Houston Oilers: Dressing for Success (Oil Derricks Optional)
Ah, the Houston Oilers. A team that brought the heat on the field (both literally, thanks to the Texas sun, and figuratively, with their amazing offense). But what about their threads? Those iconic uniforms that screamed "we mean business" (and possibly "we spilled blue paint on our white helmets this morning, but hey, it looks kinda cool"). Let's dive into the fascinating world of Oilers fashion, where oil derricks met dazzling colors.
A Colourful Start: Borrowing from the Jayhawks?
The Oilers, established in 1960, weren't exactly known for ground-breaking uniform design. In fact, their initial inspiration came from... wait for it... the University of Kansas Jayhawks! Yes, you read that right. The Oilers rocked a Columbia blue and white colour scheme, a homage to the Jayhawks (let's hope the royalties were minimal). A touch of scarlet was thrown in for good measure, because a little red never hurt anyone (except maybe colour-blind receivers).
This colour combo stuck around for a while, with the jerseys being Columbia blue at home and white away. Helmets? Well, those were a bit of a chameleon. They started out Columbia blue with a white derrick, then took a detour to silver with a blue derrick, before finally settling on white with a blue and red derrick in 1975.
Why the Helmet Musical Chairs?
Honestly, your guess is as good as mine. Maybe they were just easily bored. Maybe they lost a bet with another team. Or perhaps they were just ahead of the curve, unknowingly pioneering the concept of alternate helmets! Whatever the reason, the Oilers' helmet history is a wild ride.
A Legacy in Light Blue
The Oilers' Columbia blue became synonymous with the team. It was a bold, unmistakable colour that said "we're here to play, and we look good doing it" (even if they did occasionally trip over their own helmet confusion). This legacy lives on in the hearts of Oilers fans everywhere, and even inspired the recent uniforms of the Houston Texans (though the NFL lawyers might have something to say about that).
So, the next time you see a flash of Columbia blue, remember the Houston Oilers. A team that may have borrowed its initial look, but carved its own path on the gridiron, all while looking undeniably stylish (most of the time).