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Texas A&M has long referred to its fans as the “12th Man.” Apparently, the school doesn’t like other teams using the term.
The university has reportedly filed a lawsuit against the Indianapolis Colts, claiming the NFL franchise has been using the 12th Man term without authorization.
BREAKING: Texas A&M has sued the Indianapolis Colts for unauthorized use to its 12th Man trademarks.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) November 12, 2015
Texas A&M has been referring to its fans as the 12th Man since the 1920s. A large sign saying “Home of the 12th Man” hangs at Kyle Field.
The Colts have used the 12th Man term for over 20 years. In 1996, they inducted their 12th Man into the team’s Ring of Honor.
The Seattle Seahawks have also used the 12th Man term for years. The team retired the No. 12 in honor of its fans in 1984. Other teams have also used the term at times.
Texas A&M is not even the first school to use the term. In 1900, a magazine published by the University of Minnesota referred to its school’s football fans as “the twelfth man on the team.”
