EXCERPTS from the above link:
The playoffs -- with the No. 12 flag waving high atop Seattle's Space Needle and another one flapping in the south end of the stadium -- have finally exposed Seattle's 12th man tradition to the rest of the nation, and a stunned College Station -- the official Home of the 12th Man, legally speaking.
Texas A&M officials are hot over what athletic director Bill Byrne termed Seattle's "brazen use of the 12th Man theme" in his Wednesday Internet column.
A&M, whose own 12th Man tradition dates back to 1922, holds two trademark registrations on "12th Man." Secured in 1990 and 1996, the trademarks include entertainment services, "namely organizing and conducting intercollegiate sporting events," and products, such as caps, T-shirts, novelty buttons and jewelry.
The Web site, SeaHawkers.org, the official site of the team's booster club, offers downloadable computer desktop wallpaper that reads: "At Home We are the 12th Man" and "On the Road We are the 12th Man."
"There's 12th man towels on eBay and all types of 12th man merchandise that we've seen," A&M's Moore said. "We really have no way of knowing whether the Seahawks are putting that out or not."
Geoff Mantooth, a Fort Worth-based registered patent and trademark attorney, said A&M might be able to win a court battle. He said A&M could seek damages for past infringement, stop future infringement and even ask for the Seahawks' profits on any 12th man merchandise.
Goodson picks A&M: Klein Collins' Michael Goodson, the top-ranked running back in the state, said Monday that he has orally committed to Texas A&M.
Goodson (6-0, 205), who picked the Aggies over USC, said staying in state was too good to pass up. Goodson originally committed to Oklahoma State. He rushed for 973 yards and eight touchdowns on 99 carries for a Klein Collins team that went 3-7.
Briefly: Celina wide receiver Adam James (6-3, 235) said he has committed to Texas Tech. James, the son of former SMU and NFL running back Craig James, picked the Red Raiders over Tulsa. ...
"Write this down," said NFL evaluator Dan Shonka, a former scout with three NFL teams. "Reggie McNeal will be a better pro quarterback than Vince Young. Vince is a good athlete, but he could be a $50 million mistake."Reggie supposedly boosted his draft stock significantly yesterday with his MVP performance in the East/West Shrine game, going 9/11 for 211 yards and carrying for 32.
"He'll definitely be a first-round pick," Shonka said. "There'll be 32 stupid teams if he isn't."
halleluja!
--------
TheTicket: Vince Young turns pro. Press Conf live @3pm on The Ticket
Texas A&M picked up the biggest commitment in its 2006 recruiting class with Haltom linebacker Anthony Lewis committing to the Aggies on Sunday.
"It's been a long process, but they have kind of always been right there throughout the whole recruiting process," Lewis said. "It was a tough decision, but in the end, I had to go with my instincts."
Lewis (6-foot-2, 228 pounds), a member of the Star-Telegram's Elite 11, had narrowed his choices to Oklahoma and Texas A&M. He said last week he wanted to wait until Texas A&M selected its defensive coordinator before making a decision. The Aggies announced Gary Darnell on Friday as the new defensive coordinator. Lewis visited Texas A&M this weekend and had a chance to talk with Darnell.
"I had a very good visit with Coach Darnell," Lewis said. "He seemed to fit in very well there and with the program."
As a senior, Lewis recorded 132 tackles along with five sacks and four forced fumbles.
Lewis is the 16th commitment for the Aggies and the first who was a member of the Star-Telegram's National Top 100 recruits.
According to The Ticket, Ramonce Taylor is also under investigation.According to the statement, police are investigating allegations of aggravated assault with an automatic handgun on Sunday, Sept. 4, at 3:06 a.m. A location for the incident was not revealed in police records.
Police also are investigating allegations of attempted robbery by assault at 2:59 a.m. last Saturday at 500 E. Seventh St., in what is commonly referred to as Austin's Sixth Street entertainment district. According to the statement, police received a call reporting that a suspect used his hands, fist and feet to carry out the assault.
Austin attorney Ken Oden said he is advising Texas senior cornerback Cedric Griffin, who has been questioned by police in connection with the Dec. 10 incident.
Receivers Marquis Johnson and L.A. Reed have been suspended from the football team and will not play in the Jan. 2 AT&T Cotton Bowl against Alabama, a school spokesman confirmed. The suspension is for an unspecified violation of team rules.
Johnson ranks seventh on the team in receptions with 13 for 74 yards and one touchdown. Reed is eighth with 11 catches for 136 yards and no touchdowns.
The most recent depth chart lists Johnson as a backup to Joel Filani at the Z receiver spot and Reed as a backup to Robert Johnson at the Y receiver in Tech's spread offense.
