Editor’s note:

Special contributor Ron Callan is back with another story for the website.

Callan is a native of Napa, Calif. His first Beaver game was a football matchup with Stanford at Parker Stadium in 1971 while he was a student at Linfield. Ron began coverage of the Beavers while doing radio work in Portland in 2004. The veteran of 46 years in the sportscasting industry started work at OSU as a radio sideline reporter and pre- and post-game host in football in 2007 and as women’s basketball radio play-by-play voice in 2008.

Here, Callan offers a behind the scenes look during the Seattle Seahawks home opener during the Sunday Night Football game against the New England Patriots.

Through covering and working for the Seahawks for 40 years, I never expected to be watching a game in an empty CenturyLink Field. Beginning in 1981, I covered the Seahawks as a tv and radio reporter, serving as a member of the Seahawks’ broadcast team (1995-2002). Since that time, I have worked the home games as a member of the Seahawks staff. I have the incredibly intense and rewarding job as the internal public address announcer. From my seat in the NFL stats room, I relate the official stats to the throng of media and others packing the stadium's press box.

And then comes COVID-19. For now, the NFL is playing with reduced or no fans in stadiums. Seattle made the decision to go without the "12s" for at least the first three games. When I was asked if I would do my normal job at this season's home games, of course, I said yes!! Watching a live football game in person? No-brainer!

This is where weird begins. Normally, hundreds of Seahawk fans jam I-5 heading from Oregon and Southwest Washington to Seattle to tailgate and watch their Hawks in action. This Sunday morning, there were no cars with Hawk flags heading north for the national NBC-televised Sunday night game against the New England Patriots. The stadium parking lot was virtually empty. No problem finding my favorite spot.

I must commend the Seahawks on their command of an awful situation. The health screening procedure was thorough, and after passing the temperature test ( mine was 97.7), I received my usual credential and headed to a revamped stats booth. Social distancing and masks are the new normal, and the Seahawks were meticulous in making sure everyone felt comfy.

The usual mega buffet for the staff and media is no more for now. A super safe distribution of food was available in individual containers. My orange chicken and brown rice was tasty.

As the players went through warmups and the kickoff loomed, my mind played tricks on me. For so many years, the arrival of the fans and the noise that goes along with it have been such a part of the game. I start my pregame announcements 20 minutes before kickoff, and at the 30-minute mark, I was caught off-guard because the stadium was still totally empty.

ll went smoothly, though. The national anthem was played for the players and staff. Some stood and had their hand on their heart. Some sat as the instrumental version of the anthem played. No cheerleaders, no band. Just the players and staff and 68,000 empty seats. It was a sad moment with the realization that right now, our sporting events have been altered by a virus that has turned the planet upside down.

The game was exciting, though at times, it had the feeling of a scrimmage. The "fake crowd" noise was pretty low inside CenturyLink. Normally the crowd has us yelling to hear each other in the stats booth; not on this occasion.

When the Patriots went on their final drive of the game trailing 35-30, I imagined what it would be like if the fans were inside the stadium. When Cam Newton was stuffed at the one-yard line on the final play by the Seattle defense, the crowd would have gone crazy.

After the game, both Coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson lamented the lack of fans in the seats, but they are both driven to get the Seahawks back to the Super Bowl. Victories like the one over the Pats are important on the road to a title. It had to be a fun game to watch on TV, but I wonder if fans at home get that “scrimmage feel” while they are watching.

We know the lack of fans is temporary in pro and college sports. I am glad for that. I’m also glad I had the chance to see an entertaining football game in person. It was good for my mental health to be part of something again.

But I hope the fans get to return soon. I know the TV money is still there for NFL teams, but a completely empty stadium isn't the way it should be. I am willing to battle the post-game traffic, even though I enjoyed the fact that the drive home to Portland Sunday night was a breeze.

Readers: what are your thoughts about the return of NFL action during a pandemic? Will you attend a Seahawks game this season if fans are allowed into CenturyLink Field? Share your comments below.

Reach out to Ron Callan here.