Seattle Outrage Part 2

John Hunter of Sedro-Woolley, WA chimes in on my topic about the Seattle Outrage. He is not the only one who felt this way.

A rude welcome indeed

"Home away from home," "West side home game," and "Cougar home game" all are descriptions for the latest expedition to Seattle for the Cougs. If this is home, I think I want to run away.

Never have I and so many Cougs felt so unwelcome and treated as poorly as we were at Saturday's game at Qwest Field.

For the last eight years, the Skagit Cougs have traveled to Seattle to follow our Cougs, but this year something happened. The message was clear: "Don't let the door hit you in the rear when you leave!"

First off, the parking fees have been outrageously outpacing inflation in the main lot. Secondly, what can anyone do to explain the multitude of signs all around the lot proclaiming "NO TAILGATING TODAY" ? Lastly, what's with the hands-on pat-down searches of every single person entering the stadium?

I cannot think of a reasonable explanation for this type of treatment. We felt like spiked-hair punks at a rock concert. I cannot think of another football stadium in the country that does not allow tailgating for "select" teams. Even the airports don't pat you down as vigorously as we were at Qwest Field.

Really, is it because we are the Cougs and considered as Seattle's country cousins and third-class citizens when we come to the big city? Is it because we painted the Space Needle crimson or perhaps because there are more WAZZU license plates than from that Seattle school?

We have traveled nationwide following the Cougs and this was the epitome of a bad welcome by any host town anywhere in the country.

Well, we broke the rules and tailgated anyway. Security took our pictures and if we don't come back next year, maybe we'll go to Oklahoma with the Sonics, or perhaps Renton or the Tacoma Dome would like us to visit. Well, we got the message, "Leave your cash and go home!" Here's my message "GO COUGS!" Go anywhere but Qwest Field.

John Hunter
Sedro-Woolley, Wash.