'N Yo' Seismic Network: Marshawn Lynch Shakes the PNSN!
This Thursday, October 10th 2024, Amazon Prime will feature Marshawn’s visit to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network Seismology Lab during its Thursday Night Football pregame show before the Seattle Seahawks take on the San Francisco 49ers at 5:15pm PDT.
[Photo credit: Beast Mode Productions]
The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network recorded the Beast Quake on January 8th, 2011. It occurred when Marshawn Lynch, aka Beastmode, rumbled through the New Orleans Saints defense for an epic 67-yard touchdown run considered by many to be the greatest in NFL history. This play sealed the Seattle Seahawks' playoff victory against the defending Super Bowl champions. The crowd inside Qwest Field (now Lumen Field) shook the ground so intensely that the shaking produced by their excitement was clearly recorded on the nearest seismic station, KDK, located along Occidental Avenue. Our original blog post in 2011 about the Beast Quake is here. The news of the Beast Quake went viral, made the PNSN famous for its discovery, and helped establish Marshawn Lynch as a beloved Seattle sports legend.
[Photo credit: NBC Sports]
The Beast Quake launched a partnership between the PNSN and the Seahawks. Since the original Beast Quake, we have set up more seismometers at the stadium to record several other playoff games during the Seahawks dominant run during the mid 2010s. This opened up opportunities for us to engage football fans and the broader public in discussions about earthquake science. It’s been exciting for us as Seahawks fans to blend our passions for science and football.
Over the many years since the Beast Quake, we often get asked about it and talk about it with the media and school groups that visit our seismology lab for field trips. Talking about the Beast Quake is one of the most popular topics each visit!! Imagine our excitement upon hearing that Marshawn Lynch and a production crew from Amazon Prime Video wanted to visit the PNSN to film a segment for an upcoming Thursday Night Football game to be played in Seattle. Before many of the games which Amazon broadcasts, they do a segment with Marshawn called, "N Yo City", where they film him doing some activity in the host city for that week’s game like this example we randomly chose 'N Yo' City in New Orleans. One of the producers suggested Seattle’s episode be bigfoot themed, but Marshawn insisted it be about the Beast Quake.
Beast Mode himself was coming to the PNSN! We couldn’t believe after all these years that we were going to meet the running back responsible for the Beast Quake and all it has led to since. We prepared for his visit and planned what to show him and tell him about. Marshawn came in with cameras rolling for his whole visit. We had an incredible time talking with him; he was so curious and interested in learning all about the Beast Quake and the other games we monitored.
[Photo credit: Beast Mode Productions]
He wanted to know more about earthquake hazards and earthquake early warning.
[Photo credit: Beast Mode Productions]
He was hilarious and silly and made us laugh but also appreciated what we do here and was serious about our earthquake monitoring efforts.
[Photo credit: Beast Mode Productions]
He also gave fellow Seahawk Doug Baldwin a quick FaceTime call to point out his little “baby wiggles” following one of Baldwin’s touchdowns versus the stronger shaking following a Beast Mode touchdown during the 2014 NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers. We all got to say hi to Doug (Baldwin) including PNSN’s own Doug (Gibbons).
[Photo credit: Beast Mode Productions]
After the interview, Marshawn signed a framed picture we have had on the wall of our seismology lab all these years of him going full Beast Mode during the Beast Quake along with its seismogram. He also signed a seismometer.
[Photo credit: PNSN]
Then he watched some highlights of the playoff game with us. It was an unreal experience to have him visit. It’s a memory we will cherish and talk about for years to come. We can’t wait to see the Seattle episode of “N Yo City” at the PNSN! Who would have thought that our dedication to public safety through earthquake information and awareness would intersect with our love of football and the Hawks?!
[Photo credit: PNSN]
You can watch N Yo City this Thursday on Amazon Prime sometime between 4:00-5:15 pm PDT.
We will post the link to the episode on YouTube here once it is live.