Almost 20 years ago, the Houston Oilers left town and took their nickname with them. And they don’t want anyone to use the color scheme that matches that name and logo.
Via Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle, the NFL has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the University of Houston for wearing the Oilers’ throwback “Luv Ya Blue” jersey.
The NFL has threatened legal action if the University of Houston doesn’t stop what it says is “blatant copying” of the Oilers’ throwback jerseys. The league also wants the school to “cease all sales of merchandise and remove any advertising campaigns or social media posts that contain the popular color scheme and design of light blue or Columbia blue with red stripes.”
The University of Houston wore the uniforms on September 2nd. The NFL’s letter said it had informed the school seven months earlier that it did not consent to the use of the uniforms or similar designs.
The school says the jerseys are “part of a nostalgic moment, a tribute to a bygone era in the city’s football history while also a recognition of the city’s connection to the light blue that was a staple of the Houston Police Department for years.”
Regardless of what the law decides, it is the latest reminder that football is not a “family”. Football is a business. And the NFL’s job is to make sure that anyone who wants to buy a jersey that looks like the jersey the Oilers used to wear (and that the Titans will wear twice this year) can just get it from the NFL or the Titans.