WWII veterans to be honored at Seahawks game

KING 5 News 11:43 p.m. PST November 15, 2015

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The Seattle Seahawks honored current service members and veterans as part of their Salute to Service at their game against the Arizona Cardinals on November 15, 2015.(Photo: Elizabeth Wiley / KING 5)

Eight World War II veterans who have made the trip to Washington D.C. with Puget Sound Honor Flight were honored during halftime at the Seahawks-Cardinals game.

Puget Sound Honor Flight is a non-profit organization whose mission it is to transport Western Washington war veterans to Washington, D.C. - at no expense to them - to visit memorials that honor their service and sacrifice.

The inaugural flight took place in the fall of 2013. More than 400 local veterans and their guardians have participated in 10 flights, with more than 100 still on the waiting list. Make a donation

As part of the Seahawks" "Salute to Service" game, Corporal Clayton Pitre, U.S. Marines, raised the 12 Flag prior to kickoff. Pitre, 91, was one of the first African-Americans allowed to join the U.S. Marines in World War II and trained at the segregated Montford Point Base in North Carolina.

As a member of Platoon 126, he participated in the 82-day Okinawa siege, the last major battle in the Pacific. In 2012, members of the Montford Point Marines were recognized with the Congressional Gold Medal.

Pitre, who has lived in Seattle for 60 years, is a longtime Seahawks fan.

Petty Officer Darren Harrity, U.S. Coast Guard, participated in the Seahawks team run-out by carrying the U.S. Flag. Petty Officer Harrity saved the lives of four fishermen off the coast of Oregon last summer.

The Seahawks, in conjunction with USAA, hosted more than 200 local service members on the field during the national anthem, performed by Technical Sergeant Alfredo (Freddie) Garza Jr., a Yakima native.

Seahawks suite owners hostedmore than 100 service members to watch the game.

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Source: http://www.king5.com/story/sports/nfl/seahawks/2015/11/15/wwii-veterans-to-be-honored-at-seahawks-game/75836100/

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Seattle Seahawks" CenturyLink Field drops "12th Man" designation

Seattle Seahawks fans have lost their vaunted "12th man" status.

A team spokesperson told local TV affiliate KING 5 News Friday that signs proclaiming CenturyLink Field "Home of the 12th Man" have been replaced by signage reading, "Home of the 12s."

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The "12th Man" motto earned plenty of publicity the past few years with the Seahawks" rise as an NFL power, and Seahawks fans did their part to live up to the billing, making CenturyLink one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL.

But the catchy "12th Man" slogan is trademarked by Texas A&M University, which acquired the trademark in 1990. The school sued the Seahawks years ago for infringement, but the school reached an out-of-court agreement with the NFL teamin 2006 to allow limited use of the phrase at CenturyLinkfor $5,000 a year.

However, the current arrangement between the school and the Seahawks expires in 2016, and many in the Texas A&M community are not pleased with the terms.

"The term 12th Man is invaluable to Texas A&M. There is no monetary value you could assign to it," Texas A&M assistant vice-president Shane Hinckley told KING 5 in February. "I haven"t met an Aggie who is fully comfortable with the Seahawks use of the term,to be honest."

But the Seahawks spokesperson said Friday the team changed the signage because, "Seahawks fans have organically shifted to 12s." The team"s No. 12 fan jersey is one of the top sellers in the NFL, and the team is building its own brand around "12" and that includes efforts to trademark variations of that number.

Source: http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2015-08-15/seattle-seahawks-centurylink-12th-man-texas-am-aggies

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Lineman Frank Clark among Seahawks to watch against Broncos

Here are a few under-the-radar players to keep an eye on when the Seattle Seahawks open their preseason schedule Friday night against the Denver Broncos at CenturyLink Field:

SS Dion Bailey: He"s been splitting reps with Seattle"s first-team defense during Kam Chancellor"s holdout. DeShawn Shead got the first crack but Bailey has emerged after missing the first few days with a hamstring injury. The Seahawks have expressed excitement about Bailey"s potential, and while that might seem like a case of an organization talking up a holdout"s backup, it seems warranted based on all the plays he"s made of late. As a rookie last year, Bailey was injured early in training camp then spent part of the season on the practice squad, which makes Friday"s preseason opener his first game of any kind in the NFL. Can he make the type of plays that have elevated him up the depth chart this offseason?

DE Cassius Marsh: He has quietly put together a nice offseason, impressing Seahawks coaches with how active he"s been as a pass-rusher. When the Seahawks drafted Marsh in the fourth round last year, their plan was to mold him into a Michael Bennett-type, i.e., an end in base defense who slides inside to rush the passer on third down. A broken foot ended his rookie season early. Now, Marsh is a little leaner, he"s strictly playing end and he"s performed well enough to make a push for a spot in Seattle"s defensive-line rotation this season. He should get a long look.

DL Frank Clark: A second-round pick this year, Clark has the size at 6-foot-3 and 272 pounds as well as the versatility to play multiple spots. The Seahawks are still trying to determine Clark"s role, but they"re excited about that idea of sliding him inside in nickel situations. "I love the thought of a 4.6 guy rushing on the guards," coach Pete Carroll said. "And he"s very active. He"s got great hands." Expect to see Clark playing all over the defensive line as the Seahawks try to figure out how best to use him.

CBs Marcus Burley, Tye Smith: They could be the starters Friday -- Burley at left cornerback and the rookie Smith in the slot -- with Richard Sherman and Will Blackmon unlikely to play. Smith, a fifth-round pick, is the latest in a long line of cornerbacks Seattle has drafted in one of the later rounds under general manager John Schneider. The others before him had the benefit of spending time as backups before becoming starters, but injuries at cornerback are pressing Smith into action right away. Is he ready? Burley, meanwhile, is competing with Blackmon to be Seattle"s starting nickelback, a role he filled for a time last season.

TEs Anthony McCoy, Cooper Helfet: The top two tight ends on Seattle"s depth chart are set with Jimmy Graham and Luke Willson. It will likely come down to either Anthony McCoy and Cooper Helfet for the third spot. McCoy is trying to resume his career after missing the last two seasons with separate Achilles tears. He had battled drops and other injuries prior to that, but his 2012 season showed he could be a capable backup. Meanwhile, Helfet caught two touchdown passes in 10 games last season after an injury to starter Zach Miller left Seattle thin at tight end.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/seattle-seahawks/post/_/id/13837/lineman-frank-clark-among-seahawks-to-watch-against-broncos

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