The Mamas

Debbie, Delisa and Corunda got together this weekend for the Earl Thomas Football Camp. Debbie even showed off her catching skills with a pass pattern.

In the National Football League, the three women have a revered: Mama.

Mama Debbie is the mother of Earl Thomas III, Delisa Lynch is the mother of Marshawn Lynch, and Corunda is the mother of two players, Michael Bennett and Martellus Bennett.

The three mamas became friends while their sons played for the Seattle Seahawks, where Thomas and Michael Bennett are still on the team. Delisa is having to change her loyaties a bit. Her son, Marshawn Lynch, played for Seattle but this year will will be withthe Oakland Raiders.

“They call themselves ‘brothers,’ Debbie said about their sons. “So we’re the ‘mamas.’

This year the mamas decided to socialize in Orange during Earl’s annual kids camp. Marshawn has attended before, but his mother said he was in London this weekend. He took some students as a reward through the foundation he uses to help others.

Michael and Martellus were in Los Angeles for the BET Awards, where they were honored with a Shine Your Light Award for their philanthropy.

They’re mamas came instead.

The camp is part of Earl’s philanthropy. The all-pro safety held his sixth free two-day camp to teach football skills to kids. Other pros joining him this year included Broncos running back Jamaal Charles from Port Arthur, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix of the Packers, and safety Landon Collins of the Giants.

Hundreds of kids participated in the camp held at West Orange-Stark High School. The camp moved to the gym Saturday morning because of a thunderstorm, but it didn’t dampen the spirit of the camp. The mamas were out on the gym floor helping.

Debbie Thomas said this year they drew participants from Georgia, Arkansas, California and even Mexico. Parents drove the children from Houston, Austin and Dallas.

She said athletic students are often good in multiple sports like football, basketball and baseball. Summer sports camps cost a lot of money. Earl “promised he would have a free camp if he could,” she said. Not only is there no charge to learn from the pros, the participants each get a T-shirt courtesy of Earl.

He is rewarded for the effort. “He likes to see his kids’ faces light up,” she said.

The mothers this year had their own Seahawks bright green shirts. The ‘mama’ name was on the back of each.

While attending Seahawks games, each mama wears her son’s jersey with his number. The ‘mama’ is on the back and the fans have gotten to know each one of the mamas. They even ask for mama autographs.

Mama Delisa even has her own brand of popcorn, Mama Lynch’s Crunch.

And speaking of food, it’s one of the things that has bonded the mamas. “We like to eat” they say almost in unison when asked about what they do during their spare time in Seattle during a game weekend. They’re also unanimous in their choice of seafood as their favorite. Seattle on the Puget Sound is famous for fresh seafood.

After the football camp in Orange on Saturday, the mamas got some Southeast Texas food with its multi-cultural flavors. They went to Debbie’s sister’s house to eat and relax.

On Sunday morning, the three mamas attended church at Sixth Street Community Church in Orange. The church was founded by Earl Thomas Sr. and Mama Debbie’s brother-in-law is the pastor.

“Afterward, they sat and talked about the bond they have made as their sons have played for the Seahawks.
“This journey that our sons have taken us on, we have been so blessed sith a great relationship,” Debbie said.

“They (the other moms) have inspired me to be more uplifting,” Corunda said. “Without y’all, I wouldn’t be as strong.”

Corunda, who lives in Amite, Louisiana, splits her travel time between the two teams of her sons. She said sometimes she prefers to watch the games on TV, recalling a game against the New Orleans Saints where she was sitting so high she couldn’t see the action on the field.

When watching games, they always know their sons face an injury on every play. Debbie said she was glad she wasn’t at the game this past season when Earl broke his leg. “I would have gone onto the field,” she said. “I know those fans would have helped Mama Debbie over that wall.”

Earl is ready for the season and so are the mamas. Delisa said she’s now part of the Raider Nation, but she plans to make a trip to Seattle to see the Seahawks and her fellow mamas.

Corunda and Debbie are convinced the Seahawks will go to the Super Bowl again. If the Seahawks make it, Delisa will be rooting for them, unless the Raiders make it. They might root for different teams, but they’ll be at the same restaurant later. After all they are The Mamas.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-