SEAHAWKS NOTEBOOK: Sartz recalls grandfather's crash

The younger Sartz said his namesake never talked about the crash that ended his racing career, though Sartz’s father, Jeff — who played safety at Oregon State — would share his memories of those days. “My Dad would tell me all the stories,” said Sartz, whose grandfather also was a Golden Gloves boxer at Washington State. “My grandfather didn’t like to brag or talk about it too much. He was just a great guy and a very tough competitor, and he loved to do a lot of different things.”

Sartz’s grandfather, who was born in Everett, died during Sartz’s freshman year in high school, too soon to see Sartz earn a scholarship to University of Southern California, where he helped earn a national championship.

Despite his first name, Sartz was drafted in the fifth round by the Washington Redskins in 2007 but later released. He was signed in March by Minnesota and released two months later.

But when the Seahawks placed Wesly Mallard on injured reserved and were in need of another body at linebacker, they called Sartz, who said he felt like he was back in college with former Trojans Lofa Tatupu, Lawrence Jackson, David Kirtman and Kyle Williams also in camp with the Seahawks. “It’s like coming home,” Sartz said. “Just add water.”

At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, Sartz is tall and skinny for a linebacker. He realizes he is a long shot to make the team, especially after joining the Seahawks so late in training camp, but, he said, he can only control what he can control.

“I really don’t even look at the roster numbers,” Sartz said. “I don’t get caught up in that. You start number counting, then you start questioning yourself. It is on me now. It is not on the coaches, it is on me. I just need to study the books, make some plays on special teams and see what happens.”

Mount Holmgren rumbles

Still smarting from a sloppy 29-26 victory on Saturday, Aug. 16, over the Chicago Bears that saw 12 penalties, four turnovers and two blocked punts, coach Mike Holmgren lost his cool for the second consecutive day at Tuesday’s afternoon practice.

Matt Hasselbeck had to leave the morning practice with a sore back and Seneca Wallace sat out for the second straight day with a sore groin, leaving Charlie Frye to take most of the reps in practice.

When Frye — who threw three interceptions Saturday, Aug. 16 — nearly missed an easy screen pass to Leonard Weaver, Holmgren grew frustrated.

When Frye missed Justin Forsett on the same play one play later, Holmgren erupted, wondering why his offense could not execute a simple play.

A few minutes later, Holmgren allowed the defense to end their practice and go inside. But he kept the offense for extra work, giving personal instruction on the proper way to run a screen pass.

BABINEAUX STRIKES AGAIN

Seahawks safety Jordan Babineaux wasn’t even supposed to be a part of the friendly golfing competition to promote the Boeing Classic this week at TPC Snoqualmie.

But when Brian Russell bailed out at the last minute, Babineaux picked up a pitching wedge and stuck a 70-yard shot just 4 feet, 7 inches from a pin stuck in the middle of the Seahawks’ practice field.

That was enough to beat Senior Tour pro Tim Simpson and teammate Olindo Mare in a closest-to-the-pin contest. Simpson was five feet from the pin, and Mare was 6 feet, 5 inches away.

“A defensive back’s job is to perfect certain things,” Babineaux said. “This is just another thing I’m working on.”

Simpson, from Georgia, said he is a big fan of the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs and spent considerable time talking with rookie Brandon Coutu, drafted in the seventh round from Georgia.

“But I’ve always been a Seahawks fan, for whatever reason,” Simpson said. “Probably because we don’t have a team in Atlanta.”

Babineaux said he played golf in high school and has picked it up again since he turned pro. Simpson wondered how Babineaux would fare if $100,000 was wagered on the competition.

“When the money is on the line, you know what they call me?” Babineaux said. “Big Play Babs.”