How about Jeannette using the Kansas jayhawk?

Eh I guess you could call it flattering.

it actually in some way may promote the Pitt brand to an area that would not normlly support us.

When Hayden Frye came to Iowa, he changed their uniforms to mimick the Steelers with very little if any differences. Iowa’s uniforms still is reminiscent of the former Steeler uniforms. I don’t recall the Steelers making any stink about it, and for all I know, it may have increased the Steeler nation somewhat in the midwest.

As wbb has mentioned before on another subject,”Much ado about nothing”. However, non-Ohioans should be informed that the state of Ohio’s public schools are purported to be in dire financial straights. This has been the case for at least a decade. So my initial thought in reading about the alleged transgression is: Why would a Toledo (or any highschool in the Buckeye state be spending such an exorbitant amount of $$$ on a footbaLL LOGO? pERHAPS THEY COULD FIND ANOTHER CAUSE FOR THEIR EXcess greenbacks. Perhaps? George from Columbus where, it seems, every other person wears some form of Ohio State identification.

wbb…iowa actually contacted the steelers i believe about copying there uniforms. They wanted to represent a wining team and the Steelers let them do it.

If I were pitt, why not let them keep that logo. More people will see that logo and the colors and think pitt.

Georgia and the Green Bay Packers is an even more blatant example. I wonder if they asked permission.

Why don’t we sell them the rights to the short-lived dino-cat thing?

Does the use of our secondary logo by a high school in Ohio really “hurt” Pitt? I’m asking this seriously. Can someone explain why it’s such a big deal?

I see a school like Penn Hils and think FSU, is that a bad thing? Is FSU hurt by that? My HS, Butler looks a lot like ND (plays like them too), I don’t see how ND is hurt by that.

Please explain…

We should back an 18 wheeler up to the HS campus and unload every pederson-cat logo item at their door step. I bet a few alum might even help them install the things.

This is silly.

Under trademark law, if you do not protect your mark, you lose it and it goes into the public domain. That would allow, for instance, Adidas or Champion to produce Pitt clothing without paying any license fee to Pitt. So it is dickish, but necessary.

Ok, I can understand the trademark law and not letting someone else reap the profits. But does Pitt have the right to allow this HS to use the panther logo? If so, I don’t see it beinging a big deal. Or, could Pitt allow them to use the Panther, but require a portion of the $ of anything sold with that logo go to the University of Pittsburgh? The money could be used to fund an athletic scholarship.

Is this possible?

Yes, it is possible. Pitt could enter into a license agreement whereby they grant the high school limited rights to use the logo and still protect Pitt’s ownership. These types of agreements can become somewhat complex, and they would need to get lawyers like me involved, but it is doable, and frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes this direction.

Interesting side note: My high school, Elder, in Cincinnati, which Chas may have heard of, got their nickname from Pitt. I beleive it was the same year Pitt won a football national championship in the 20’s. They do NOT have the same logo or colors, however.

Even if Pitt offered the school a licensing agreement to use the logo, wouldn’t that also be very expensive for the school to be giving up a certain percentage of sales? I would hope Pitt gives them a good deal if it does go that route.

Pantherman,

Thanks for the informed answer. The lawyers will be the ones that make the most money form this, right?

Sorry, lawyers are easy targets.

Cheltenham High School in suburban Philadelphia also uses the same logo for their Panthers. High schools all over the country copy collegiate and professional logos for their teams.

The license could be set up to not require any type of royalty payment. In this case, it sounds like the high school is most concerned with the logo on the field and on the basketball court, since it would be very costly to change them. My guess is that they will voluntarily stop selling items (hats, shirts, etc.) that include the Pitt logo now that they have identified a new logo (although, as Chas points out, that may cause issues with a different variety of Panther which is notoriously protective of its breed).

Pitt probably doesn’t want merchandise being sold with the logo on it, but I would think they could afford to be more forgiving about the football field since it really poses little to no financial risk.

And yes, the lawyers are easy targets, but we sometimes only have ourselves to blame…

Go for the jugular I say. Take their unis too, and the kids inside ’em. This is America, is it not?

(grin)

I am an Alumnus of Whitmer High School. Most people never realized it was Pitt’s logo.

How about the Pitt baseball team. This is an offensive juggernaught. Could we see the College World Series this year?

Jaylen Bond, 6’7″ F from Philadelphia area committed to Pitt last night for the 2011 class. Dixon made a comment on a radio show last week I believe that he hoped to have the 2011 class complete in two weeks so another commitment could be on the way. This kid looks like a pretty good athlete on the youtube films of him and ESPN gives him a 93.

Here’s is the link I meant to attach on Bond:
link to timesherald.com

So you can be associated with any football team you want, and any mascot you want? And you choose……well nevermind. Maybe they are a big basketball school.

I added your blog to bookmarks. And i’ll read your articles more often!

Ontario, Bond is supposed to be a quality SF from what I had previously read, and it continues the Philly pipeline.

However, you posted “Dixon made a comment on a radio show last week I believe that he hoped to have the 2011 class complete in two weeks so another commitment could be on the way.”

Could it be that Dixon once again gets early commitments without holding back a spot for a possible stud to come at a later date? Of course, he has shown recently not to hesitate to show someone the door if a better recruit does come about (i.e., if JJ Moore qualifies, the D Miller is apparently gone.) However, I’m not sure if this is good policy in that it may deter someone from coming aboard when he sees a full class already committed.

Just some food for thought,

Ummm… I say we just let them have the stupid Dinocat logo. Sign it right over to them.

note that I wasn’t surprised at all that Byham was picked before Dickerson because Nate is the prototypical backup TE while as we saw with Matt Cavanaugh, NFL OCs don’t have any imagination and wouldn’t have a clue to what to do with Dorin. I am shocked that so many other TEs were picked ahead of Nate, however.

If Pitt is really trying to protect their identity with this logo thing, how bout cutting back on the logo/mascot. I agree with above post to let them have this logo and give them all merchandise with it. Unless, your right on top of it , you cant make out what it is anyway. Pitt script was great at quickly identifying university. Now we have panther heads, pitt block, paw prints, etc. Way too much. Keep it simple!

Now that I am “almost”retired, I had the opportunity to spend some “quality” time with the “talking heads” who dominate the NFL draft telecasts. For what it is worth, my accessment is –please spare me. It seemed that Steve Young was the primary spokesperson. Mel Kiper was so busy touting Clausen that I thought he was his agent. “Boomer” was his usual overbearing self. Jackson came off as a knowledgeable grid guru,but did not have much of a chance to emote. There was, however, more positive than negative about the three day tube marathon. I learned a lot about what it takes to be a draftee—notably size. My lament about Pitt’s draftees is that, as usual, they are taken by teams about as far away from “the Burg as possible. Too bad, many of us would have enjoyed watching Bynam and Dickerson develop,as they will. It is a plus to see some Panther gridders actually drafted. May it continue. George

Dorin is a tweener, definitely not a typical NFL Tight end…there is a place for his size in the NFL…I think the fact that he disappeared in the two biggest games of the year (WVU and Cinncy) did not help his draft status…Its one of those questions the commentators spoke of often during the draft “How did the guy perform in the biggest games? J. Baldwin had 14 combined catches against WVU and Cinncy…Dickerson had 2 combined catches in those “big games”…Nuff said…As for Nate B, I think he will have a great NFL Career as a TE…Having a hybrid player like Dorin D. took away some of his touches, but it prepared him to play the position the way it is played in the NFL…98% blocking and 2% catching.

Rev Geo, to your point about Pitt draft picks being far away from the Burg, FWIW, it’s been a decade now since the Steelers and Pitt started to share facilities, and in that the time, the Steelers have never drafted anyone from Pitt. Not sure if anything is to be made from this.

We ain’t OK yet, that’s for sure. (Get the pun?)

Was Poteat drafted before the Steelers and Panthers shared UPMC? I believe so, but I’m not positive.

I remember the year the Steelers were doing to draft Darrelle Revis, and the Jets knew this and traded to right in front of us and nabbed him.

Last year the Steelers couldn’t cover anyone in the 4th quarter. Put Revis Island out there and we’re back in the Super Bowl.

As a Steeler fan, Pitt fan, and someone who once lived in Aliquippa, this infuriates me to no end.

Poteat returned a punt for a TD vs Redskins in the last game at 3 Rivers thus he was 2 years gone before the shared facilties.

Revis was one pick ahead of the Steelers when they took Timmons. Boy, what a draft that Revis and Woodley (1 & 2) would have been.

Last year, Steelrs needed an ILB but passed on McKillop with the last pick on the 4th and their 1st 5th round pick. This year, they could have taken Nate with one of the three their 5th rounders .. he would have been a cheaper replacement for Spaeth, a better receiver around the goalline, and probably not get caught urinating in public.

that’s one of the reasons my dad and I hate the steelers: they NEVER take Pitt guys, but they do take Daryl Clark from state Penn.

Thank you HbgFrank. glad I am not the only one who noticed Dorin’s disappearing act late in the season. Love the kid, will root for him, but it’s a fact. I too think it cost him in the draft.

BTW, did DD also not drop a TD catch in 1st Q of bowl game vs UNC? I think it was him. Changed the compexion of the game. (we forget b/c end result.)

matt, please note that with 4 other QBs on the Steeler roster, Clark has as much as a chance as we do to make the team

NYC panther, no doubt that Dorin disappeared in the last 3 games, probably the 3 bigest games … and I blame him as much as anyone for the WVU loss since he dropped two passes that would have been key first downs. Nonetheless, the criteria for most of the top draft picks was physical attributes, yet the criteria for Dickerson was the lack of imagination of the No Fun League offensive coordinators.

actually I just read that Clark signed with the Redskins

Blair playing a great 3rd quarter in the Spurs game. I can’t say I’ve seen an NBA player play with the effort he’s giving in a long time. He sparked a nice run and energized the whole team.

Blair with lots of energy.

wbb,

It was pretty well known at the time that the Steelers were taking Revis if he was available.

I just remember the 1st round going on, and nobody taking him, and getting more and more excited.

Then they announced that the Jets traded up to the spot just ahead of us, and I knew the dream was over.

Blair with 7 pts and 7 bounds and puppy dog energy,as the spurs beat dallas last night.

FYI: Both Adam Gunn and Robb Houser secured invites from the Green Bay Packers to attend their mini-camp this Thursday. They go without contracts, but hope to leave with contracts in hand following this weekend. Neither got drafted nor called following the Draft as priority undrafted rookie free agents.

It seems to me that having the Pederson Panther spread nationwide in some high schools certainly can’t hurt the University one little bit. In fact, perhaps a little sentence such as, “Logo used with the consent and best wishes of The University of Pittsburgh” might spread some good will among high schools. Personally I miss the old retro “Pitt” script which was, cool, known nationwide and impossible to confuse.

Ya’know that school in State College? They had this happen with the logo a few years back. It was some school in VA who used the PSU Lion logo, except it was brown and white. PSU sent a cease and desist. I don’t know how it worked out. I think Paterno refused to ever play them again.

Its true that, legally, you have to protect you’re trademark, even in situations like this. What Pitt could do is license it for $1.

Or, in the case of Dino, just give it to them.