<P> The Seattle Seahawks retired the number 12 jersey on December 15, 1984, in honor of their fans . In 2003, the Seahawks installed a giant flagpole in the south endzone of what is now CenturyLink 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 . </P> <P> The Seahawks' 12th Man has twice set the Guinness World Record loudest crowd noise at a sporting event, first on September 15, 2013, registering 136.6 dB during a game against the San Francisco 49ers and again on December 2, 2013, during a Monday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints, with a roar of 137.6 dB . As per an agreement struck between the Seahawks and Texas A&M in 2016, the Seahawks have virtually ceased from referring to their fans as the "12th Man", and instead are using the term "12s". </P> <P> The first known instance of Texas A&M referring to its fanbase as the "12th Man" is contained on page 17 of 25 November 1921 edition of The Battalion, the Texas A&M campus newspaper . Current Texas A&M students call themselves the 12th Man, and have done so continuously since the 1920s . Ever since the day E. King Gill left the stands in 1922, the entire student body has stood throughout the game to symbolize their "readiness, desire, and enthusiasm" to take the field if needed . A statue of E. King Gill stands to the north of Kyle Field to remind Aggies of their constant obligation to preserve the spirit of the 12th Man . Beginning in 1985, fans also began waving 12th Man Towels during the game to show their support . The tradition of towels started when coach Jackie Sherrill's 12th man squad began carrying them to motivate the student body in the stands . </P> <P> Because the students are always waiting for the opportunity to support their team, they are also willing to share the credit for the team's good deeds . A popular Aggie tradition is that "when the team scores, everybody scores". Whenever the Aggies score points during the game, students kiss their dates . </P>

Why are seattle fans called the 12th man