News

Sister anointed captain of Packer fandom

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

	NO PLACE LIKE LAMBEAU: Franciscan Sr. Sean Marie Tobin is all smiles as she joins Green Bay Packers players on the field at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., Jan. 12 for the coin toss. The Packers defeated the Seattle Seahawks to earn a bid to the National Football Conference championship game Jan. 20 at Lambeau Field. (Photo courtesy of James V. Biever, Green Bay Packers)

GREEN BAY -- Packer nation, meet your captain: Franciscan Sr. Sean Marie Tobin.

Visitors to the Green Bay Packers' official Web site, Packers.com, selected Sr. Sean Marie of Manitowoc as winner of the Web site's playoff ticket essay contest.

According to the Packers Web site, more than 5,000 essays were submitted, and more than 5,000 votes were cast. Sr. Sean Marie, 68, was one of five essay finalists.

Her prize was to serve as Honorary G-Force Captain, representing all Packer fans at last Saturday's playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. Green Bay defeated Seattle 42-20 to advance to next Sunday's NFC Championship game.

"Looking up and seeing 72,000 fans and knowing you are representing them is a humbling experience," said Sr. Sean Marie.

She received two free tickets to the game, and took center stage during the coin toss when she accompanied the team captains to midfield.

Brett Favre was among the captains, and, while Sr. Sean Marie is a fan of the future Hall of Fame quarterback, she was even more thrilled to meet her favorite Packer on this year's squad.

"I really like Donald Driver," she told The Compass, newspaper of the Green Bay Diocese. "He seems like he is really a generous person. I was also able to meet (Aaron) Kampman. The Seahawks (captains) were out there. I had a few little words for (Matt) Hasselbeck."

In her essay, Sr. Sean Marie wrote about how she has been a Packers fan since 1945. Her father introduced her to the game of football, and the "Ice Bowl" - a memorable Packer victory played Dec. 31, 1967, against the Dallas Cowboys - was the last game she attended with him.

In her essay, she recalled that famous game.

"... by then I was already a Manitowoc Franciscan Sister who did most of her play calling from a chair near the radio or TV," she wrote. "This game was a challenge. I was stuffed, long habit and full garb, into a sleeping bag up to my nose and almost bunny hopped over the bleachers on the last play."

Her father, Bernard, who died in 1985, was in her thoughts last Saturday.

"More than once, I thought about him," she said. "It was like this was planned upstairs. We didn't know where our tickets would be. When we got to our seats, we were two rows down from where I sat at the 'Ice Bowl.'"

Sr. Sean Marie wrote that her "loyalty, enthusiasm, positive thinking and prayer for the safety of the players," qualified her to be an honorary captain. As a representative of the fans, she sought to meet as many as possible by walking around the parking lot and visiting tailgate parties prior to the game.

"They (fans) were so warm and receptive," she said. "Some told me they voted for me. Some told me they read my essay. I got the warmest reception. After the game, some fans wanted pictures with me."

Sr. Sean Marie entered the Manitowoc Franciscan order in 1960. She served as a high school biology and English teacher, and a grade school teacher and principal. In what she describes as her "semi-retirement" at the convent, she has served as activity director and retirement coordinator.

"We (Sisters) don't retire," she said. "We redistribute energy."

Today, she stays busy as a mentor, teaching English as a second language, and through Touchstone, a program involving visits and letters to retired priests and religious now living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Bart Starr is her all-time favorite Packer. Starr and his wife, Cherry, actually visited her family's home.

"My dad was the PR guy for the Packers in Plymouth (Wis.)," she said. "This was back in one of Bart's first years with the Packers. He came to town to give a talk, and afterwards, he and Cherry came to our house. My dad kept up with him over the years at Christmas. I saw him from time to time."

Sr. Sean Marie was born in Milwaukee. Her family moved to Plymouth before settling in St. Anna, which she considers home. She attended New Holstein High School.

It's her understanding that she will repeat her Honorary G-Force Captain duties at this Sunday's game at Lambeau Field. Sr. Sean Marie predicts a victory for the Packers over the New York Giants.

"I think both teams are on a roll," she said, "but if everybody plays to the best of their abilities, I think the Packers will take it because of the home field advantage."

To read Sr. Sean Marie's essay, go to www.packers.com/news/releases/2008/01/10/3/.