The Houston Cougars plan to continue using their light blue alternative uniforms for their sports teams, despite receiving a cease-and-desist letter from the NFL earlier this year. The decision to proceed with the jerseys was made after the university sent a letter to the NFL informing them of their intentions. Athletic director Chris Pezman believes that the university has a defensible position in using the uniforms and is giving the league two to three weeks to respond to their letter. As of now, the NFL has not responded to the university’s letter.
The issue with the jerseys began when the Cougars football team wore the light blue jerseys on September 2 as a tribute to “H-Town Pride.” The NFL, however, believed that the uniforms were too similar to the Houston Oilers’ trademark during the “Luv Ya Blue” era, which is now owned by the Tennessee Titans. In a letter from the NFL to the university in October, it was stated that the university’s use of the jerseys violated the intellectual property rights of the NFL and the Titans. Despite this, Pezman and school officials are working on a new design for the uniforms that still pays respect to the city’s football history.
The university’s decision to proceed with the light blue jerseys comes after months of discussions and reviews. Pezman believes that they have valid reasons for using the uniforms and that the city has a history of using the color. The university is confident in their position and is moving forward with plans to release a new design that will still honor the city’s football history. A firm timetable for the release of the new design has not been set yet, but the university is working towards finalizing it.
The situation with the light blue jerseys has stirred up controversy and debate over intellectual property rights and the use of team trademarks. Despite the NFL’s objections to the jerseys, the Houston Cougars are determined to move forward with their plans. The decision to continue using the light blue jerseys comes after careful consideration and review by school officials, who believe that they have a valid and defensible position in using the uniforms. The university is committed to honoring the city’s football history while also creating a unique and distinctive design for their sports teams.
As of now, the NFL has not responded to the university’s letter informing them of their decision to move forward with the light blue jerseys. The Houston Cougars are standing by their choice to continue using the jerseys, citing their respect for the city’s football history and their belief in the validity of their position. The university is working on a new design for the jerseys that will still pay tribute to the city’s football heritage. Despite the controversy surrounding the issue, the Cougars are determined to uphold their decision and release the new design at a later date.
