.
He was First Team All Rookie in 1997 and Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2005.
The soon to be Hall of Famer had his number retired by the Seahawks.
Big Walt - One of the best
X
- The Seattle Seahawks rumbled their way through the NFC in 2005 behind MVP RB Shaun Alexander and QB Matt Hasselbeck on their way to Super Bowl XL. They were paired against the Pittsburgh Steelers in that Super Bowl 40 matchup who overcame the Seahawks (who dominated almost every major offense statistic) and won the game 21-10.
There were several game-changing blown calls in the game, though, as acknowledged by the NFL and NFL officials after the fact.
Y
- Since John Schneider and Pete Carroll (check out my Carroll profile here) took over the franchise, there has been a massive youth movement in the program. In 2010, the average age of the team was 26.10 years old, good for 20th youngest in the league.
In 2011, that number skyrocketed, with the Seahawks becoming the 5th youngest team. With several vets moving on, that number could be even higher in the 2012 campaign.
Z
- Jim Zorn was the Seahawks first ever starting quarterback and went on to be the leading passer on the team for their first 7 seasons. Zorn won the 1976 Offensive Rookie of the Year and was All-Pro in 1978. He threw for 111 TD, 21,115 yards and 141 interceptions.