Seahawks 12 schedule stop in Othello

When you grow up in the Perez household, you can expect to get the hand-me-downs the brothers and sisters wore before you. Well, the Seahawks stuff anyway.

“Oh yeah, we don’t throw any of it away,” Mandi Perez said with a laugh. “They’ll wear it until it falls off their body.”

With that, 10-year-old, Othello fourth grader Mason Perez sat under the awning at a picnic table at the Othello city swimming pool, not far from where Seahawks 12 Tour will set up on Sunday, wearing a jersey from the 2013 Super Bowl winning season. His brother Isaiah has outgrown it; now it’s his job wear Super Bowl XLVIII winner’s jersey in the family honored way.

It’s all there, the ballcaps, the jerseys, the backpacks, the shirts, towels all things Seahawks get passed down through the rank and file.

They have all the stuff, now the Perez family will celebrate one of the greatest Father’s Days of all time when the Seahawks 12 Tour makes a stop at Lions Park on Sunday to raise the 12 flag, and a ruckus for the Seattle NFL franchise.

Seahawks second-year offensive linemen George Fant and Germain Ifedi will be the featured players on the first leg and will be joined by members of the Sea Gals, the Blue Thunder drum group, team mascot Blitz, emcee and host Gee Scott from 710 ESPN Seattle and DJ Supa Sam.

City of Othello also officials will be on hand to help raise the 12 flag. Festivities at Lions Park get underway at noon.

“I never in my life ever thought the Seahawks would come to Othello,” said Gordy, who loaded up the family and drove to Seattle for the Super Bowl parade in 2013. “I’ve always traveled to see them, but now I’m going to see them right here in my hometown and that’s awesome.”

Mason’s has had a chance to see an NFL player or two up close and personal before, having made the trip to the Super Bowl parade trip.

“I was pretty much born a Seahawks fan,” he said. “I’ve seen NFL players before at a football camp and the first thing I’ve noticed is how big they are. It’s kind of cool knowing you’re standing next to a guy you watch on TV. When we went to the parade in Seattle I remember thinking, ‘I’ve been waiting my whole life for this.’ Now it’s crazy they’re coming here.”

The Perez family love for the Seahawks goes all the way back to the NFL Expansion Draft and the days of Jim Zorn and Steve Largent.

“I remember the struggles in the early days, which is why I appreciate what they’re doing today now that they’re much better,” Gordy said. “In my family, it’s always been getting together to watch the game every Sunday. My mom and dad (Herman and Elvia Perez) always have the game on. Monday through Saturday, my mom is quiet and reserved, but on Sundays she’s screaming at the TV, ‘Run, run.’”

Mandi teaches in the Othello school district and coaches the Huskies track and field team. The Seahawks employed her while she was getting her degree at Eastern Washington University.

“I worked for the Seahawks during their training camp,” she said. “I remember Gordy came up with his sister and we met Jim Zorn. She was so excited to meet him. Warren Moon was there. He was a class act also. He was a leader for sure. His conversations were never about his career, it was always, ‘my kid hit a homerun the other night or something about his family. That’s what I remember about him, it was always family first.”

Yep, the Seahawks are coming to Othello and they expect the Columbia Basin 12’s will be out in force.