by Lavi Aulck
Sports Editor

Despite the Seahawks’ recent loss at the NFL Playoffs, it would be hard to disagree with the statement that we are presently in the “Golden Age” of Seahawks football.

In recent seasons, a playoff appearance for this team seemed a given, a division title never seemed too far away and pro bowlers on the roster were easy to come by.

Unfortunately, Seahawks fans aren’t too hard to come by either. hzhzhWhat bothers me, however, is when it seems like Seahawks fans seemingly sprout out of the ground and become “die-hard” fans - a phenomenon that I like to call “Bandwagonism”.

I understand that no one likes to stand by a loser and that a winner always seems easier to support, but Seahawks fans seem to have taken that to another level.

It was only 10 years ago when the same team who love the Seahawks now were nowhere to be found, and the was almost sent packing to Los Angeles. Home games were “blacked out” due to a lack of attendance.

Now throw in five straight playoff appearances, four straight division titles and a Super Bowl appearance, and it seems like anyone and everyone in Seattle is a Seahawks fan.

What all Seahawks fans (regardless of their level of Bandwagonism) should understand is that this success isn’t likely to last forever. All professional sports teams build their rosters with talent and then rebuild and look to the future once players age or leave.

When that happens—when this team begins to fall from its current pace—is when fans will show how much this team matters to them. That will be the point where Qwest Field is filled with loyal supporters and not pseudo-fans.

It will be the time when not everyone in Seattle is a Seahawks fan. Bandwagonism is hard to spot when a team is winning; it’s when a team starts to lose that Bandwagoners start to leave.