Texas A&M sues Indianapolis Colts over use of '12th Man'

[TexasTowelie]

Texas A&M University sued the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday for what the school is calling unauthorized use of the "12th Man" phrase.

Lawyers representing Texas A&M claim the NFL team used the phrase in ticket and merchandise promotions after several cease and desist letters dating back to 2006.

"We bear no ill will toward the Indianapolis Colts," said Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp in a statement. "We simply want them to respect our trademark rights. Our actions are consistent with our previous trademark enforcement efforts in this regard."

A spokesperson at the Colts did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more: http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/texas-a-m-sues-indianapolis-colts-over-use-of-th/article_774dba17-b2ce-5d72-878a-5d76a9f0cd25.html

[Electric Monk]

1. That saying doesn't belong to any particular team, it belongs to the NFL, if anything.

I think the argument could be made that it's fair use for any team sport where there are eleven players in action at once and a crowd, too.

[TexasTowelie]

2. In case you didn't make it to the bottom of the link:

The "12th Man" tradition at A&M started as early as 1922, when a student, E. King Gill, offered to don a uniform and stand on the sidelines in case then-Head Coach Dana X. Bible needed him to fill in for one of the players on the injury-ridden football team.

I think that predates the NFL by a few decades.

[SwissTony]

3. They'll also have to sue some other people/sports

Cricket, for example. I don't know when the term entered cricket vocabulary, but it's been around for a long time. The 12th man is a substitute fielder who cannot bat or bowl (pitch).

And then there is soccer. Feyenoord (Rotterdam) regards its fans as being the "twaalfde man". So much so that no actual team member can wear a shirt with the number 12.