Seattle Seahawks Spirit of 1976 Page

Key Dates

3 January
Head coach named

9 July
First full training camp

22 July
Starters for scrimmage named

1 August
First pre-season game

1976 Day by Day


3 January	Jack Patera appointed head coach
30 March	Veterans’ allocation
8–9 April	College draft
23–25 April	Rookies’ orientation
3–5 May	Veterans’ orientation
27 May	Ahmad Rashad is signed as a free agent
6 July	Al Kelso is signed as a free agent
8 July	Sherman Smith is moved from wide receiver to running back Bob Cason is moved from quarterback to safety Reggie Brown is moved from tight end to fullback
9 July	Official opening of the first full training camp
	Left	Bob Bos Lydell Williams (injury)
11 July	Reggie Brown is moved back to tight end
12 July	Released	Bob Cason Scott Christman Dwaine Copeland Ned Deane Al Knapp Brad Kramer Keith Muehr Dan Shepherd Herb Singleton Mark Wahl
	Signed	Eddie Ray
13 July	Released	Greg Gibson Jerry Lee
14 July	Released	Lauriberto Ignacio Johnny Masters
	Left	Reggie Brown Ted Gerela John Neuman
	Retired	Larry Lilja
	Signed	Robin Ross
15 July	Released	Ron Barnett Phil Clabo Greg Den Boer Al Kelso Kerry Marbury Ernie Richardson Preston Roberts Chris Rowland Steve Taylor Jeff Urczyk Vaughn Williams Sears Woods
19 July	Signed	DB Jay Chesley (ex-49ers)
	Released	Joe Owens (failed physical — knee)
21 July	Signed	T Greg McGuire (ex-Dallas)
22 July	Kerry Marbury signs with Cleveland Greg Den Boer signs with NY Jets Provisional starters named for first official scrimmage:
	QB G G T T C TE WR WR RB RB DE DE T T LB LB LB CB CB S S	not decided Rocky Rasley Solomon Freelon Norm Evans Nick Bebout Art Kuehn John McMakin Wayne Johnson Sam McCullum Bill Olds Sherman Smith Dave Tipton Carl Barisich Wayne Baker Larry Woods Ken Geddes Mike Curtis Don Hansen Dwayne Crump Eddie McMillan Dave Brown Al Matthews
24 July	Left	Gordon Riegel (to go back to college)
25 July	Released	Jay Chesley
	Left	Greg McGuirey
27 July	Released	Steve Duncanson Ruben Hodges Stan Lewis Peter Miskov
	Charles Waddell undergoes knee surgery
29 July	Kerry Marbury released by Cleveland
30 July	Starters named for pre-season game against 49ers: (reserves in italics) (note that the actual starters may have been different)
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR RB RB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Neil Graff Jim Zorn Rocky Rasley Bob Penchion Solomon Freelon Bob Penchion Nick Bebout Jay Douglas / Dan Smith Norm Evans Robin Ross Art Kuehn Fred Hoaglin / John Didion Ron Howard John McMakin / Alvis Darby Bill Lide Wayne Johnson Bill Olds Alan Dixon Don Bitterlich Dave Tipton Lodie Dixon Carl Barisich G G Galloway Wayne Baker Jeff Lloyd Larry Woods Steve Niehaus Ken Geddes Randy Coffield Mike Curtis Ed Bradley Don Hansen Ken Hutcherson / Sammy Green Eddie McMillan Ernie Jones Dwayne Crump Larry Howse Dave Brown Rondy Colbert Al Matthews Lyle Blackwood / Don Dufek Rick Engles Skip Boyd
	Injury list	Larry Bates (knee) John Demarie (leg) Gordon Jolley (knee) Steve Raible (achilles strain) Eddie Ray Charles Waddell Dave Williams (knee) Rolly Woolsey Ahmad Rashad doubtful (knee)
Pre-season commences
1 August	Seattle 20 San Francisco 27
2 August	Po James released by Philadelphia after contract dispute
3 August	Released	Wayne Baker Jarvis Blinks Jerry Davis Jay Douglas Alan Dixon G G Galloway Andy Reid
	Signed	James Ford
	IR	Larry Bates Charles Waddell
5 August	Re-signed	Wayne Baker — then traded to Oakland for an undisclosed 1977 draft pick
	Starters named for pre-season game against Chicago: (note that the actual starters may have been different)
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR HB FB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Jim Zorn John Demarie Bob Penchion Nick Bebout Norm Evans Fred Hoaglin John McMakin Sam McCullum Ahmad Rashad Sherman Smith Bill Olds Don Bitterlich Dave Tipton Carl Barisich Steve Niehaus Larry Woods Ken Geddes Ed Bradley Don Hansen Eddie McMillan Dwayne Crump Rondy Colbert Lyle Blackwood Rick Engles
6 August	Released	Larry Shipp
	Signed	Po James
8 August	Seattle 16 Chicago 27 Ken Hutcherson injured (knee)
9 August	Released	Skip Boyd Gary Keithley
11 August	Signed	Bob Martin Wes Grant
	Starters named for pre-season game against Los Angeles: (note that the actual starters may have been different)
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR HB FB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Jim Zorn Rocky Rasley John Demarie Nick Bebout Norm Evans Fred Hoaglin Ron Howard Sam McCullum Don Clune Sherman Smith Bill Olds Don Bitterlich Dave Tipton Carl Barisich Steve Niehaus Larry Woods Ken Geddes Ed Bradley Mike Curtis Eddie McMillan Dwayne Crump Dave Brown Al Matthews Rick Engles
14 August	Seattle 13 Rams 16
19 August	Starters named for pre-season game against (note that the actual starters may have been different)
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR RB RB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Jim Zorn Bob Penchion John Demarie Nick Bebout Norm Evans Art Kuehn John McMakin Sam McCullum Don Clune Andy Bolton Darwin Robinson Don Bitterlich Dave Tipton Carl Barisich Steve Niehaus Larry Woods Ken Geddes Ed Bradley Mike Curtis Billy Hardee Ernie Jones Dave Brown Al Matthews Rick Engles
20 August	Released	Dave Williams
21 August	Denver 52 Seattle 7 Gary Keithley signs with 49ers
23 August	Released	Lodie Dixon Wayne Johnson Robin Ross
	Cornelius Greene released by Dallas
24 August	Released	Rondy Colbert
	Signed	Cornelius Greene
26 August	Signed	Steve Largent (trade with Houston)
27 August	Starters named for pre-season game against San Diego: (note that the actual starters may have been different)
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR RB RB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Jim Zorn Rocky Rasley Solomon Freelon Nick Bebout Norm Evans Art Kuehn John McMakin Steve Raible Don Clune Sherman Smith Bill Olds Don Bitterlich Dave Tipton Bob Martin Steve Niehaus Carl Barisich Ken Geddes Ed Bradley Mike Curtis Eddie McMillan Dwayne Crump Dave Brown Al Matthews Rick Engles
29 August	Seattle 17 San Diego 16 Steve Niehaus injures his right shoulder — the first in the series that shortened his career
30 August	Signed	Doug Payton
1 September	Rondy Colbert signs with Giants Wayne Baker released by Oakland Gary Keithley released by 49ers
2 September	Ed Bradley, Mike Curtis and Norm Evans named as team captains Starters named for pre-season game against Oakland: (note that the actual starters may have been different)
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR RB RB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Jim Zorn Bob Penchion John Demarie Nick Bebout Norm Evans Fred Hoaglin Ron Howard Steve Raible Don Clune Sherman Smith Bill Olds Don Bitterlich Dave Tipton Bob Martin Steve Niehaus Carl Barisich Ken Geddes Ed Bradley Mike Curtis Eddie McMillan Dwayne Crump Dave Brown Al Matthews Rick Engles
	(According to the Post-Intelligencer (September 3), Nick Bebout, Norm Evans, Dave Tipton, Carl Barisich and Ken Geddes were the only players to start all 5 pre-season games. However, Jim Zorn also started all 5 games)
4 September	Oakland 45 Seattle 28
6 September	Released	Dwayne Crump Billy Hardee Larry Howse Po James Randy Johnson Doug Payton Rocky Rasley Darwin Robinson
	Signed	Ron Coder (trade with Philadelphia) Bill Munson
	Ted Bachman released by Miami Al Cowlings released by LA Rams Hugh McKinnis released by Cleveland Ralph Nelson released by Washington Bob Newton released by Chicago Oliver Ross released by Denver Don Testerman released by Philadelphia
7 September	Released	Cornelius Greene James Ford Gary Hayman Jeff Lloyd Bob Martin Bob Picard
	Traded	Ahmad Rashad to Minnesota
	Signed	Terry Brown (Minnesota) — then traded to Cleveland for Ted Bachman Greg Collins Al Cowlings Hugh McKinnis Ralph Nelson Bob Newton Oliver Ross Don Testerman
	IR	Ken Hutcherson Eddie Ray
	Richard Harris released by Chicago
8 September	Released	Solomon Freelon
	Signed	Richard Harris
	Al Cowlings fails his physical
10 September	Released	Ernie Jones Larry Woods
	Signed	Jim White
Regular season commences
12 September	Seattle 24 St Louis 30
13 September	Signed	Bob Lurtsema
16 September	John Leypoldt released by Buffalo
17 September	Dwayne Crump signed by St Louis
19 September	Washington 31 Seattle 7
21 September	Released	Alvis Darby Bill Olds Jim White
	Traded	Don Hansen to Green Bay
22 September	Released	Neil Graff
	Re-signed	Al Cowlings (after passing physical)
26 September	Seattle 21 49ers 37
	Steve Largent wins TV set as Seahawks player of the game (as voted by media and awarded by Western Appliance Distributors)
27 September	John Leypoldt brought to training camp
29 September	Signed	Dave Simonson
	Released	Al Cowlings
	Jeff Lloyd signs with Buffalo Bill Olds signs with Philadelphia
	Injury list	Andy Bolton (knee) Hugh McKinnis (knee) Oliver Ross John McMakin (hamstring)
30 September	Signed	John Leypoldt
	Released	Don Bitterlich
2 October	Starters named for game against Dallas:
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR RB RB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Jim Zorn Bob Penchion John Demarie Nick Bebout Norm Evans Art Kuehn Ron Howard Sam McCullum Steve Largent Ralph Nelson Don Testerman John Leypoldt Dave Tipton Bob Lurtsema Steve Niehaus Carl Barisich Ken Geddes Ed Bradley Mike Curtis Eddie McMillan Rolly Woolsey Dave Brown Al Matthews Rick Engles
3 October	Seattle 13 Dallas 28
	Nick Bebout wins TV set as Seahawks player of the game
6 October	DT Jeff Yeates (ex-Buffalo) is brought to training camp, but Patera indicates he won’t be signed
9 October	Starters named for game against Green Bay:
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR RB RB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Jim Zorn Bob Penchion John Demarie Nick Bebout Gordon Jolley Art Kuehn Ron Howard Sam McCullum Steve Largent Ralph Nelson Don Testerman John Leypoldt Dave Tipton Bob Lurtsema Steve Niehaus Carl Barisich Ken Geddes Ed Bradley Mike Curtis Eddie McMillan Rolly Woolsey Dave Brown Al Matthews Rick Engles
10 October	Green Bay 27 Seattle 20
13 October	Re-signed	Ernie Jones Larry Woods
	Released	Ted Bachman Andy Bolton
10 October	Bob Picard released by Philadelphia
14 October	Neil Graff signs with Pittsburgh Bob Picard signs with Detroit
15 October	Starters named for game against Tampa Bay:
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR RB RB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Jim Zorn Bob Penchion John Demarie Nick Bebout Gordon Jolley Art Kuehn Ron Howard Sam McCullum Steve Largent Ralph Nelson Don Testerman John Leypoldt Dave Tipton Bob Lurtsema Steve Niehaus Richard Harris Ken Geddes Ed Bradley Mike Curtis Eddie McMillan Rolly Woolsey Dave Brown Al Matthews Rick Engles
17 October	Tampa Bay 10 Seattle 13
	Eddie Ray signs with Buffalo
22 October	Starters named for game against Detroit:
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR RB RB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Jim Zorn Bob Penchion John Demarie Nick Bebout Gordon Jolley Art Kuehn Ron Howard Sam McCullum Steve Largent Sherman Smith Hugh McKinnis John Leypoldt Dave Tipton Bob Lurtsema Steve Niehaus Richard Harris Ken Geddes Ed Bradley Mike Curtis Eddie McMillan Rolly Woolsey Dave Brown Al Matthews Rick Engles
24 October	Seattle 14 Detroit 41
	Sherman Smith wins TV set as Seahawks player of the game
29 October	Starters named for game against Los Angeles:
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR RB RB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Jim Zorn Bob Penchion John Demarie Nick Bebout Gordon Jolley Art Kuehn John McMakin Sam McCullum Steve Largent Sherman Smith Hugh McKinnis John Leypoldt Dave Tipton Bob Lurtsema Steve Niehaus Richard Harris Ken Geddes Ed Bradley Mike Curtis Eddie McMillan Rolly Woolsey Dave Brown Al Matthews Rick Engles
31 October	Los Angeles 45 Seattle 6
5 November	Starters named for game against Atlanta:
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR RB RB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Jim Zorn Bob Penchion Bob Newton Nick Bebout Norm Evans Art Kuehn Ron Howard Sam McCullum Steve Largent Sherman Smith Hugh McKinnis John Leypoldt Dave Tipton Bob Lurtsema Steve Niehaus Richard Harris Sammy Green Ed Bradley Mike Curtis Eddie McMillan Rolly Woolsey Dave Brown Al Matthews Rick Engles
7 November	Seattle 30 Atlanta 13
	Dave Brown wins TV set as Seahawks player of the game
12 November	Movie Two Minute Warning is released. Art Kuehn appears in a white number 71 jersey and a red number 55 jersey
14 November	Minnesota 27 Seattle 21
19 November	Starters named for game against New Orleans:
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR RB RB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Jim Zorn Bob Penchion Bob Newton Nick Bebout Norm Evans Fred Hoaglin Ron Howard Sam McCullum Steve Largent Sherman Smith Don Testerman John Leypoldt Dave Tipton Bob Lurtsema Steve Niehaus Richard Harris Sammy Green Ed Bradley Mike Curtis Eddie McMillan Ernie Jones Dave Brown Al Matthews Rick Engles
21 November	Seattle 27 New Orleans 51
26 November	Starters named for game against Giants:
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR RB RB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Jim Zorn Bob Penchion Bob Newton Nick Bebout Norm Evans Fred Hoaglin Ron Howard Sam McCullum Steve Largent Sherman Smith Don Testerman John Leypoldt Carl Barisich Bob Lurtsema Steve Niehaus Richard Harris Sammy Green Ed Bradley Mike Curtis Eddie McMillan Ernie Jones Dave Brown Al Matthews Rick Engles
28 November	Giants 28 Seattle 16
2 December	Released	Don Clune
	Signed	S Bryant Salter (ex-Miami)
	Starters named for game against Chicago:
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR RB RB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Jim Zorn Bob Penchion Bob Newton Nick Bebout Norm Evans Fred Hoaglin Ron Howard Sam McCullum Steve Largent Sherman Smith Don Testerman John Leypoldt Dave Tipton (if fit) or Carl Barisich Bob Lurtsema Steve Niehaus Richard Harris Sammy Green Ed Bradley Mike Curtis Eddie McMillan Ernie Jones Dave Brown Al Matthews Rick Engles
5 December	Seattle 7 Chicago 34 Don Testerman wins TV set as Seahawks player of the game
6 December	Released	Bryant Salter
	Re-signed	Don Clune
7 December	Seahawks Awards night:
	Jim Zorn	MVP (media vote) Player of the Year (fan vote)
	Steve Largent	Rookie of the Year (booster clubs vote) Best Offensive Player
	Steve Niehaus	Best Defensive Player
	Don Dufek	Best Special Teams Player
9 December	UPI NFL All-Rookie Team announced: Jim Zorn, Steve Largent and Steve Niehaus named
10 December	Starters named for game against Philadelphia:
	QB LG RG LT RT C TE WR WR RB RB K LE RE LT RT LLB MLB RLB LCB RCB FS SS P	Jim Zorn Bob Penchion Bob Newton Nick Bebout Norm Evans Fred Hoaglin Ron Howard Sam McCullum Steve Largent Sherman Smith Don Testerman John Leypoldt Dave Tipton Bob Lurtsema Steve Niehaus Richard Harris Ken Geddes Ed Bradley Mike Curtis Eddie McMillan Rolly Woolsey Dave Brown Al Matthews Rick Engles
12 December	Philadelphia 27 Seattle 10
13 December	Signed	DE Mark Chalmers (free agent with Houston 1975, then played with Hamilton and Montreal in CFL) LB Steve Dionas (tryout with New Orleans in 1974) DE/TE Bob Fine (drafted by Buffalo 1975) DE Bob Simpson (drafted by Miami 1976) K Rich Sorenson (drafted by Detroit 1976)

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Key Dates

1976 Day by Day

Pre-season commences

Regular season commences