In advance of today's NFC West showdown pitting Seattle at San Francisco, the 49ers sent out an email to their fans with tips on how best to support the home team as it tries to knock off the division-leading Seahawks.

In addition to wearing red to "red-out" the stadium, fans are asked to wave the rally towels they receive when they enter the stadium.

Two of the more notable suggestions follow.

QUIET ON OFFENSE: Communication at the line of scrimmage is critical. Keep it quiet when the 49ers are lining up to the ball on offense. Save the noise for the play!

DEAFENING ON DEFENSE: These are the fans' downs. This is when we throw the other team off its game. From start to finish, when the 49ers are on defense don't let the other team's offense hear the play call or the snap count. Impact the game!

Good suggestions, all. However, another version of the email was sent anonymously to the Press sports department, with other suggestions for the 49ers fans. Such as ...

DIG UP SOME DIRT: Every time you see something in the papers or on TV on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, he's behaving in a manner that's almost too good to be true from an elite athlete - acting polite, always doing the right thing, stuff like that. Certainly he must have been rude to someone, somewhere along the line, or brushed off an autograph request, or parked where he shouldn't have. Something? Anything? He can't be that good on the field AND off the field. Can he?

DON'T HATE - OR RETALIATE!: If a member of the visiting team starts gyrating all over the place after making a routine play - like a 7-yard catch or a simple tackle or pass breakup - resist the urge to get angry at him and do something you might regret later.

For instance, when Golden Tate makes a catch and runs away from the huddle - instead of toward it - to attract attention to himself, resist the urge to wish he'd have to run crossing routes against some of the headhunting defensive backs of the old days, like the Raiders' Jack Tatum.

Likewise, when Seahawk defensive backs grab and clutch at the 49ers receivers, then whine when defensive holding is called, or someone like Richard Sherman races over to the stands with a football after intercepting a poorly-thrown pass, do not wish Sherman would have to stand in the hole by himself and try to tackle Earl Campbell in his prime.

Just don't do it.

DO NOT TURN AGAINST THE HOME TEAM: Years ago, 49ers fans booed when our team kept running sweeps that gained nothing, until our team decided to stop running sweeps. Today, expect the other team to send everybody but Paul Allen to stop the run, and dare our quarterback, Colin Kaepernick to beat them with his arm. As a result, Frank Gore might rush 15 times for, oh, about 15 yards, and Kaepernick might spend the afternoon running for his life, especially if he doesn't think anyone is open. Try not to despair; that's an awfully good defense they have, and they do that to other teams as well. Perhaps we can find another way to win. Wave those rally towels!

BE GOOD SPORTS: If the game begins to get out of hand in favor of the Seattle team (which is possible; the Seahawks are really good this year), kindly refrain from using said rally towel to strangle a nearby Seattle fan if they start gloating over their team's good fortune. Remember, Seahawk fans were asked to be on their best behavior when our team played up there in September, and thus we must return the hospitality. Besides, if the 49ers do win, and end up back in Seattle for a playoff game, we'll want them to remember our kind gesture. Remember, we want the same number of fans who walk into the stadium to be able to walk out of the stadium afterward.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.