The Rockets will never relinquish to San Diego. Nor should they. It's the brand. I can't really fault a team for keeping its' name in the vault because most teams that switch mid steam, as opposed to early, fail to gain traction ( Wizards, Ravens, Texans, Titans, Commanders, Thunder, Guardians ect..). Exceptions do exist. But generally, those that kept their name, even when mis-aligned to their new location, have built strong brands ( Lakers, Dodgers, ect..) The Titans have established a new identity, so they have done better than most, but they don't have a quality brand yet. I don't see them giving up the Oilers. The Astros changed their identity successfully, but very early.
In an email from their official team store, the Tennessee Titans announced on Tuesday they will unveil their Houston Oilers throwback uniforms at 9 p.m. ET on July 23. Spoiler The Titans are expected to honor the “Luv Ya Blue” era with white helmets featuring light blue and red oil derricks, light blue jerseys and white pants with a traditional striping pattern down the sides. It’s unclear when the Titans will wear the throwback uniforms, though team reporter Jim Wyatt previously speculated they’ll make their on-field debut when they host the Houston Texans on Dec. 17 (1 p.m. ET on CBS). Presumably, Tennessee will announce the exact date (or dates) when they unveil the uniforms later this month, as Wyatt also suggested they could be worn both at home and on the road this season. The Titans notably travel to Houston to take on the Texans two weeks later on Dec. 31 (1 p.m ET on FOX). While they wore both home and road uniforms in 2009, Wyatt added they won’t have a road version this time around.
Could not disagree more. As evidenced by the post below, Nashpatch has finally thrown in the towel and admitted that, after over a quarter century of incompetence and aesthetic missteps, they have failed (UTTERLY) to forge any kind of identity separate from a far more sophisticated and worthy city. As such, they have chosen to take the craven, lazy way out and will simply co-opt an identity forged and nurtured by a far superior city and fanbase. Quite a 180 from the contempt they displayed when the Oilers moved to their third-rate hick town in '96.
Nothing would be more Oilerish. I don't know how Titans fans aren't embarrassed by this nonsense. They have nothing to do with the Oilers. It's all stolen valor.
I don't know of another pro sports team that relishes its past in another city so much. brooklyn dodgers is the closest. why tf don't the titans just rebrand to the oilers again and call it a day? trash
In an opinion I'm sure few share, I consider the Oilers over upon the firing of Jeff Fischer who was the last player/coach connection. Since then, it might as well be an expansion franchise.
To unveil these Oiler throwbacks JUST as the Texans are set to announce new colors AND to unveil the Oiler throwbacks against the Texans is just a giant F-you to the Texans franchise. This is a hostile action from the Titans to the Texans. Must be some serious bad blood. The feeling is mutual, that I can assure you!
Time to just come out for blood and lean into a villain role - we’re the Texans so put a lone star on the helmet to tick off the Cowboys and bring back Oiler blue to enrage the Adamses and their Tennessee lemmings. You want to play petty? Let’s go.
That deal that was brokered between Art Modell, the city of Cleveland and Browns season ticket holders who had engaged in legal actions against Modell. This led the NFL to broker a compromise in which Modell agreed to return the Browns franchise to the league. That agreement explicitly stipulated that the Browns franchise, including its history, records and intellectual property, were to remain in Cleveland. In exchange, the NFL agreed to grant Modell a new franchise in Baltimore. For the upteenth time, this did NOT happen when Bottom-Line Bud moved the Oilers to Tenn - he was able to take all rights to the Oilers franchise with him - it's history, records and intellectual property (and I for one say good riddance). So not only No but HELL NO to answer your question.
Not much point in taking back the Oilers name without the history, but I'd do it. Texans is still terrible.
Yes, we know it did not happen... hence the question which specifically says you cannot take the history with you, just the name. The fact that nobody in Nashville thinks its silly when they trot out former Oilers greats like Moon, Earl, etc. is a whole other issue... and a testament of a fan base and a franchise that as not done much to cultivate their current "history" since 1996 and wants to cling to an era that has no connection to the city/fans whatsoever.
With all due respect, the hypothetical question you are posing is pointless. The Oilers and all of their history and intellectual property belong to the Titans organization and silly or not they can do whatever they want with it. They could burn Oilers jerseys at the halftime of a Titans-Texans game and I would not give a f**k. As for taking the Oilers name, please explain why is that is so appealing to you and yours. Was it because of those two Luv Ya Blue years 1978-1979? Because even though they won two AFL championships (1960 & 1961) before the AFL-NFL merger that is apparently why so many remain enamoured of a pathetic (thanks to Bud) franchise that spanned 36 years.
