GREEN BAY, Wis. (WLUK) — As buses filled with Seattle Seahawks players and coaches arrived bright and early at Lambeau Field Thursday morning, dozens of children had their bicycles ready to ride to the nearby practice fields.
The joint practice between the Packers and Seahawks provided the opportunity for visiting players to experience the decades-long training camp tradition of riding bicycles to practice.
“I really want to get Cooper Kupp or Kenneth Walker,” said one young Seahawks fan.
“Right away, I had to get off work so I could be here,” said Brittany Dequaine, who lives in Abrams, but grew up in Washington as a Seahawks fan.
“My dad is a Packers fan and my mom is a Seahawks fan, so I’m confused, so I just like the Seahawks because they have Beast Mode,” said Dequaine’s son, Franklin.
Thursday’s joint practice provided a rare opportunity for mixed fandom families like the Dequaines to enjoy the best of both worlds.
“At the end of the day, we all love football and that’s what it’s about,” Brittany said.
Plenty of prideful purebred Packers fans also partnered with a Seahawks player to show what Titletown is all about.
“I just kind of waved to him,” added Lucas McGregor, an eight-year-old Packers fan from Hobart, explaining how he was able to convince a Seahawks player to ride his bike. “Acted grateful that he rode my bike.”
“I think it was kind of a special event to have the other team in town,” said Evan McGregor, Lucas’ father. “More opportunity for kids to ride a bike.”
Seahawks players enjoyed the experience as well.
“Didn’t get a chance to raise the seat. That was a little tough, but we made it work,” said Sam Darnold, the Seahawks’ starting quarterback. “The kid that was holding my helmet and walking next to me was incredible. Such a great tradition, I think to be able to hang out with some of these kids that are the future of this game and just to put a smile on their face.”
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The Seahawks are the sixth team in recent years to participate in a joint practice in Green Bay. The Ravens, Texans, Jets, Saints and Patriots were the others.