One day at my daughter’s karate class, I noticed another parent wearing a Pitt golf visor. Pleasantly surprised I asked him about it, only to find out that he was simply the golf coach at Euclid High (nicknamed the Panthers) and that some of his players bought him the visor because of the panther head logo on it.
I’ve never been wild of the Pitt Panther logo that AD Pederson had made and brought right back upon his return. So, I guess I’m a little stunned that any high school nicknamed the Panthers copied it.
The panther head logo emblazoned on the field at Whitmer High School’s football stadium is said to be Ohio’s largest high school field logo.
The only problem is the growling panther image — stretching 20 yards across the center of the $600,000 field — belongs to the University of Pittsburgh, according to Pitt officials.
The university contacted Washington Local Schools in Toledo earlier this month and ordered the high school to stop using it.
Superintendent Patrick Hickey said a Whitmer student has since created a new panther logo and the district plans to trademark it. But to remove the existing logo from the three-year-old football field, its basketball hard court, and from the back stadium wall would mean “enormous dollars.”
That’s because the brilliant yellow panther head isn’t just dyed or painted onto the football field. It’s “sewn” into the state-of-the-art turf, Mr. Hickey said. And, he added, painting over the logo or otherwise covering it might void the warranty.
Yeah, Whitmer High did not exactly engage in a subtle difference.
As the article points out, there has been a long history of high schools virtually mimicking college and even pro logos for their own mascots. (How many schools nicknamed the “Cardinals” are virtually indistinguishable from the Louisville or Arizona logo?)
The aforementioned Euclid Panthers used to have a very similar color scheme to Pitt’s old colors with Royal Blue and Yellow.
Like so many others, they now use a darker blue and gold. And their present logo might evoke some other Panther.
Subtle, huh?
Hopefully, Pitt won’t be too aggressive on this high school. As the story noted, lots of schools and professional teams have gotten more dickish in enforcing their copyright and trademark powers. Money is always the issue, but is it really worth it with most high schools?
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.
If I were pitt, why not let them keep that logo. More people will see that logo and the colors and think pitt.
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…
This is silly.
Is this possible?
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.
Thanks for the informed answer. The lawyers will be the ones that make the most money form this, right?
Sorry, lawyers are easy targets.
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…
(grin)
link to timesherald.com
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,
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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.