The12th man or12th player is a collective term forfans of sports teams in many eleven-a-side games, in particularassociation football. As most football leagues allow a maximum of eleven players per team on the playing field at a time, referring to a team's fans as the 12th man implies that they have a potentially helpful and significant role in the game.
The presence of fans can have a notable impact on how the teams perform, an element in thehome advantage. Namely, the home team fans would vocally support and urge on their team to win the game. Thus these fans will often create loud sounds orchant in the hope of encouraging their team; or of distracting, demoralizing or confusing the opposing team while they have possession of the ball; or to persuade a referee to make a favorable decision to the team. Noises are made by shouting, singing, whistling, stomping, clapping and various other techniques.
InCanadian football, 12 players from each team are usually on the field at one time and the term13th man is often used to refer to fans. Similarly, inAustralian rules football 18 players are on the field and the fans are often referred to as the19th man. However, inbasketball, where five players are on the court, the termSixth man generally refers to an energetic substitute player. Similarly, inrugby sevens, with seven players from each team on the field, "Eighth man" is not used to refer to fans as the term refers tothe eighth forward in rugby union. The termTwelfth Man has a specifically different meaning incricket, referring instead to thenominated first substitute player who fields when a member of the fielding side is injured during play.
The first recorded use of the term "twelfth man" was a magazine published by theUniversity of Minnesota in September 1900, that referred to "the mysterious influence of the twelfth man on the team, therooter".[1] Later, in the November 1912 edition ofThe Iowa Alumnus, an alumni publication of theUniversity of Iowa (then known as State University of Iowa), E. A. McGowan described the 1903 game betweenIowa and theUniversity of Illinois. In his article, "The Twelfth Player", McGowan wrote: "The eleven men had done their best; but the twelfth man on the team (the loyal spirited Iowa rooter) had won the game for old S.U.I."[2]
The1922 Dixie Classic served as the setting for an event later referred to as "The story of the 12th Man".[3] This football game featured the top-rankedCentre College andThe Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (later known as Texas A&M). During the game, A&M coachDana X. Bible realized that one more injury would leave him without another backfield player to send into the game. Bible called E. King Gill, a sophomore basketball player, down from the stands to stand ready as a substitute. Gill was ready in uniform on the sidelines if his team needed him.[4]
Individuals have occasionally been labeled by local media as the "Twelfth Man" of their team. In 1930, W. H. Adamson, Principal of Oak Cliff (Dallas) High School was called the "Twelfth Man" of the school's American football team by a local reporter due to the rousing pre-game speeches he would give to the players. Likewise, sometimes, fans of both teams in an annual contest have been described as the 12th man.[5]
In the 1935Princeton–Dartmouth game before 56,000 fans who braved the snow and cold,[6] spectator Mike Mesco was initially reported to have left his seat from the stands to join the Dartmouth defensive line and was referred to in a local newspaper as the "Twelfth Dartmouth Man",[7] though later was found to be not Mesco, but George Larsen of Cranford, New Jersey.[8][9]
The term has been used by various American football teams including the University of Minnesota, the University of Iowa, Baylor University, Dartmouth College, Simmons College, Texas A&M and theNFL'sSeattle Seahawks,Green Bay Packers,Buffalo Bills,Denver Broncos,Washington Commanders,Indianapolis Colts,Miami Dolphins,[10] andChicago Bears in marketing practices in reference to their supporters. The Bears currently use the phrase "4th Phase" (with the first three phases being offense, defense, and special teams),[11] and the Seahawks currently use the phrase "The 12s".[12]
Many high schools in the United States incorporate 12th man language into their booster, supporter, or rooter clubs. Examples of such "12th Man Clubs" include theDana Hills Dolphins,[13]Washington Panthers,[14]Richwood Knights,[15]Diamond Bar Brahmas,[16]Fairfield Falcons,[17] andBrentwood Bruins.[18]
TheCampbellsville University Tigers of theNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics also have a 12th Man Club.[19]
On December 12, 1992, (12/12/1992) theBuffalo Bills of theNational Football League honored their 12th Man as the seventh inductee into theBuffalo Bills Wall of Fame, located insideHighmark Stadium.[20] Their fans were inducted because of their loyal support during the team'searly '90sSuper Bowl runs, which coincided with quarterbackJim Kelly and his wearing of #12.[21] In 2008, the Bills renamed their "12th Man Walk of Fame" as "Tim Russert Plaza", in honor of the recently deceased Buffalo native and lifelong fan.[22] The team continues to refer to its fans as the "12th Man",[23][24][25] with their independent, international fan clubs known as "Bills Backers Chapters".[26] The Bills have a licensing agreement with Texas A&M over the use of the "12th Man" term.[27][28]
Fans of theIndianapolis Colts of theNFL were known as the 12th Man.[29] The Colts created aRing of Honor on September 23, 1996, afterplaying 13 seasons inIndianapolis,Indiana. In 2007, the Colts inducted their 12th Man as the sixth entrant into the team's Ring of Honor, then located on the interior facade of theRCA Dome.[30] The Ring of Honor currently encirclesLucas Oil Stadium, the team's home venue. The organization also designates a "12th Man Fan of the Game".[31][32] On November 12, 2015, Texas A&M announced the filing of a lawsuit against the Colts based on the team's usage of the term.[33] On February 17, 2016, the lawsuit was settled with the Colts agreeing to remove the phrase from their Ring of Honor and to immediately cease all other uses of the trademarked phrase.[34]
TheSeattle 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 end zone of what is now Lumen Field, and began a tradition of raising a giant flag with the number 12 on it in honor of the fans, one of whom isSam Adkins, the former Seahawks quarterback who did wear the number 12.[35] Usually, a local celebrity or a season ticket holder raises the flag during pregame ceremonies.[36] In recent years, 12th Man flags[37][38][39][40][41] have been seen all over Seattle whenever the Seahawks make the playoffs, including atop theSpace Needle. In 2014,Boeing painted aBoeing 747-8 freighter aircraft 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.[42][43] When the Seahawks took the field forSuper Bowl XLVIII, they were led by LBHeath Farwell carrying the team's 12th Man flag[44][45] per team tradition.[46] In May 2016, mountaineer David Liaño González displayed a 12th Man flag at the summit ofMount Everest.[47]
The Seahawks' 12th Man has twice set theGuinness World Record loudest crowd noise at a sporting event, first on September 15, 2013, registering 136.6dB during a game against theSan Francisco 49ers[48][49] and again on December 2, 2013, during aMonday Night Football game against theNew Orleans Saints, with a roar of 137.6 dB.[50][51] 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",[52] and instead are using the term "12s" or the 12 Fan.[53][54]
 | This sectionshould include a summary ofTraditions of Texas A&M University#12th Man. SeeWikipedia:Summary style for information on how to incorporate it into this article's main text. |
The first known instance of Texas A&M referring to its fanbase as the "12th Man" is contained on page 17 of the November 25, 1921, edition ofThe Battalion, the Texas A&M campus newspaper.[55] 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.[56][better source needed] A statue of E. King Gill stands on the campus.[57][58]
Football coachJackie Sherrill created the "12th Man Kick-Off Team" in the 1980s, composed of non-athletic scholarship students who tried out for the team. Coach Sherrill has written a book entitled "No Experience Required" which details this team and the tradition. These students were placed on the roster for the sole purpose of kickoffs. The squad was nicknamed "the suicide squad". These students often had little regard for their safety and were determined to make a tackle at any cost.[59][60] The 12th Man Kick-Off Team was extremely successful and eventually held opponents to one of the lowest yards-per-return average in the league during kickoffs.[when?][61] Later, head coachR. C. Slocum changed the team to allow only one representative of the 12th Man on the kick off team who wears uniform number 12.[57] The player is chosen based on the level of determination and hard work shown in practices. UnderDennis Franchione, the 12th Man Kick-Off Team composed of walk-ons was brought back, though used only rarely when the team was up by quite a few points.[62][63]
On June 30, 2014, Texas A&M bought the domain name 12thman.com, which then became its official athletics website.[64][65]
In 1986, the Washington Redskins (now known as theWashington Commanders) released avideo entitled "Thanks to the 12th Man".[66]
The term "12th man" is commonly used in football to refer tothe fans and occasionally the manager. A notable club famous for the twelfth man reference comes fromAston Villa, referring to the Holte End stand at Villa Park. Large European teams such asBayern Munich,Malmö FF,Hammarby IF,Helsingborgs IF,Werder Bremen,Aberdeen,Rangers,Lazio,PSV,Feyenoord,Ferencvárosi TC,FC Red Star,Fenerbahçe S.K., andSporting CP have officially retired the number 12 to the fans.Stockport County fans are registered as official members of their squad with the number 12.[citation needed]Portsmouth F.C. has also retired its number 12 shirt, and lists the club's supporters, "Pompey Fans", as player number 12 on the squad list printed in home match programmes,[citation needed] whilePlymouth Argyle have theirs registered to theGreen Army (the nickname for their fans).[citation needed] Number 12 is also reserved for the fans at many other clubs, includingCSKA Moscow andZenit Saint Petersburg in Russia,Bristol Rovers andGrimsby Town in England, as well asAarhus Gymnastikforening (AGF),Odense Boldklub, also known asOB, in Denmark,Malmö FF andHammarby IF in Sweden,Persija Jakarta in Indonesia,Botev Plovdiv in Bulgaria andPerth Glory in Australia. OnHammarby IF's,Helsingborgs IF,Malmö FF,Feyenoord andWerder Bremen's home games, the stadium speaker announces number 12 as "the fans" during team lineup announcements.
Dynamo Dresden in Germany also keeps number 12 for their fans, as well as the official team anthem being "We are the 12th man".Aberdeen F.C. supporters commonly display a large banner in the shape of a football shirt with the text "Red Army 12" in place of a player's name and number.[citation needed] The fans of theNorthern Ireland national football team andDerry City are referred to as the 12th man as well. In theLeague of Ireland,Shamrock Rovers F.C. retired the number 12 jersey in recognition of the fans who took over the club in 2005.Cork City F.C.,Clube Atlético Mineiro andClube de Regatas do Flamengo also retired the number 12 for the fans.[citation needed] The most vociferous fans ofBoca Juniors in Argentina are known as the "Jugador Numero 12" (Spanish for "Player Number 12") or simply "La Doce" ("The 12"). On September 18, 2004,U.S. Lecce, an Italian team currently playing inSerie B, retired the number 12 to the fans, which was handed to them by the former captainCristian Ledesma. They symbolically represent a 12th Man in the field.[citation needed] In the beginning of 2009–2010 season,Happy Valley AA introduced the club's mascot, a panda, on squad list as the fan club captain wearing the number 12 jersey.[67] As of the end of the 2011–2012 season,Rangers F.C announced that the number 12 jersey would be retired in honour of the fans support throughout a period of financial difficulty.[68]
In American football, the sideline is sometimes also referred to as the "12th man" or "12th defender": since a player is considered down when he steps out of bounds, the sideline effectively acts as an extra defender. This usage is less common than the one referring to the fans. In most sports the term can also be construed to mean thereferee, implying that the match official favours one team and is not impartial.[69]
The effects of the "12th man" vary widely, but can be put in two categories. The first is simply psychological, the effect of showing the home team that they are appreciated, and showing the away team that they are somewhat unwelcome. The second directly relates to the deafening effects of a loud crowd.
In Association football, the crowd can be very passionate and often sing throughout the whole match. Some occasions where the crowd noise is extra loud can be before kickoff; during the buildup to and scoring of agoal; when encouraging the team to come back from defeat; to discourage an opposition penalty taker; or to harass areferee giving a free kick to the opposition team.
In American football, fans are most incited by physical play, especially good plays made by the defense.[70] Additionally, the home team can derive energy from the loud noise of their fans; former American football players have described the feeling of their adrenaline pumping after hearing the fans yell, which is "like you have a reserve energy tank".[71]
The noise of the crowd can have a significant impact on the players on the field. In American football, an extremely loud crowd can prevent theoffensive linemen from hearing thesnap count. This can have the effect of making the player slower to react when the ball is snapped, and his eventual response may be weaker than normal because each play is begun "with some indecision and doubt".[71] The noise can also prevent players from hearingaudibles and can make it difficult for the team's offense to coordinate plays in the huddle. The effect of the noise can often be measured in mistakes, such asfalse start penalties.[72]
Coaches can take steps to minimize the effect of the crowd noise on their teams. Some American football teams bring large speakers to their practice fields and broadcast loud noises such as jet engines to prepare their teams for the anticipated noise level.[73] Crowd noise tends to diminish after a long lull in play, such as a pause forinstant replay. FormerNFL playerBrian Baldinger speculates that some coaches draw out reviews as part of a coaching strategy to quiet the crowd for their next play.[71]
A researcher fromHarvard University discovered in a study that some association football referees appeared to be impacted by crowd noise. His studies revealed that a home team acquired an additional 0.1 goal advantage for every 10,000 fans in the stadium.[74]
Delia Smith,Norwich City's joint major shareholder, received some attention when she took to the pitch during a half time interval, with a microphone in hand andSky TV cameras in tow, to tell fans the side "need their twelfth man". "Where are you?" she cried. Norwich City lost the game in the final seconds, but Smith's passion worked to increase the affection the fans held for her.[75]
The current naturally loudest football stadium isNef Stadium inIstanbul home ofGalatasaray S.K.[76] As a prepared attempt, the current world record for crowd noise at an athletic event was set on September 29, 2014, when theKansas City Chiefs hosted theNew England Patriots. Noise during that event reached a high of 142.2 decibels during atimeout.[77][78]
Texas A&M University applied on December 26, 1989, fortrademark U.S. Ser. No.74013898 related to usage of the term. The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued the"trademark registration" September 4, 1990, to Texas A&M. Four additional Trademark claims related to the "12th Man" term were also filed and granted at later dates by Texas A&M University (See U.S. Ser. Nos.74560726,76671314,85977835 and85851199), the first three of which have achievedIncontestable Status as a result of its section 15 affidavit with the Patent and Trademark Office.[citation needed] According to former Texas A&M Athletic Director Bill Byrne, he contacted the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills about halting their "12th Man" themes.[79] Byrne stated that, "they responded quickly with our requests to stop using our Twelfth Man trademark".[80] Texas A&M sent requests to stop using the phrase to theSeattle Seahawks in both 2004 and 2005. The Seahawks did not respond to the requests.[81]
In January 2006, Texas A&M filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against the Seattle Seahawks and in May 2006, the dispute was settled out of court. Neither side admitted any fault or liability. In the agreement, the Seahawks licensed the phrase in exchange for $100,000, along with public acknowledgement as to Texas A&M's ownership rights of the phrase, and an additional annual fee.[82] The compensation amounted to $5,000 per year.[83][84] The agreement, which expired in 2016, limited the Seahawks' usage to seven western states and forbid them from selling any "12th Man" merchandise.[83] In August 2015, the Seahawks shifted towards calling their fans the "12s", and replaced their "Home of the 12th Man" stadium sign with a new "Home of the 12s" sign.[85]
On November 12, 2015, Texas A&M filed suit against theIndianapolis Colts after repeated cease and desist requests were ignored by the NFL team.[86] On February 17, 2016, the lawsuit was settled with the Colts agreeing to remove the phrase from their Ring of Honor and to immediately cease all other uses of the trademarked phrase.[34]
In August 2016, the Seahawks agreed to a new five-year trademark licensing agreement with Texas A&M. As part of the agreement, the Seahawks agreed to pay Texas A&M $140,000 for limited rights to use the trademarked term. This agreement, like the previous agreement, prohibits the Seahawks from using the "12th Man" term on any merchandise. The new agreement, however, also prohibits Seattle from using the term on social media, nor are they allowed to use the term on any signage within their stadium, including their Ring of Honor.[54]
The Football Association allege that the defender's post, which was later deleted, "questioned the integrity of the match official".
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