Univ. Of Texas Recruiting Reporter Trademarks, Profits Off Strong's #Letsride Catchphrase

Univ. of Texas officials yesterday "were surprised .. after learning that a reporter who covers Longhorns recruiting had trademarked" football coach Charlie Strong's catchphrase in March '15 and "recently started selling #Letsride T-shirts," according to Brian Davis of the AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Horns Digest lead recruiting analyst Jason Higdon "filed two federal trademark applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office last year to use the phrase on various sports apparel and wristbands," and he recently began "promoting a website selling Lets Ride Sports merchandise." Yesterday the site "offered 'Texas Orange' shirts featuring white and black lettering with the phrase #Letsride." The website later yesterday afternoon "changed its language" and was "selling 'Dark Orange' shirts." Before Strong arrived in Austin prior to the '14 season, #Letsride "was not a part of the UT lexicon" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 5/10).