Recently retired Seattle Seahawk Ricardo Lockette signs autographs for fans during the team's "12 Tour" stop at Tiger Stadium in Centralia on Friday afternoon.
The SeaGals perform a dance routine on Friday during the 12 Tour at Tiger Stadium in Centralia.
It has been said that the early bird gets the worm. So, logically, the same is true for Seahawks fans.
The Seattle Seahawks fan appreciation rally, dubbed the 12 Tour, visited Centralia on Friday and the Hub City 12s did not disappoint their cherished football squadron. According to officials with the 12 Tour, the first fan to file into Centralia High School’s Tiger Stadium was in their perch by 4:30 a.m.
That approach turned out to be a wise one as the stadium was overflowing by the time the actual event rolled around. A crowd of more than 2,000 fans filled the grandstands and lined the track in front of the stadium in a throng three 12s deep.
Organizers from both Centralia and the Seahawks organization were surprised by the huge turnout, especially for a 11 a.m. on a weekday.
With the Blue Thunder drumline and shimmering Sea Gals cheerleaders setting the stage, Centralia Mayor Bonnie Canaday took the stage with a welcoming message to the flock of Seahawks fans and the Seahawks representatives themselves. Recently retired Seahawk Ricardo Lockette and rookies Joey Hunt and George Fant made up the rest of the Seahawks’ contingent.
Fant, an offensive tackle, was quick to answer when asked what his biggest surprise has been in his short time with the Seahawks. “Twelves!” quipped Fant, much to the approval of the fans in attendance. “For real, Seattle has the best fans in NFL football.”
Joey Hunt, a center, was a smash hit with the fans on account of his impressive mane of curly locks, which he has not cut since April 2014. Hunt detailed his current shampoo of choice and was then asked if he believes his locks provide him strength, in the same vein as the biblical Samson.
“At least it’s pretty. I don’t know about strength,” noted Hunt, who said he is excited to protect Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson.
Far and away, though, the largest cheers were reserved for Lockette, who announced his retirement in May on the heels of a severe neck injury suffered last season in a game versus the Dallas Cowboys. Lockette now sports a zipper scar up the back of his neck from the surgery that repaired his ambulatory capacity. With his football career behind him Lockette said he’s excited about the prospects that await him off of the gridiron.
“My goal is to make everyone I come into contact with a better person,” explained Lockette, who noted his intention to operate a homeless outreach program.
Lockette went into great detail thanking all of the Seahawk faithful for their outpouring of support as he lay in his hospital bed and began working his way back to full health. Lockette said that he wouldn’t be where he is today without that immense show of support to uplift him during his darkest days.
That injury, which nearly cost him the ability to move his extremities — if not his life — has left Lockette with a great appreciation for life.
“Give each play everything you’ve got. The next play is not promised, the next game is not promised,” he said. “Neither are these fans, because I’ve played for other teams and it’s nothing like this.”
After the players spoke to the crowd, Mayor Canaday again took to the stage in order to raise the ceremonial 12th Man flag, to the uproarious approval of the horde of fans.
At the conclusion of the official ceremony one woman stood in the stands and read a Seahawks-inspired poem into a megaphone. Other fans lined the field in order to gather signatures from players and cheerleaders.
Josh Wood, 26, Shelton, was far and away the best dressed 12th Man in attendance. Sporting a bedazzled top hat, blue driving goggles, a full-length 12th Man cape and Mardi Gras-style beads all over his outfit, Wood watched the event from the top row of the bleachers. A self-described lifelong Seahawks fan, Wood said he has never had the pleasure of attending a Seahawks game in person but he has worn his regal ensemble to a few Fan Fest events at CenturyLink Field.
Wood came to Centralia on Friday set on getting an autograph from Lockette, who he described as his sister’s favorite player. With a bit of extra effort he was able to navigate the masses and get his commemorative football signed by the retired receiver. “I appreciate you, man,” said an impressed Lockette as he handed the ball back to the dapper Wood without a fumble.
Wood wasn’t surprised by the large turnout for the 12 Tour in Centralia.
“Honestly, yeah, I expected it,” said Wood. “This is how 12s do!”
The Carson family, of Winlock, also made the trek to celebrate Seattle football. Lee Carson said that they learned about the event from his wife, Kristy, who is a school bus driver in Centralia and brought 51 kids to the event on her big yellow bus.
“As soon as we found out about it we knew we were going to come,” said Lee.
Zane Carson, Lee and Kristy’s son, said that his favorite players include Russell Wilson, Ricardo Lockette, Tyler Lockett, Thomas Rawls, Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse. On Friday he was lucky enough to get his 12th Man flag signed by Lockette.
Adam Rose, of Chehalis, sported his well-worn road white Steve Largent jersey to the 12 Tour. He said he learned the legend of Seahawks teams past from his father when he was growing up.
“This is my first time ever being to something like this,” said Rose. “Some people just sign and go, sign and go, but it was a really good experience. It’s hard to get to everybody. You’d be here for 10 hours to get everybody.”
Rose added that, “I’m hoping to go to a game soon, but who knows when that will be.”
Like his fellow rabid Seahawk sfans, Friday’s high-energy experience at the 12 Tour will, for the time being, have to suffice.
