South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley recently explained why she supported Nick Emmanwori and his Seattle Seahawks, whom she doesn’t often cheer, while leaving a caveat about the actual team she roots for. On Monday, Feb. 9, @SECNetwork on X/Twitter uploaded an interview with Staley, where the 55-year-old was asked why she recently wore a Seahawks jersey.
Staley said she was rooting for the Seahawks during their Super Bowl LX on Sunday, Feb. 8, since one of their players, Nick Emmanwori, is dating the Gamecocks senior, Raven Johnson. This comes as a surprise to many since Staley has been a long-time fan of the Philadelphia Eagles.
“ I mean it was great like you want young people to win and whatever their heart’s desire. And with Nick, obviously, I know Nick from Raven. I know Nick from being a Gamecock. I just, he treats my girl right. If you’re gonna treat Raven right, you’re gonna treat any of my players right, I’m on. I’m on the bandwagon, and I’m gonna ride it until a ring is given out. No, but it’s great,” Staley shared.
However, Staley still made sure to give a shout-out to the Eagles when she said:
“ If anybody can repeat it, it’s Nick, unless my Eagles are involved.”
Much to the delight of both Staley and Johnson, Emmanwori and the rest of coach Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks defeated coach Mike Vrabel’s New England Patriots 29-13 to win the Super Bowl LX title at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. This is the Seattle-based franchise’s second Super Bowl championship, having last won it in 2014.
Also Read: Who Is Nick Emmanwori’s Girlfriend, Raven Johnson? All We Know About Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Star
Dawn Staley Recalls When Raven Johnson Made Her Speak To Nick Emmanwori The Night He Got Drafted
Later in her interview on the SEC Network, Dawn Staley remembered when Raven Johnson made her speak to Nick Emmanwori when he was vying to get selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Staley said she was on a video call with Johnson, who was beside Emmanwori during the draft night. The young couple was anxious about whether Emmanwori would get picked, but Staley calmed them down.
“ Raven was FaceTiming me all throughout Nick’s draft night and, you know, Raven’s, ‘I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to do. He’s supposed to go earlier.’ And if you know Raven, Raven’s very funny, but she was very concerned. So, you know, I just had to talk her off the ledge and then, you know, talk to him a little bit because we were on FaceTime and Raven’s like, ‘Here, you talk to him,'” Staley reminisced.
Read More: “People Cry”: Raven Johnson Doesn’t Hold Back as Dawn Staley’s Strict Coaching Style Emerges
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