This is just too good to ignore. During the Broncos 29-23 won over the Pittsburgh Steelers, there was a shot of a 12th Man flag, which is what every team in every football stadium at every level calls their fans. Of course, it is also a big part of what the Texas A&M Aggies football program is built upon, or at least was.
Jason Cook, VP of Marketing and Communications at the University also saw the flag, and he isn't taking use of his school's 'trademark' lightly.
FYI #Broncos, the 12th Man belongs to Texas A&M. We saw the flag today and will defend our trademark. #TAMU #gigem
— Jason Cook (@jason_cook) January 9, 2012
That's right. Instead of using an Aggie alum like Von Miller to tr and prop up a disintegrating football program, the Aggies are prepared to fight for their 12th Man trademark.
I have a #12 Broncos jersey that a member of MHR gave to me as a gift. I picked #12 as an homage to the fans. We are, of course, the 12th Man, 12th woman and 12th child! This is a joke!
Of course, when it was brought to Cook's attention that the Seattle Seahawks do that same thing, he replied that the school has an agreement with the team. You'd think there were bigger things to worry about.
0 recs | 106 comments
He can kiss my grits
T.Dot_Bronco - January 8, 2012
What a tool.
jbbroncosfan27 - January 8, 2012 via mobile
Guess they gotta do something
while they get destroyed next year in the SEC
thejbow - January 8, 2012
Yup.
Missouri got off easy, avoiding having to play any of Alabama, LSU, or Arkansas, while A&M is in the West division and will play all three.
BroncosBassist - January 8, 2012
Plus they have to play Florida
BroncosBassist - January 8, 2012
Mizzou plays Alabama on Oct 13 in CoMo.
A buddy of mine has Mizzou season tickets and is probably giving them to me for that game since he said it’s gonna be a “s**t show”
thejbow - January 8, 2012
That's a home game for me :)
Broncotodd - January 8, 2012
Things must have changed.
It will be interesting to see how the two new teams take to getting beat up by those guys.
BroncosBassist - January 8, 2012
I think Von Miller would be fine with the Broncos using the 12th man... but whatever.
Troy Hufford - January 8, 2012
A&M and their fake traditions.
Morons. I’m going to trademark the phrase “Touchdown pass”.
BroncosBassist - January 8, 2012
Oh, um, sorry, but
I’ve trademarked the word, “the”. Pay up.
BroncofaninBK - January 8, 2012
lol
Broncotodd - January 8, 2012
and I have trademarked
“LOL” with a patent pending for the phrase ROFLMAO :)
Disturbed70 - January 8, 2012
Hold up folks.....
I have trademarked the entire damn alphabet, with patents pending for the arabic numbers system…. So all y’all pay up!
the_prodigal_fan - January 8, 2012
What a loser
Calikula - January 8, 2012
How do you even trademark a common football term for noisy fans?
MrFNSunshine - January 8, 2012
It's a common term because A&M thought it up in the first place 90 years ago.
They can trademark it the same way “Xerox” can be even though people often use it to mean photocopies in general.
People are free to use it as a term for fans in general, but as a marketing term it’s A&M’s intellectual property because they made it up. If the Broncos want to use it to market their team they have to make a deal with the folks who thought it up like Seattle did.
Chet Manly - January 9, 2012
Can they prove they coined the term?
Or is it a matter of no one being able to prove that they didn’t invent it and they just stuck a flag in it and called it theirs?
MrFNSunshine - January 9, 2012 via mobile
The same way Pat Riley trademarked "Three peat"
weazel - January 9, 2012
I'm going to trademark
“DT Smash”
T.Dot_Bronco - January 8, 2012
Huh.
Well then, another reason to hate Texas A&M. I am building quite the collection of reasons.
quinnsdad - January 8, 2012
We should bring back the old "Aggie Jokes"
rubincarterrocks - January 8, 2012
Rumor has it if you drive down the street in College Station with your windows open, they’ll throw a diploma in your car.
emd2k3 - January 8, 2012
What do you call an aggie after he graduates?
Boss
Sneaky_Sean - January 8, 2012
What is the difference between an Aggie and a carp? One is a bottom feeding scum sucker and the other is a fish.
rubincarterrocks - January 8, 2012
What is the difference between the Aggies and Rice Crispies? Rice Crispies know what to do in a bowl.
rubincarterrocks - January 8, 2012
would be more relivent
Had they not just beat the crap out of Northwestern
Sneaky_Sean - January 8, 2012
yeah I know Sneaky but it was the first one to come to mind!
rubincarterrocks - January 8, 2012
As a Baylor fan and grad, this is standard operating procedure for the aggies, ive seen this crap for a long time. A bunch of self important morons, with fan etiquette and behavior that would appall raiders fans, from all levels of their organization, as we see here.
Have fun getting whomped in the SEC and your whole program becoming a mediocre piece of crap, ATM. Youll be like notre dame, wistfully dreaming of years past. Except that notre dame actually was really good once. And is full of class. and real traditions.
thedoctor - January 8, 2012
As an aggie
it seems pretty hypocritical of you to bad mouth the aggies. We could have stayed in the Big 12 and continued to whip your schools butt year in and year out, but we figured we wanted a higher level of competition. And what about that little lawsuit your alma mater threatened against aTm when they announce they wanted to leave the Big 12?? Don’t start throwing rocks when you live in a glass house.
Sneaky_Sean - January 9, 2012
pretending like it was about level of competition? I was there when Baylor beat a ranked Aggie football team even in the depth of their suck. We have always given A&M good games at least. Our football team is better than yours, right now. Our other sports routinely beat yours.
That aside, don’t pretend this is move is about anything other than pettiness with UT and money. Enjoy sucking in the SEC for a few million bucks a year.
thedoctor - January 9, 2012
SCOREBOARD 55-28
The Baylor Bears defeated the Aggies for only the second time in 22 years in 2008 and haven’t won since. The scores are VERY one sided too so I don’t know where you are getting this “we have always given A&M good games at least” unless you mean for us to look good. And enjoy continuing to suck in the big 12 without revenue sharing.
Sneaky_Sean - January 9, 2012
I wasn’t aware the Chiefs were a better team than the Packers. Oh that’s right, they’re not, it’s just 1 game. 10-3 vs. 7-6 would be the “score” that matters.
And watch out for that whole trademark infringement thing. I hear Vandy hates it when other teams violate their trademark on suckage in the SEC.
thedoctor - January 9, 2012
you DID NOT just compare Baylor to the packers hahahahaha. Its just twenty games that you have lost in the last twenty two years. Looks like you have the trademark on big 12 door mat. good luck when rg3 hits the road to the nfl.
Sneaky_Sean - January 9, 2012
/sigh You must be an Aggie with that logic. The only point being made is that teams are not defined by single game. The Packers are better than the Chiefs, despite a single loss to them, one need only look at their record to confirm that. Similarly, the Bears are better than the Aggies despite a single loss to them, one need only look at their records to confirm that.
I sure hope you’re being deliberately obtuse with this last. Or do you actually think the Aggies were better this year?
thedoctor - January 9, 2012
Maybe they should concentrate on winning football games.
Not Court battles.
Thnikkaman - January 8, 2012
zing!
Calikula - January 8, 2012
LOL zing
that is funny
PAULERBEAR - January 8, 2012
He may be right.
Do they also hold the trademark to “Afterthought in Texas?”
quinnsdad - January 8, 2012
screw aTm
they are a joke of a school who couldn’t beat Texas, pissed and moaned their way out of the Big 12. Thank you for Von Miller, but may your school suck for eternity.
mdierk - January 8, 2012
You obviously know NOTHING about the move from the big 12
so keep your analysis to the Broncos. Thanks and Gig’em
Sneaky_Sean - January 8, 2012
All for someone defending their Trademark, but to threaten someone on Twitter of all things????? LOSER
70fan70 - January 8, 2012
might I add, this is simple money play. They just want their 50K of whatever Seattle is giving them
70fan70 - January 8, 2012
Unbelievable
“I’m taking my ball and going somewhere else!”
-TA&M upon leaving the Big 12
“Stop copying me!”
-TA&M re: 12th Man
Grow up, and quit crying.
BroncofaninBK - January 8, 2012
Unbelievable
I’m an idiot who doesn’t know what goes on in the big twelve
-BroncofaninBK
The only one crying are the broncos fans that they got called out on it. I LOVE the Broncos, but I am not going to stand back and let a bunch of people who know nothing about what’s going on here at A&M talk !@#$
Sneaky_Sean - January 8, 2012
Have fun getting stomped by the SEC
Calikula - January 9, 2012
This is the same thing others said about the broncos
facing the steelers.
Sneaky_Sean - January 9, 2012
Too bad your aggies already got beat by the razorbacks
and they’re not even the cream of the SEC.
Calikula - January 10, 2012
Mizzou will take care of this next year..... I believe we are tabbed as rivals
Really looking forward to SEC games for us and Texas A&M……..
Broncotodd - January 8, 2012
Take 'em out.
I can’t stand aTm. No offense to any Aggie Broncos fans. :)
BroncosBassist - January 8, 2012
Any legal attack shouldn't hold
Unless I’m incorrect, the Buffalo Bills actually retired the 12th Man on their ring of fame. Public domain. Like Amazing Grace.
maximus1212 - January 8, 2012
It is a legitimate trademark
given even more credit by Seahawks laying dollars down to use the phrase. but like it was said earlier twitter is not the place to announce this.
Sneaky_Sean - January 8, 2012
Hold on. From what I've been reading, they
Weren’t even enforcing this trademark until the 90’s. Long after it became a common football reference to fans who turn the tide of a football game. I’m trying to wrap my head around this without insulting anyone or their school. How can they enforce a trademark on a term that the press came up with?
MrFNSunshine - January 9, 2012 via mobile
From the wikipedia article
(not the most credible, but its somewhere to start) the school has used it since 1922 and that is the first use of the term as far as american football (down below someone brought up football/soccer and I don’t know about that sports history with the term) but 1990 is when they got the trademark, so that is why enforcement began in the 90s.
Sneaky_Sean - January 9, 2012
Bena you should quit being a sell-out also?
cause you and Kirk need to be talking Bro nco playoff Football. Time to show your colors and quit being a F&$ckin sell-out. WHAT TIME IS IT??
Eddiemac87 - January 8, 2012
?
what is this about?
PAULERBEAR - January 8, 2012
Meh...whatever.
I hadn’t heard “12th Man” till I moved out here to Washington and watched some Seahawks games.
Anyway, does anyone know where I can buy one of those sweet “Mile High Magic” orange towels?
Zogernaut - January 8, 2012
congrats on the win guy
from a chargers fan honestly congrats! i obviously dont like the broncos but i dig tebow and enjoyed the game. enjoy the ride and good luck!
cameronm - January 8, 2012
MHR Radio tonight?
T.Dot_Bronco - January 8, 2012
He thought he found a way to bask in the reflection of our glory
si_ice - January 8, 2012
Coincidentally, I own the trademark for "Irrelevant Football Programs"
I’m suing their arse tomorrow.
maximus1212 - January 8, 2012
TA&M can bite my ass
Nobody owns the copy-write on “12th Man.” They can stick their gray coats up theirs.
Schwerepunkt - January 8, 2012
he does understand von miller plays for the Broncos
otherwise huge a-hole, go worry about not getting smacked down by the SEC next year
Broncoman - January 8, 2012
I'm going to copy-write "pull my trigger."
Schwerepunkt - January 8, 2012
and I second that
LOL
PAULERBEAR - January 8, 2012
blow up his twitter!
calling all broncos rip this tool twitter style
Markus2112 - January 8, 2012
very mature
Sneaky_Sean - January 8, 2012
wow.
this is what A&M spends their time worrying about?
PortlandOrange - January 8, 2012
any corporation
and any college is a corporation will protect its trademarks
Sneaky_Sean - January 8, 2012
how do you trade mark something that is common use for years?
come on Sean this is BS
PAULERBEAR - January 8, 2012
Texas A&M has been using it since 1922
Seahawks started in 84…I don’t know why they are getting into the lawsuit game recently. Trademarks are only protected when the owner defends them and the only way to defend it is through a lawsuit (I honestly don’t know the other ways if there are any). How long have the Broncos been using it? Its not like its a part of a storied tradition that has been around since mile high stadium or the founding of the team. As BS as it is aTm does own the rights and it will come down to pay or stop using the term on the flag.
Sneaky_Sean - January 9, 2012
Im sure Von will take care of this issue
broncosNM - January 8, 2012
I am an attorney that deals with TMs all day
I looked it up and they don’t own anything. They APPLIED for a Trademark (a few months ago) but can’t enforce anything until it has issued. This guy has no idea what he is talking about.
swelmo3 - January 8, 2012
you have no idea what you are talking about
“In American football, the term is trademarked by and originated with Texas A&M University in 1922” -Wikipedia
May not be the most credible source, but I’ll take that over your “I looked it up”
Sneaky_Sean - January 8, 2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_man_%28football%29
1990 they officially applied for trademark
Sneaky_Sean - January 8, 2012
1990? it has been used for years before that.
by more than aggie fans
PAULERBEAR - January 8, 2012
I don't know why 1990
but it originated in 1922
Sneaky_Sean - January 9, 2012
T A&M need to take care of their own problems...
bfree2bronc - January 8, 2012
Dumb question, but how do you get your twitter tag to show up like that?
YouAreSignedIn - January 8, 2012
I'm trademarking the phrase "13th Man..."
…which is used to describe an executive with too much free time.
YouAreSignedIn - January 8, 2012
This deserves more credit.
neumdaddy - January 8, 2012
lol
PortlandOrange - January 9, 2012
No offense to Von
But A&M can eat a d***.
CraftyB - January 8, 2012
so can you
Sneaky_Sean - January 8, 2012
Go away troll
NotPinkFloyd - January 8, 2012
who is trolling?
You tell my Alma mater to eat a dick and don’t expect something back? Is this what Mile high report has become? People telling others to eat a dick? There used to be concise well backup articles that broke down everything broncos….guess it can be summed up by “eat a dick”
Sneaky_Sean - January 8, 2012
Don't let one poster be emblematic of all posters.
Fans are emotional now. You should probably expect to see these kinds of responses, and consider a lot of it “noise.” That said, this does reek as a lamely opportunistic point-out by the A&M exec. Can you honestly defend this guy and his intent to defend a “12th man” trademark? I mean, be reasonable (general statement; not directed at you).
neumdaddy - January 8, 2012
You have to defend trademarks
that being said….twitter is the dumbest place to comment about it
Sneaky_Sean - January 8, 2012
Up top I posted the wikipedia article
Denver is not going to spend the resources to fight in court. they will either settle for what seattle did or take down the sign. Either way it comes down to having to defend a trademark or have it become public domain. Being an aggie this term means more than just being a fan, so I do support this effort to protect the trademark
Sneaky_Sean - January 8, 2012
This makes the front page after the first Broncos home playoff game in six years?
TAMU is a phenomenal school. Trashing on the school because of this one guy is equivalent to assuming this John Bena article represents the opinions of all Bronco fans. What a joke
BroncoPH - January 8, 2012
the first rational comment
Sneaky_Sean - January 8, 2012
My last word on this "issue"....
Who the hell cares???
the_prodigal_fan - January 8, 2012
Sadly
I can’t find a pic of the big flag we used to hang out at Rice on game day with A&M (yes, a long time ago). Just picture the A&M banner, and put an “E” on the left and the right. Still seems appropriate.
MakeCents - January 8, 2012
what ever. This is a lame arguement for an age old term.
Be it A and M or Seattle or Denver who cares. If Texas a&m is this desperate for $$$$ then it is a sorry school that is begging for the BS courts in this country to give them 50 k that will do what make the hotdogs in the lunch room all beef for a year?
PAULERBEAR - January 8, 2012
Make sure you go after the Seahawks, too.
Or better yet, just shut up, fool.
TheMastermind - January 9, 2012
My ONLY comment on this post:
Based on my quick search of trademarks, aTm has the TM “Home of the 12th Man” not “12th Man”.
@Sneaky_Sean So do a little more “research” other than going to Wikipedia.
Here is that trademark search
WhitePhoenix48 - January 9, 2012
citation needed
Sneaky_Sean - January 9, 2012
Your link is expired
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2437992
States in the article aTm owns the rights.
Sneaky_Sean - January 9, 2012
I was wrong
I stand corrected. I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong. There were entries mixed in with the “dead” TM’s. Texas A&M does own the trademarks to “12th Man” and “Home of the 12th Man”.
But I do agree with other comments in saying it’s dumb to trademark a common term.
WhitePhoenix48 - January 9, 2012
I'm not going to argue
that its not dumb to trademark common sayings, but it is trademarked and since it is it has to be defended. The dumbest part is using twitter.
Sneaky_Sean - January 9, 2012
What's next?
Texas A&M knocking at soccer giants such Boca Juniors/River Plate of Argentina? Peñarol of Uruguay? Grêmio/Internacional of Brazil? Rangers/Celtic of Scotland?
I know no one cares much about soccer but these are teams of over 100 years of existence that’s been doing the 12th man longer.
What’s next Texas A$M?
dcrespo7 - January 9, 2012 via mobile
Every futbol and football program in the world considers their fans the 12th Man
this guy is simply a douche, hoping that he can catch some extra buzz by tweeting something. Twitter is dumb and this guy is the poster child for why that is so.
JALefor - January 9, 2012
What would be funny is if the NFL said we're not drafting anyone from aTm
Until you drop this. Have fun recruiting players.
MrFNSunshine - January 9, 2012 via mobile
I wanted my kids to go to TAMU...
… until I saw this. Don’t twitter this… that’s just a DUMB PR MOVE! really dumb. File your complaint via back channels or attorney to attorney.
Don’t try to pick a fight with my team!
jimmyray - January 9, 2012 via mobile
here's the deal Broncs
we own the trademark. As stupid as you apparently think that is, it’s fact. If you want to use the trademark, you gotta pay. If you use it w/o paying, we will sue you and we will win. Yes, it really is that simple. Find some other catchphrase b/c you are not going to be allowed to use that one. Shoulda thought of trademarking that term before we did…BUT YA DIDN’T.
247bassist - January 10, 2012
Your team sucks. Moving on now
Calikula - January 10, 2012
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