
Who was the first 12th man?
Before he became the first 12th Man, an Aggie by the name of E. King Gill was a basketball player and former member of the Texas A&M football team. Little did he know that his willingness to serve would become his legacy, one that lives on nearly 100 years later.
Who is Texas A&M’s 12th man?
E. King Gill Takes His Stand Before he became the first 12th Man, an Aggie by the name of E. King Gill was simply a squad player for Texas A&M’s football team — and little did he know that his willingness to serve would become his legacy, one that lives on more than 90 years later as 38,000 students stand for every Texas A&M home game.
How did Seattle become the home of the 12th man?
Seattle isn’t where the 12th man began. In fact, it begins in College Station, Texas – 2,280 miles southeast from the Emerald City. Let’s take a journey through history to see how Seattle became the home of the 12th man. It’s Jan. 2, 1922, and the Texas A&M football team is playing top-ranked Centre College.
Why are fans called the 12th man in football?
As most football leagues allow a maximum of eleven players per team on the playing field at a time, referring to a team's fans as the 12th man implies that they have a potentially helpful and significant role in the game. The presence of fans can have a notable impact on how the teams perform, an element in the home advantage.

Who came up with the 12th Man?
Football coach Jackie Sherrill created the "12th Man Kick-Off Team" in the 1980s, composed of non-athletic scholarship students who tried out for the team.
Who is the 12th Man referring to?
We're Getting Mutants in the MCU - The Loop The 12th man or 12th player is a term for the fans within a stadium during association football or American football games. This term has a different meaning in cricket, referring instead to the first substitute player who fields when a member of the fielding side is injured.
What is the tradition of the 12th Man?
The entire student body at A&M is the Twelfth Man, and they stand during the entire game to show their support. The 12th Man is always in the stands waiting to be called upon if they are needed. Much of the story is true.
When did the 12th Man happen?
Jan. 2, 1922On Jan. 2, 1922, the heavily outgunned Aggies were facing the top-ranked Centre College Praying Colonels on the gridiron in the Dixie Classic in Dallas.
Is the 12 man a true story?
The 12th Man is the true story of Jan Baalsrud, whose struggle to escape the Gestapo and survive in Nazi-occupied Norway has inspired the international film of the same name.
Who raised the 12th man flag today?
Former Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin raised the 12th man flag before Sunday's game as part of the team's Seahawks Legends day when Seattle honors its alumni.
Why do Aggies say here when someone dies?
As the names of the deceased Aggies are called, a family member or friend answers "Here," and lights a candle, to symbolize that although their loved one is not present in body, his or her spirit will shine forever.
Why do Aggies kiss when they score?
You Kiss After the Football Team Scores In a tradition that no doubt dates back to when A&M was an all-male military school which shipped in women on the train, Aggie fans score in the stands when the team scores on the field.
What does 12 mean in Seattle?
The number refers to “the 12th Man,” the nickname for the Seattle Seahawks' devoted, tenacious and record-breakingly (opponents might say insufferably) loud fans. This week in Seattle and its suburbs, you can't throw a 10-yard pass without hitting someone — or something — adorned with the number 12.
How far did The 12th Man travel?
Only Jan Baalsrud, the 12th man, managed to get away, escaping across Nord-Troms from 30 March to 1 June. With the help of many locals, he managed to reach Sweden, but not entirely intact, as he was forced to amputate most of his toes because of frostbite he developed while in a snow cave.
How far did The 12th Man swim?
100 metersThe director must have the actors accurately depict physiological and psychological responses to these environmental obstacles in order to tell a convincing story. Baalsrud swims across 100 meters of cold water to hide on a remote island after his botched mission.
Who was on the original 12th Man kickoff team?
The 12th Man Kickoff Team celebrates its first hit in a game: Ike Liles (2) is hoisted by Bill Allison after Liles tackles Cal kick returner Dwight Garner in the third quarter of A&M's season opener in 1983.
Why is it called the 12th Man?
Although Gill did not play in the game, he had accepted the call to help his team. He came to be thought of as the Twelfth Man because he stood ready for duty in the event that the eleven men on the gridiron needed assistance.
What is the story behind the 12th Man at Texas A&M?
Outgunned and with nearly all players injured, Coach Dana X. Bible called Gill down to the sideline. Gill suited up and stood ready to play throughout the game, forever becoming “the 12th Man” in what was one of the greatest upsets in college football history, with the Aggies winning 22-14.
What is the meaning of the 12th Man at Texas A&M?
The 12th Man refers to the entire student body at Texas A&M, past and present. The tradition originates in 1922 after several injuries against Centre College, the nation's top-ranked football team, the Aggies were down to just 11 players.
What does Titans 12th Man mean?
NASHVILLE, Tenn -** The Tennessee Titans are introducing the "12th Titan" fan initiative this season as a way to recognize the incredible fan base that supports the Titans at LP Field. There are 11 players for each team on a football field, but when Tennessee plays at home, they add a 12th player, the Titan fans.
Where did the 12th man start?
Seattle isn’t where the 12th man began. In fact, it begins in College Station, Texas – 2,280 miles southeast from the Emerald City. Let’s take a journey through history to see how Seattle became the home of the 12th man. It’s Jan. 2, 1922, and the Texas A&M football team is playing top-ranked Centre College. The reserves become thin and Coach Dana ...
Why is Gill the 12th man?
Gill becomes known as the 12th man because he supported the Aggies when they needed assistance. His devotion inspires the student body, creating a fan base willing to help in every way they can. It’s the beginning of a new era in fandom. Fast forward a few decades.
What year was the 12th man credited with the Seattle win?
The spirit of the 12 becomes iconic. On Nov. 27, 2005, the fans’ vocal support is credited for Seattle’s thrilling overtime win against the New York Giants, who are called for 11 false starts and three missed field goals. Head coach Mike Holmgren dedicates the game ball to the 12th man the following day.
When did the Seattle 12s raise the flag?
To see a photo gallery of the ceremony, click here. The Seattle 12s are honored once again 19 years later. The tradition of the 12 Flag begins in 2003 with 12 original season ticket holders raising the flag before kickoff.
Who owns the 12 symbol?
Paul Allen’s Northwest Football LLC now owns 11 trademarks that involved “12,” including “Spirit of 12,” “Bring on the 12,” “We are 12,” the number 12 on flags and banners and “12s,” which was granted last week. They have filed for six more trademarks relating to the symbolic number.
When were the Seahawks founded?
The Seahawks are founded in 1976 and the city rejoices. The Kingdome sells out game-after-game, impacting the team’s success in the 1980s.
The origin of the Texas A&M 12th man tradition
Aggies coach Dana X Bible saw his players tire as the game wore on before he spotted a member of the squad – E King Gill – who wasn’t in uniform, helping reporters identify players.
ESPN documentary No Experience Required
The origins of the kick-off team is now the subject of SEC Network’s first Texas A&M-themed documentary, which is part of the SEC Storied historical series.
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The aggy Version
The game was a classic struggle of a young, upstart band of rag-tag farmers, squaring off against one of the greatest teams ever assembled. The odds were so stacked against the A&M team that the bookies might as well have been offering one-million-to-one odds.
Litigation to Defend the Trademark
Since obtaining their ill-gotten trademark on the phrase “12th Man,” the university has embarked on a relentless and aggressive campaign to use it to end the use of the phrase in the public domain.
Worldwide usage
The aggy self-absorption about the “12th Man” seems isolated within the Continental US.
When did the 12th man start?
In 1922, the 12th Man tradition started at Texas A&M. In 1990, Texas A&M obtained a federal registration of the 12th Man trademark. This trademark is incontestable. Texas A&M licensed limited uses of its 12th Man trademark to the Seattle Seahawks in 2006 and again in 2016.
Who was the first 12th man?
Before he became the first 12th Man, an Aggie by the name of E. King Gill was simply a squad player for Texas A&M’s football team — and little did he know that his willingness to serve would become his legacy, one that lives on more than 90 years later as 38,000 students stand for every Texas A&M home game.
How many walk ons did the 12th man wear?
R.C. Slocum reduces the 12th Man kickoff team from ten walk-ons to one walk-on player wearing the number 12. This tradition is carried on today.
What is the 12th man foundation?
The Aggie Club — which is later renamed the 12th Man Foundation — is formed. During its first year of operation, the organization raises $16,182 in annual donations. Today, the 12th Man Foundation strives to continue Texas A&M's athletic success by funding scholarships, programs and facilities in support of championship athletics.
What band is the 12th man?
As the spirit of the 12th Man is embraced by the Texas A&M student body, references to the tradition begin appearing around campus, including this formation by the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band.
How tall is the 12th man statue?
King Gill is unveiled on the east plaza of Kyle Field as part of the field's redevelopment. The bronze statue, created by Dallas artist Robert Hogan, stands at 12 feet tall and weighs in at 1,700 pounds.
What is the 12th man trademark?
Texas A&M University and the Seattle Seahawks reach a new license agreement regarding the university’s 12th Man trademark—with new stipulations regarding the use of “12th Man” by the NFL football franchise.
What is the 12th man about?
The 12th Man tells the dramatic story of Jan Baalsrud's escape from the Nazis during the Second World War . In Shetland, 12 Norwegian resistance fighters board a fishing boat with eight tons of TNT and cross the North Sea as part of Operation Martin with a plan to sabotage German military facilities.
Who adapted the 12th man?
The film, based on historical events, was adapted from the book Jan Baalsrud and Those Who Saved Him (2001) by Tore Haug and Astrid Karlsen Scott. Unlike the book, The 12th Man emphasizes the efforts of those who helped Baalsrud escape, which is in line with Baalsrud's own statements about the local population's courage.
How much did the 12th man cost?
64 million Norwegian krone. Box office. $9.6 million (Norway) The 12th Man ( Norwegian: Den 12. mann) is a 2017 Norwegian historical drama film directed by Harald Zwart, starring Thomas Gullestad as Jan Baalsrud, who escapes from occupying Nazi Germans in Rebbenesøya, via Lyngen Fjord and Manndalen, to neutral Sweden in the spring of 1943.
Is The 12th Man predictable?
Morten Ståle Nilsen , in Verdens Gang, refers to The 12th Man as "a solid, but predictable film". While complimenting the amazing scenery of Norway, VS said its magnificent nature couldn't save the film from being monotonous, overlong, and too focused on suffering.
Where is the 12th man?
In 2007, the Colts inducted their 12th Man as the sixth entrant into the team's Ring of Honor, then located on the interior facade of the RCA Dome. The Ring of Honor currently encircles Lucas Oil Stadium, the team's home venue. The organization also designates a "12th Man Fan of the Game". On November 12, 2015, Texas A&M announced the filing of a lawsuit against the Colts based on the team's usage of the term. On February 17, 2016, the lawsuit was settled with the Colts agreeing to remove the phrase from their Ring of Honor and to immediately cease all other uses of the trademarked phrase.
When was the 12th man first used?
King Gill during the 1921–1922 season. The first recorded use of the term "twelfth man" was a magazine published by the University of Minnesota in September, 1900, that referred to "the mysterious influence of the twelfth man on the team, the rooter.".
How much did the Seahawks pay Texas A&M for the 12th man?
As part of the agreement, the Seahawks agreed to pay Texas A&M $140,000 for limited rights to use the trademarked term. This agreement, like the previous agreement, prohibits the Seahawks from using the "12th Man" term on any merchandise. The new agreement, however, also prohibits Seattle from using the term on social media, nor are they allowed to use the term on any signage within their stadium, including their Ring of Honor.
Why do the Seattle Seahawks wear the number 12?
In 2003, the Seahawks installed a giant flagpole in the south end zone of what is now Lumen Field, and began a tradition of raising a giant flag with the number 12 on it in honor of the fans, but one of whom is Sam Adkins, the former Seahawks quarterback who did wear the number 12. Usually, a local celebrity or a season ticket holder raises the flag during pregame ceremonies. In recent years, 12th Man flags have been seen all over Seattle whenever the Seahawks make the playoffs, including atop the Space Needle. In 2014, Boeing painted a Boeing 747-8 freighter with a special Seahawks livery, with the number 12 on the tail, and they later flew it over eastern Washington in a flight path spelling the number 12. When the Seahawks took the field for Super Bowl XLVIII, they were led by LB Heath Farwell carrying the team's 12th Man flag per team tradition. In May 2016, mountaineer David Liaño González displayed a 12th Man flag at the summit of Mount Everest.
What college was the 12th man in?
This football game featured the top-ranked Centre College and The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (later known as Texas A&M).
What does the 12th man mean in cricket?
The term Twelfth Man has a specifically different meaning in cricket, referring instead to the nominated first substitute player who fields when a member of the fielding side is injured during play. The presence of fans can have a notable impact on how the teams perform, an element in the home advantage.
What is the 12th man in football?
12th man (football) The 12th man or 12th player is a term for fans of teams in many eleven-a-side sports games, in particular association football or American football. As most football leagues allow a maximum of eleven players per team on the playing field at a time, referring to a team's fans as the 12th man implies that they have ...
Who was the 12th man?
The tradition of the Twelfth Man was born on the second of January 1922, when an underdog Aggie team was playing Centre College, then the nation’s top ranked team. As the hard fought game wore on, and the Aggies dug deeply into their limited reserves, Coach Dana X. Bible remembered a squad man who was not in uniform. He had been up in the press box helping reporters identify players. His name was E. King Gill, and was a former football player who was only playing basketball. Gill was called from the stands, suited up, and stood ready throughout the rest of the game, which A&M finally won 22-14. When the game ended, E. King Gill was the only man left standing on the sidelines for the Aggies. Gill later 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.”
What is the 12th man mark?
Since as early as 1922, Texas A&M has used the mark 12th Man (hereinafter, the “12th Man Mark”) in connection with sporting events and numerous products and services. The 12th Man Mark was initially adopted in 1922 as a remembrance of a student at Texas A&M, E. King Gill, and his spirit of readiness to serve Texas A&M’s football team in time of need. The legend of E. King Gill grew, and the 12th Man Mark now identifies and distinguishes Texas A&M in connection with all of its athletic entertainment services and events, education-related services, and a wide variety of merchandise products for which Texas A&M and its licensees use the 12th Man Mark.
Why is Gill the 12th man?
This gesture was more than enough for the Aggie Team. Although Gill did not play in the game, he had accepted the call to help his team. He came to be thought of as the Twelfth Man because he stood ready for duty in the event that the eleven men on the gridiron needed assistance. That spirit of readiness for service, desire to support, and enthusiasm helped kindle a flame of devotion among the entire student body; a spirit that has grown vigorously throughout the years. The entire student body at A&M is the Twelfth Man, and they stand during the entire game to show their support. The 12th Man is always in the stands waiting to be called upon if they are needed.
What did the Aggie 12th man wear?
Unlike the rooters in Stephenville, Abilene, Austin, and Waco, the Aggie 12th Man all wore khaki. Remember, this was a time before themed sports apparel had hit the market, so nobody was rocking Nike green-and-gold Baylor gear. On the other hand, the Aggie 12th men all looked the same, in their brown riding boots, crew-cuts and beige uniforms.
What NFL franchises use 12th man?
Earlier this month the Indianapolis Colts became the third NFL franchise to face the wrath of Aggie lawyers over the use of “12th Man” marketing terminology. In years past, the school has pried licensing fees out of the Buffalo Bills and the Seattle Seahawks for the use of the term, which they trademarked in 1990. No money changed hands this time around. The Colts simply agreed to stop using the words “12th Man” for merchandising purposes.
When did the 12th man kickoff start?
There were two more signal moments in the development of the tradition. The first came in 1964, when Gill came back to College Station for the San Jacinto Day Muster and gave a speech reminiscing about the Dixie Classic, in which he credited the 1939 play for birthing the tradition. According to later trademark filings, the Aggies started handing out 12th Man scholarships the following year. In the 1980s, coach Jackie Sherrill kicked things up a notch by introducing a 12th Man kick-off team exclusively composed of walk-ons who came to be known as “the Suicide Squad.” The term was emblazoned on the arms of their jerseys, and at around the same time, Aggie fans began waving 12th Man towels in the stands.
Did King Gill get summoned?
Much of the story is true. The Aggies did beat the highly-ranked Praying Colonels of Centre College in Dallas 22-14. E. King Gill did get summoned from the stands by Coach Bible, and ultimately, his services were not needed. After that things get murky, according to Duke. Here is his extremely detailed account of the game, but to make his long story short, it seems that Gill was not the lone man on the sideline when the final whistle blew. By Duke’s reckoning, A&M still had twenty healthy players by the time Gill came down from the stands, not twelve. The team had run out of substitute running backs, as mentioned in the one and only account of the game that mentions Gill by name.
When was the 12th man lawsuit settled?
The two sides actually were involved in a lawsuit over the "12th man" phrase. It was settled in 2006; the upshot was that that the Seahawks acknowledge A&M's ownership rights of the trademarked phrase but were able to continue using the phrase under license.
Is A&M the real home of the 12th man?
The Aggies' football team's official Twitter account sent out a gentle reminder that A&M is the real home of the 12th man.
Why did the Seahawks retire number 12?
Holmgren credited the crowd noise as the cause of the Giants’ 11 false starts and three missed field goals. The Seahawks Retired The Number 12 In 1984 In Honor Of Their Fans. AP. The franchise was just 8 years old at the time when No. 12 was retired in honor of the Seahawks fans.
Is Texas A&M a 12th man?
Turns out, the Texas A&M Aggies have also been calling their cheering section the 12th Man for decades, and the university went so far as to copyright the distinction in 1990. The Seahawks reached an out-of-court agreement with the Aggies in 2006, allowing them to continue with their own use of the name in exchange for $100,000 upfront and a $5,000 annual licensing fee thereafter, per Forbes.com

The True History of The “12th Man”
The Aggy Version
The Actual History of Tamu’S Use of The Phrase “12th Man”
Tamu’S Trademark
Litigation to Defend The Trademark
Worldwide Usage
Navy Actually Uses A “12th Man”
- On September 3, 2016, after an injury to their starting quarterback, Navy turned to the stands to find their backup quarterback. Gee? Sound familiar? Except THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED! Unlike the over-hyped aggy fantasy of E. King Gill, WHO NEVER PLAYED IN THE GAME, Perry actually did enter the game and led Navy on a 90-yard drive that ended in a field...