SNOQUALMIE – When Snoqualmie Elementary School was compiling its entry for the NFL Play 60 program, principal Cori Pflug had no idea it would pay off.
“We thought it was a great goal, but we never expected this,” Pflug said Tuesday.
As Pflug was making that half-surprise/half-satisfaction statement, Seahawks tight end 
A few minutes earlier, during an assembly, Carlson had presented the school with a check for $10,000 as the Washington state winner of the Back to Football promotion. The NFL selects 34 “winners” – one representing each franchise and two at-large – based on the spirit and “I’m in” aspect of their Back to Football event.
For the 624 students in grades K-5 at Snoqualmie, that including poising with homemade blue-and-white placards to create a 12th Man flag. McEldowney snapped the photo that was submitted to the league from the roof of the school.
“When they took the picture, I remember thinking, ‘I wonder how this compares with other entries,’ ” Pflug said. “Then I just sort of forgot about it.”
But the selection committee didn’t forget about that picture, and the kids at Snoqualmie obviously didn’t forget to flaunt their Seahawks spirit.
When Carlson arrived at the school, he entered through a reception line comprised of two students from each class. They were wearing Seahawks shirts and jerseys and some were decked out in Hawk Heads that they had made in class.
Carlson then entered the school’s gym/multipurpose room to an explosion of cheers and applause – and the Notre Dame fight song, because Carlson played his college ball for the Fighting Irish.
“I really enjoy doing these things, going to schools and talking about to kids about working out and being healthy and developing not only healthy eating habits but life habits,” Carlson said.
Getting kids to be active and lead a healthier lifestyle is important to Carlson. He grew up in Litchfield, Minn. He father is a high school coach and PE teacher. His mother teaches health.
“It’s important, because this current generation of kids – I’ve read some of the statistics – and they say it’s the first in the history of the United States to have a lower life expectancy than their parents,” he said. “Considering the healthcare we have and the technology that’s available to us, that’s ridiculous.
“So I feel it’s important to teach kids that it can be fun to be active and that it can be fun to be healthy. And it’s important to develop those habits early.”
Then there’s the cash payoff for everything the kids – and teachers – at Snoqualmie did to earn their grant.
“It’s awesome,” Carlson said. “It shows they’re supporting the Seahawks, that’s kind of how they got their grant. But that comes from the culture that is developing here of being active and supporting teams.”
It wasn’t just a one-day deal. Tuesday, the kids knew that the Seahawks had won on Sunday to move into sole possession of first place in the NFC West. They knew the team was 4-2 and getting ready to play the Raiders in Oakland this week. They knew who Carlson was, even though tight end isn’t usually considered a glamour position.
“It’s amazing that they’re so young, and yet they’re so knowledgeable about the Seahawks and sports in general around this area,” Carlson said.
Now that Snoqualmie Elementary has cashed in, how do they plan to use the cash?
Pflug mentioned building a parcourse exercise circuit. McEldowney wouldn’t mind seeing his domain – the gym he shares as a lunch room, assembly hall and theatre – expanded.
“We’re still talking about that,” Pflug said.
It’s a nice decision to be able to make.
