New “Houston Blues” for UH Football & Volleyball

Good morning everyone and welcome to November. Yesterday, the University of Houston unveiled this year's “Houston Blue” alternate uniforms. Last year, the football team's backup players looked a lot like the old Houston Oilers, who drew the ire of the National Football League. That didn't stop the university, but they changed the uniform. The current model has different stripes, so it's just as blue, but not as oily. And the school is adding light blue alternatives to all sports in the future, so we also got a look at the volleyball team's new look.

Let's compare the football universities. Last year's stripes matched the Oilers' stripes very well.

This year there is a single red helmet stripe and no sleeve stripes.

The pants have a single red stripe that runs diagonally near the hip, as you can see in this rear view.

In other words, they wear the same pants as with their normal uniforms.

Otherwise it's the same lettering on the helmet and jersey and the same white block numbers outlined in red.

There is a small difference: the insides of the O's have smaller red decorations.

You don't see that on the volleyball jerseys.

It wasn't visible on last year's football jersey either.

We'll have to see if they fix this before the varsities face Baylor on November 23rd.

The volleyball alternatives will be on display next weekend when the Cougars host Texas Tech.

According to Houston associate AD Andrew Pate in a press release, the Cougars will “incorporate 'Houston Blue' into their jersey selection as a tribute to the city of Houston, with teams wearing a commemorative uniform on a select occasion against an in-state rival.”

To show that the Blues weren't just an Oilers thing, Pate also said, “The history of the Houston Blue in the Bayou City includes a decorated history inside – and outside – the sports arena.” In the early 1920s, the original “City of Houston street markings installed in light blue and white tiles installed in drying concrete curbs, about 4,000 of which still exist today.”

That is, in my opinion, their best argument. The others are a bit doubtful.

Pate continues, “In the 1960s, the Houston Police Department began using the paint on their cars.”

Yes, but the Oilers were founded in the 1960s. Were the cars inspired by the Oilers or was it a coincidence?

This is particularly questionable: “The Houston Buffs, the city's minor league baseball team (eventually replaced by the Colt .45s in 1962), wore blue lettering on white or gray jerseys. In 1960, the team wore blue caps with a white “H” on the front. In 1961, their jerseys had light blue lettering.”

I couldn't find a color picture of the '61 Buffs (again, after the Oilers were founded). And that 1960 ball cap is nowhere near “Houston Blue,” so that’s kind of a stretch. They should have stopped at the street signs…or they could have reminded the NFL that Bud Adams picked Columbia Blue when he founded the Oilers. Is Columbia University after him? No. Maybe they should leave that out as a reminder that in a country where there are more soccer teams than there are crayons in the big box, you have to share colors instead of trying to own them.

By the way, Columbia's signature color took a backseat to navy blue in last night's win over Yale…

…the Cougars go BFBS tomorrow, just like almost everyone else…

…and the Houston volleyball team, who wore some soccer-looking uniforms last night, will take us home with our long rally of the week.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED ⁉️ pic.twitter.com/e0xxn97MFW

— Houston Volleyball (@UHCougarVB) November 2, 2024

Oh yes, I'm entertained.

That's all for today

We are approaching my most wonderful time of the year. Another step was to wake up yesterday, flip the calendar and enjoy the cool and cloudy weather.

I love it when November looks like November! The next step is for us to turn back the clocks (and reset them!) tonight, when we get Election Day and all the ads out of the way, and then when mowing season officially ends. If you don't look forward to these things as much as I do, I hope you have something else in your life to be excited about. Enjoy your Saturday and until we meet again on Sunday morning at the university o'clock, everyone take good care of each other.