Houston adding Oilers-inspired uniforms despite NFL's cease-and-desist

Amid the threat of legal action from the NFL, the University of Houston is adding an alternate blue uniform.

The school informed the NFL in mid-April of its plans to bring back the Houston Oilers-inspired uniforms, which the Cougars football team debuted for their season opener against UTSA in September, Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The decision comes six months after the NFL's merchandising and licensing division sent a cease-and-desist letter to Houston, calling the alternate threads "blatant" copies of the Oilers' uniforms.

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

He added: "We're doing it. We've reviewed everything and come to the conclusion that we are going to proceed."

Pezman said the school has been working with an outside firm for several months on a new uniform design featuring the "Houston blue" color. The new look includes modifications to the stripes, which Pezman said "were the only thing (the NFL) can hold us on."

The university has yet to finalize a timetable for the rollout of the new uniforms, but Pezman said Houston's giving the NFL two to three weeks to respond.

The Oilers played in Houston from 1960-96 before relocating to Tennessee and becoming the Titans.