As an avid football fan, I had a great Football Dilemma during the 1978 football season. This was the Seahawks 2nd season as a football franchise. Let’s go back a couple of years to set the story up for you.
As a young boy growing up in Bellevue, WA, Seattle was on the other side of Lake Washington just a couple miles away. The Seattle Seahawks were not even a team yet, so I was a die-hard Oakland Raiders fan because of Kenny Stabler. You see, as a left-handed quarterback, he was awesome. Also, my being left-handed and 8 years old might have had something to do with it, lol.
The Great Football Dilemma of the 1978 Season:
Greetings, readers! Imagine that when I was ten years old, I was obsessed with football, and I lived in Seattle. I was having a huge issue now. I was an avid supporter of the Oakland Raiders, primarily because of their talented left-handed quarterback, Kenny Stabler. But then, wham! The arrival of the Seattle Seahawks caused a crack in the disruption in my football world.
I chose to throw my support over to the Seattle Seahawks in their 2nd season, and then, as if it were fate. Low and behold, I won a Seattle Times writing contest and received two tickets to the Seahawks Home Game vs. the Raiders. For this 10-year-old boy, this was like winning the lottery! This was Awesome, I got to see my two favorite teams battle it out on the field. However, I had to make a decision on my Football Dilemma, who do I root for?
Video of the Oakland Raiders vs. Seattle Seahawks at Home in the Seattle Kingdom:
Imagine me at ten years old and the girl at fourteen, the winners of those priceless tickets. The best part is that we have to take our dads with us! We were like two peas in a pod, and this was an opportunity for us to share a special football game. My dad and I were very close when I was younger; he was an awesome father growing up.
The Football Dilemma is Resolved:
On the day of the game, excitement was in the air, and you could almost taste it throughout the Kingdom. I couldn’t help but feel like I was entering a football dream. As soon as I walked in with my dad and, of course, those amazing tickets of ours. It was a totally different universe, and I was there in the center of it with all of the cheers, waves, and jerseys. The fans were at their loudest, with us trying to be as loud as any of them.
Seattle’s 12th Man:
Seattle was well-known for its 12th man, even back then! The kingdom had been sold out and was nearly overflowing. And believe me when I say that the 12th man was fully engaged, producing a wall of sound that you could feel all the way through your bones. When I was ten years old, it felt like the entire city was cheering for me. Wow!
It was an incredible feeling to be surrounded by a sea of Seahawks supporters. Who are all screaming their support for their team at the top of their lungs. Even though our seats were in the nosebleeds, it made no difference at all. Why? I was savoring every second of it since this 10-year-old had just won tickets to the game of his life.
Although our seats weren’t in the front, the atmosphere in the Kingdom was incredible. I scanned the area with wide eyes, attempting to take in every roar, every applause, and every aspect of the electrifying environment. It was more than simply a football game; it was a performance and a memory that will be remembered forever.
Kenny Stabler Will Always Be a Hero of Mine:
Now, here’s where the plot thickens. It was the second season, and I had officially traded in my Oakland Raiders gear for the blue and green of the Seattle Seahawks. But, let me tell you, the Raiders still had a special place in my heart. Especially with the legendary Kenny Stabler calling the shots. That guy was an awesome left-handed quarterback.
I had switched, but here I was, a ten-year-old with competing allegiances. I suddenly supported the Seahawks, and I wanted to support my home team to the hilt for this Kingdom game. However, Kenny Stabler was more than simply a rival. I will never forget him as a football hero. I was a Seahawks fan now, but there was still a part of me that still had to respect the quarterback who had initially sparked my passion for the game.
A Game I Will Never Forget: October 22nd, 1978. Will Be A Date I Will Remember For A Long Time As When I Got Over My Football Dilemma:
Let’s now discuss the true highlight of the event: the actual football game. The coach in Seattle, Jack Patera, was a mastermind. You never knew what tactic he would pull out of his hat. It was always interesting, and you never knew when or where it was going to happen.
Everything was there in the game—interceptions that had the crowd cheering and amazing plays that even this 10-year-old could not have expected. As the Seahawks displayed their talents, the whole kingdom burst into cheers. It was an emotional rollercoaster for this 10-year-old boy. I’ll let you know. And last, the icing on the cake: on October 22, 1978, Seattle defeated Oakland 27–7. I will always remember the high fives, the cheers, and the sense of belonging to something greater than myself.
Post-Game Exhaustion and Lasting Memories:
The thing about unforgettable events is that sometimes they leave you in such a state of amazement that everything that happens thereafter seems a little blurry. Following that incredible match at the Kingdom, I was bursting with excitement and energy. To be honest, I don’t recall much of the post-game.
I do remember the journey home, though. We crossed the evergreen floating bridge towards Bellevue, Washington, exhausted but ecstatic. It was the ideal setting for thinking back on one of the greatest moments I had ever had. The city lights were reflecting on the water as we crossed the bridge on our way home.
The Kingdom Lives On In Memory:
Even if the kingdom is no longer there, the 10-year-old’s memories of it still very much exist. It was a journey of making decisions, supporting others, and being a part of something greater than myself. It was more than simply a football game; it was the greatest of memories.
And so, as we come to an end to this trip down memory lane. I’m left smiling, appreciative of the Kingdom and the wonderful day it brought this 10-year-old football fanatic. I’m grateful that you could travel back in time with me to 1978. When a young boy was living the high life at the crossroads of his hometown pride and football dreams.
You know what? I bet you can get Discounted Football Tickets for either the Raiders (now Las Vegas) or the Seattle Seahawks. Heck, any football franchise should have tickets available; check it out.
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