In this area, any fan of the Carolina Panthers stands out like the team’s color contrast of bright neon blue against black. This being Seahawks country, people aren’t exactly lining up to cheer on the Cam Newton-led squad that ended the Seahawks’ two-year run of Super Bowl appearances.
Unless, of course, they have a family member playing in Sunday’s game.
Such is the case for Islander Dave Hense, uncle of Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Dwan Edwards. Though his familial connection can make for a loyalty crisis when his two favorite teams collide, Hense makes no bones about rooting for his nephew.
“I’m a Seahawks fan unless they’re playing the Panthers,” Hense said. “Blood’s thicker than water, you root for your family.”
Edwards is a 12-year NFL veteran who has also had stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills. Getting an opportunity to play in the Super Bowl is a career highlight in which Hense says the whole family is sharing.
“It’s been really cool for the family. All the brothers and sisters and grandma are texting back and forth during games, we’ve got six people on a chain text. It’s been a lot of fun,” he said.
Edwards grew up in Columbus, Montana, graduating from Columbus High School. Hense said his nephew graduated with a class of 30. He lettered in football, basketball and track and field, and was class president for three years. He went on to play football at Oregon State University and earned his degree in business administration.
“I just remember that he’s been athletic his entire life,” Hense said. “I think the thing I admire about him is that he’s such a nice man and a family man, he’s got five kids. He’s like an animal on the field and a gentle giant off the field, so it’s pretty cool.”
Hense said whenever his nephew comes to town, the two meet up. He didn’t travel to Charlotte, North Carolina for the NFC divisional game, but saw Edwards when the Seahawks hosted the Panthers in October.
“He had just a couple [free] hours, so we went down by the market, down by Sodo,” Hense said. “He had five or six of his friends from the team, a couple other linemen and safeties and cornerbacks, and those guys are just huge. I was driving them around and they all packed into my Pathfinder. We got out and it was like the funny car where they keep coming out and they looked like they’re bigger than what can actually fit inside the car.”
When attending games with family and friends, Hense roots for the Panthers, though it’s slightly different when Carolina comes to Seattle.
“Inside, I’m kind of rooting for both even though on the outside, I’m just rooting for the Panthers,” he said. “For some reason, as big of a Seahawks fan as I am, there’s still something about family that you just can’t quite get over.”
Hense said he’s currently trying to find a No. 92 Carolina Panthers Super Bowl jersey to purchase for the big game. His plans are to watch it at home, as he recently started a new job. His brothers and sisters are trying to plan a road trip, renting an RV and going down for the big game in Santa Clara.
And there’s no doubt what Hense, or any of Edwards’ other family members, are rooting for come Feb. 7.
“We’d just like to see him cap off his career with a Super Bowl ring, that’s what we’re all saying now,” Hense said. “It would be cool to cap off a career with a nice ring, especially from Super Bowl 50.”
