Tom Coughlin he's not

Monday Night Motivator: Wade Phillips fines himself for "lateness" to delight ofTexans defense

Wade Phillips
Photo by Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Danieal Manning took one to the house in Week Four. And he loved to see WadePhillips take a fine heading into Monday night.
Photo by Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Getting fined for being late to meetings is part of life for NFL players. You either show up promptly or you pay.

Around these parts, New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin had made a virtual cottage industry out of fining players who don't show up to his meetings five minutes early.

Wade Phillips — the coordinator of the Houston Texans' No. 1-rated NFL defense — looks at things a little differently though. This week, just days before his team's biggest showcase of the early season, Phillips fined himself for keeping the players later than scheduled in one meeting.

"The man fined himself. Players love that. You just don't see coaches doing that. It shows we're all in this together."

"Normally, it's about players coming in late being fined," Texans safety Danieal Manning tells CultureMap. "But in this case, Wade stood up there and was like, 'I kept you guys a little longer than I was supposed to. Fine me.'

"The man fined himself. Players love that. You just don't see coaches doing that. It shows we're all in this together. We're all accountable to each other. It sounds like a little thing, but I can tell you it got everyone on the defense a little more pumped up to prepare even harder.

"That's a coach who gets it. Wade's so cool."

The 65-year-old Phillips' self fine came with the 4-0 Texans preparing to play the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. Texans head coach Gary Kubiak talked all week about how the Jets may be the most difficult team to prepare for in the league because of all the different things they do on offense and defense. Wade's Bulls On Parade had to get ready for not only Mark Sanchez, but the very real possibility of an increased role for Tim Tebow.

So how does Phillips react?

He destroys any tension by fining himself for keeping his players longer than usual. Everyone gets the extra work needed done — and leaves laughing.

"We've got a lot of self-motivated guys on this defense," Manning says. "But Wade makes you want to do even more."

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Cougar Red and Houston Blue

UH expands 'Houston Blue' uniforms, despite NFL cease-and-desist

UH continues using Houston Blue uniforms despite NFL rebuke

Photo courtesy of Houston Athletics

Luv ya Blue running wild.

University of Houston Athletics are in a “Luv ya blue” mood and they don’t care who knows it — not even the NFL.

The university has announced that its football and volleyball teams will wear new Houston Blue jerseys, reminiscent of the classic colors of the Houston Oilers era. The volleyball team's uniform will debut theirs starting November 9 against Texas Tech, while the football team will debut theirs against Baylor on November 23. At the latter event, the first 20,000 fans will receive commemorative Houston Blue rally towels.

The resemblance of the new colors to the Oilers brand was not lost on the NFL. When UH Athletics started incorporating Houston Blue into their uniforms in September 2023, the NFL sent a cease-and-desist letter claiming the uniforms were an attempt to leech off the legacy of the Oilers and the intellectual property of the team now known as the Tennessee Titans. As if to prove the point, the Titans have occasionally worn Columbia blue throwback uniforms at certain games.

UH is unbothered according to vice president for intercollegiate athletics Eddie Nuñez.

“As a university deeply connected to the fabric of Houston, incorporating ‘Houston Blue’ into our uniforms is a powerful way to celebrate the city’s rich history,” he said. “From iconic blue street markers to the Houston Police Department’s signature blue police cars and helicopters, this color holds a special place in the hearts of Houstonians. We’re thrilled to share this tradition with our fans and offer them the chance to show their pride through exclusive merchandise, making it an exciting time for Cougar Nation to rally together.”

The accompanying press release for the uniforms came with a helpful history lesson showing that the Oilers adopted a color widely associated with Houston, not the other way around. The city has incorporated blue into public infrastructure, from street curbs to city vehicles, since the 1920s. The Oilers weren’t even the first Houston team to use blue in their uniforms. That honor belongs to the minor league baseball team, the Houston Buffs. In addition, the university made minor changes to the uniform in response to the NFL's concerns.

UH will be offering a wide range of merchandise to sell in the new Houston Blue colors in person and online through the University of Houston Bookstore as well as at select local retailers. These include shirts, hats, polos, jerseys, and hoodies. Get them before the NFL sends a more strongly-worded letter.

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Fans of Houston sports and Houston food can now score tickets to The Tailgate, CultureMap's all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. The event, presented by Verizon, goes down from 6-9 pm November 11 at 8th Wonder. Find out more about it here.

university of houston houston blue