Sources: NFL tells UH to halt Oilers-inspired uni

Dave Wilson, ESPN Staff WriterOct 30, 2023, 12:24 PM ET Close Dave Wilson is an editor for ESPN.com since 2010. He previously operated at The Dallas Early Morning News, San Diego Union-Tribune and Las Vegas Sun.The University of Houston

‘s season-opening throwback uniforms that stimulated memories of the old Houston Oilers were hugely popular amongst players and fans. Not a lot with the NFL.The NFL’s retailing and licensing department sent a cease-and-desist letter to the school demanding it stop any further usage of the uniforms, sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday.On Sept. 2, the Cougars wore Columbia blue uniforms with a white Houston script across the front laid out in red– comparable to the jerseys worn by the Houston Oilers throughout their “Luv Ya Blue”era. The university bewared to state their uniforms were a homage to” H-Town Pride “in a nod to the city’s fondness for the Oilers, who decamped for Tennessee after the 1996 season. The University of Houstonwore their”H-Town Pride”jerseys for a game against UTSA on Sept. 2. Ever since, the NFL has actually sent out a cease-and-desist letter to the school, sources confirmed to ESPN. Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire After the move, the NFL team was called the Tennessee Oilers for 2 seasons before ending up being the Tennessee Titans. The group, nevertheless, maintained the rights to the Oilers ‘trademarks.The Titans wore their own Oilers throwbacks Sunday, which was a source of

bitterness for football fans in Houston. The Titans are preparing to again wear the throwbacks versus the Houston Texans on Dec. 17 in Nashville.Editor’s Picks 1 Associated The cease-and-desist letter sent out from the NFL to the University of Houston was initially reported by the Houston Chronicle

, which obtained the letter from a lawyer for the NFL via an open records request.According to the Chronicle, the letter said UH’s”outright copying”of the Oilers ‘jerseys was grounds for legal action and it demanded that the university terminate any sales of product and get rid of any promotional or social media posts that feature the imagery.The university did not try to market the uniforms, which were exposed in a video told by Carl Lewis.”The Houston Cougars’attempt to complimentary ride on the popularity of the NFL and the club breaks the copyright rights of the NFL and the (Tennessee )Titans, “attorney Bonnie L. Jarrett wrote in the

Oct. 13 letter, according to the Chronicle, which reported the letter said the Oilers style is”amongst the most well-known and valuable NFL marks.” Rice used similar Columbia blue uniforms on Sept. 30 against East Carolina. The Chronicle mentioned a university source stating the school had actually not spoken with the NFL.Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk is the child of previous Oilers owner Bud Adams and is from Houston. Previous Texans player JJ Watt often espoused a desire to wear Oilers throwbacks, but Strunk has actually long rebuffed any overtures from the uniforms to be utilized in Houston.The letter, according to the Chronicle, stated the NFL and the Titans were”dissatisfied to learn that the Houston Cougars made unauthorized usage of the Oilers Trade Dress in a manner that is likely to trigger customers to believe that the Houston Cougars are connected with, or are an authorized licensee of, the NFL and the Titans.”The concern won’t go away anytime quickly.”I lived and played in Houston,”Watt informed “The Pat McAfee Program” on Thursday.”I wanted to use those uniforms extremely severely. They have such a massive history and tradition of’ Luv Ya Blue’with Bum Phillips and everything that went on there. I understand the end with Bud Adams and everything that occurred. I don’t even wish to enter into all of that. “I feel in one’s bones, having lived and played there for ten years, and the people there and the connection they need to Earl Campbell, Warren Moon, to Billy White Shoes, to the guys that used those uniforms and what that implied when they played because Astrodome, it harms to not have the ability to use those in Houston and it harms to see them being worn somewhere else.”