Bleary-eyed and dog-tired, Richmond’s own Seattle Seahawks superfan stumbled into work Tuesday morning a deliriously happy man.
Teacher Ryan Strachan managed to steal just a couple of hours’ sleep after flying in from New York and was running on adrenalin by the time he returned to his desk at RC Palmer secondary. But it mattered not a jot to lifetime and previously long-suffering Seahawks fan Strachan, 41, whose blood was still coursing through his veins in the wake of his team’s Super Bowl Sunday rout over the hapless Denver Broncos.
“Not in a million years did I, or any of us, think that would be the score,” said the RC Palmer hockey program coordinator and social studies teacher, who only managed to live out his dream of watching the Seahawks at a Super Bowl thanks to former students raising $1,500 via Facebook.
“But even when we led 36-8, I was still waiting for something bad to happen, especially with all the suffering we’ve had in the past. It was an unbelievable experience to be a part of.”
Strachan — who runs the Canadianseahawks fan website — said it took three hours to travel the seven miles from downtown New York to the stadium.
“I’m always nervous before a Seahawks game, no matter who we’re playing,” he said.
But there was so much going on pre-game that there was no time to get too nervous, added Strachan. “They certainly know how to put on a show. And on our seats was a package with things like a blanket, gloves and a toque with LED lights.
“At half-time, the toques lights lit up and were remotely controlled to coincide with the show.”
Strachan, although making the big show, can’t take more time off to go see the ‘Hawks parade the Super Bowl through Seattle on Wednesday morning.
That privilege is being handed to his fellow fan and wife, Tamara, who’ll be traveling down by bus in the early hours.
