In the middle of what feels like a once-in-a-lifetime season for Seahawks fans, one long-time Seattle supporter got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to catch a recent game at CenturyLink Field.
Joanne Terrian, 95, has been a Seahawks fans since they began way back in 1976. She attended one game at the old Kingdome and caught a Hawks game at the new stadium when it first opened.
But this year, thanks to her nephew and surprise gift from a rich benefactor, Terrian got the full treatment: Seats on the 50-yard line in the lower bowl and a perfect view of the largest Seahawks comeback in history, all on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Seattle.
“I really thoroughly enjoyed it, I tell you that,” Terrian said.
The trip to see the Seahawks play the Buccaneers on Nov. 3 was a surprise. The story began in Vancouver, where nephew Sid Siqfusson works at Mill and Timber Products. One of the company’s clients is International Forest Group, owned by Daniel Kraft, son of Bob Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots.
Sigfusson, knowing of his auntie’s love of the Hawks and looking for a way to celebrate her 95th birthday this past September, began asking around to see if there was any way to get tickets to see the hottest team in football, though he knew it was a “long shot” as tickets are tough to come by this season.
“I just thought it would be quite the surprise if I could get some tickets and take her to the game,” he said.
“I just kind of threw that out there,” he said. “She has been a Seahawks fan probably since they started.”
Two weeks later, a package arrived at the office with two tickets to section 235, row B, right on the 50-yard line. It also included a handwritten note from Daniel Kraft.
“Dear Sid,” the note reads. “Here are the tickets for the Seahawks game you requested through our Vancouver office. Enjoy the game. Seahawks looks real good this year! Thanks for your support of IFP. Best, Dan.”
“It blew me away,” Sigfussen said, calling Kraft a “class guy.” “You just couldn’t get a couple of tickets better than that.”
“It was really, really exciting,” said Terrian, who lives with her daughter Lorie in Renton. “We stayed right to the last.”
Though the game started out poorly for the Hawks, Terrian and Sigfussen were on hand to watch as the team mounted its biggest comeback ever, overcoming a 21-point deficit to beat Tampa Bay 27-24.
Terrian, who keeps track of all the team’s games in a notebook, as well as the rest of the teams in the NFC West, said she never doubted as she watched Russell Wilson lead the comeback.
“There’s a lot of teams that are good, but ours is the best,” she said. “I like Russell. It’s almost impossible to believe we have a quarterback like that.”
During halftime, the Seahawks honored the 1983 team and during the third quarter, former receivers coach Steve Moore sat in front of them and Terrian was able to talk a little classic Hawks with him.
“It was nice she could meet him too,” Sigfussen said, adding that they had to pinch themselves to be sure it was real. “It was an incredible day and everything went perfectly.”
Terrian said she was disappointed about this past week’s bye and looked forward to the Seahawks key Monday night matchup with the New Orleans Saints next week.
But she’s not too worried. She’s got a sense about these things.
“They’re going to win the Super Bowl,” she said, a smile creeping into her voice as she adds, “We might be at the game. You never know.”
