With the Super Bowl just around the corner and the Seahawks rallying the "spirit of the 12," Aggies are taking the opportunity to gently remind everyone who the real 12th Man is.
"We are excited for the Seahawks success, we are excited that they have built on a great tradition, but it is important for Texas A&M that people know we own it," said Shane Hinckley, assistant vice president of business development at Texas A&M University.
The Aggies sued the Seahawks over their use of the 12th Man during their last Super Bowl campaign in 2006. A&M had already fought off the Chicago Bears and the Buffalo Bulls who agreed to stop using the brand.
The resulting out-of-court deal required Seattle to pay a $100,000 lump sum then $5,000 each year for every year that they use it.
"The 12th man is the most important brand that Texas A&M has, it's iconic," said Hinckley.
The current contract is up for renewal in 2016 and with traditions so well established it's unlikely they will decide to drop it now. Seattle raises a giant flag for their 12th man before each game.
For those who don't already know, the idea of the 12th man dates back as far as 1922, when the Aggies coach at the time, Dana X. Bible, recruited a player from the stands to support his undermanned squad in a bowl game against Centre College, then ranked the nation's top team.
The student, E. King Gill, was a former football player. He suited up and stood ready at the sidelines throughout the game, which A&M won 22-14.
Afterward he famously 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."
And so the tradition of Aggies fans standing throughout every game was born. E. King Gill was imortalized as a statue outside Kyle Field.
Goose bumps anyone?
Perhaps it's worth more than $5,000 a year.
