Luv Ya Blue
"Luv Ya Blue" was a movement by fans of the
Coining of the term
In the early 1970s, the
Led by the charismatic Phillips, the team quickly became a sensation in Houston. Many team members, including Campbell, began adopting Phillips' "good ole boy" attitude by wearing cowboy boots and "ten gallon" cowboy hats. As the 1978 season progressed, Campbell contributed such a large part of Houston's offense that many fans began referring to the team as the Houston "Earlers". However, this would soon change, as the marketing department of the Houston Oilers under the direction of PR Director Jack Cherry would give Oilers fans another catchphrase to use while cheering for their team.
On November 20, 1978, the Oilers took on the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football. In order to boost team spirit, the Oilers gave each fan a blue and white pompom before the game. The sight of over 50,000 fans waving the pompoms inspired the Oilers to a 35-30 victory behind Earl Campbell's 199 rushing yards and four touchdowns. After the game, Campbell stated, "The display of Blue was a chance for people of all races and backgrounds to come together as a city.” The Luv Ya Blue Era was born. Licensed products began appearing all over Houston. Joske's opened Luv ya Blue retail shops inside their stores. Luv ya Blue was a sports promotion that captured the connection of a city to its team.[2]
Spirit of Luv Ya Blue
After that night, blue-clad fans began to bring "Luv Ya Blue" signs to the
Lyrics to another song (Houston Oilers Fight Song), written by Lee Ofman was played until their departure in the NFL in 1996.
Look out football, here we come,
Houston Oilers, number one.
Houston has the Oilers, the greatest football team.
We take the ball from goal to goal like no one's ever seen.
We're in the air, we're on the ground ... always in control
And when you say the Oilers, you're talking Super Bowl.
'Cause we're the Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Number One.
Yes, we're the Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Number One.
We've got the offense.
We've got the defense.
We give the other team no hope.
'Cause we're the Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers,
You know we're gonna hold the rope.
Yes, we're the Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Number One.
Yes, we're the Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Number One.
'Cause we're the Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Number One.
Five - Seven - Eight, we're the best from the Lone Star State!
Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Number One.
'Cause we're the Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Number One.
Yes we're the Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers… (fade out)
While the Oilers would never win an AFC Championship, they reached two AFC title games during the Luv Ya Blue era, which included losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1978 and 1979. Despite the tough losses, they were still welcome to thundering roars by crowds in Houston on both returns.[4] During the latter rally, head coach Bum Phillips made a commitment to next year, famously stating that "One year ago, we knocked on the door. This year, we beat on the door. Next year, we're going to kick the son of a b---- in." The Oilers traded for Ken Stabler, but they would lose 27-7 in the Wild Card round on December 31, 1980. Shortly after the game ended, amidst disagreements with Adams over having three head coaches split offensive duties rather than one coordinator, Phillips was fired.
References
- ^ Bob Hulsey. "Luv Ya Blue". Houston Pro Football. Archived from the original on 2007-12-30. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
- ^ Earl Campbell. "The Oilers". www.earlcampbell.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2010-10-21.
- ^ Mack Hayes. "Luv Ya Blue". Retrieved 2007-12-18.
- ^ "'The Oilers were just so Texas': Inside Houston's enduring love for its late NFL team". 8 March 2021.
External links
http://www.luvyablue.net (Jim Schmidt co-creator marketing dept Houston Oilers)