Seahawks: 12th Man belongs to Texas

Re: “The 12th Man is given the bum’s rush,” (TNT, 8/18).

I found this editorial interesting, although I’m not sure what point the writer was trying to make.

First of all, the wrong name was given for the “first” 12th Man, E. King Gill. Then the writer appears to blame Texas A&M for protecting a term that has been an honored tradition at the school, existing long before the Seattle Seahawks franchise was even a gleam in someone’s eye.

In the age of trademarking and the inevitable follow-up lawsuits to protect intellectual property, A&M can hardly be condemned for protecting their usage of the term. Finally, the writer says, “...the concept of the 12th Man goes beyond branding and money-making and enters the realm of things more profound.” As a former student of Texas A&M University, I can tell you that is exactly how Aggies feel about being part of the 12th Man at Texas A&M.

Sorry, Seahawks fans (and I’m one myself!), you’ll have to settle for being 12s, for the Aggies of Texas A&M are the 12th Man.

This story was originally published August 26, 2016 at 12:29 PM with the headline "Seahawks: 12th Man belongs to Texas."