In wake of tragic shooting, Seahawks invite H.S. teams to practice

The Seattle Seahawks showed their support Tuesday afternoon for a high school football team reeling from tragedy.

“The Seahawks really rolled out the red carpet for us and did a great job of taking care of us today,” Marysville-Pilchuck (Wa.) coach Brandon Carson told the Everett Herald. “We're really appreciative of them. It was really great. It was really helpful.”

Last Friday, a freshman on the Marysville-Pilchuck (Wa.) football team walked into the school cafeteria with a gun, killing one girl and critically wounding four others before fatally shooting himself. Another victim later died at the hospital. As the school community started to process what had happened, sports were, naturally, the last thing on anyone's mind.

They were scheduled to play Oak Harbor High School for the WESCO North title that night. The game was canceled, and Oak Harbor's players called to say that they would like to forfeit the title to Marysville-Pilchuck. The two schools are about 40 miles north of Seattle.

“Our hearts just opened immediately to try to help in any way that we can," Pete Carroll told the Seattle Times on Monday. "When they are faced with an opportunity about a playoff situation and the other school decides to forfeit the game, what an extraordinary gesture. And I think it’s a gesture in every direction and an understanding and compassion that it’s good to be recognized. And we hope that we can do whatever we can in our support, our fans’ support."

“You feel so helpless but we wish that we could do something to ease the pain of all of the people that have been troubled," he said.

Several players, including Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Bobby Wagner, and Russell Okung, joined the practice on Tuesday, as well as Carroll and GM John Schneider.

"The 2nd best day of my life only behind winning the Super Bowl! Thank you @seahawks letting us practice in the V-Mac it means a lot to this team and community," a junior wrote on Instagram.

For the coach, it was a chance to get the team back to a bit of normalcy and prepare for this weekend's game, the first time they'll be back on the field since the shooting.

“We were together today for close to six hours and that's part of the healing process,” Carson said. “Just being together and riding the bus. Sharing in this experience together.”

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Danielle Elliot is the editor of Prep Rally for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at delliot@yahoo-inc.com or follow her on Twitter!

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