Houston Cougars to Add Oilers-Inspired Uniforms amid NFL's Legal Threats

The University of Houston is moving forward with plans to introduce an alternate blue uniform for its teams despite legal threats from the NFL.

The NFL sent Houston a cease-and-desist order last year, saying the uniforms are "blatant" copies of the Houston Oilers uniforms, for which the NFL has a trademark.

"We literally have a story we can show the city uses it," athletic director Chris Pezman told the Houston Chronicle's Joseph Duarte. "This isn't a reach. This is a layup. We've got a very defensible position."

Houston's football team wore the uniforms during its home opener against UTSA last season. The women's soccer team and golf team also wore uniforms featuring the color scheme.

While there is no mistaking the obvious similarities to the Oilers uniforms, Pezman said the school made alterations to the alternate blues it'll use moving forward to help differentiate the looks. Pezman said the school saw overwhelmingly positive reviews of the uniforms from fans.

"I knew it would be good," Pezman said. "I didn't know it would be what it was. We found a nerve, and we've got to mine that vein. It's real. What's cool about it, it's not about us. It's about the city. That's what we have to continue to do.

"When you do UH stuff, you limit your market. With the Houston script, it's everybody. It's our ability to have the Texas T-shirt in the truck stop, to have our version of it in that Houston blue with the red and white script. It can be anybody."

The NFL's letter, which was sent last October, said Houston was looking for a "free ride" of publicity off the back of its trademarks. The NFL has not commented on Houston's plan to move forward with the new uniforms.