Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Between the hiring of head coach Bum Phillips in 1975 and the drafting of Texas Longhorns running back Earl Campbell in 1978, the Houston Oilers were showing more promise than they had in over a decade. On November 20, 1978, a home crowd of 50,000 people waved blue and white pom poms as Campbell rushed for 199 yards and four touchdowns. The "Luv Ya Blue" era had begun. Possessed with civic pride and the optimism of possibility, Houstonians rallied behind the ascendent team to create a seasons-long fan frenzy. The Oilers appeared in back-to-back AFC title games in 1978 and 1979, but failed to advance beyond the Wild Card round the next season. PM Magazine co-host John Walls features Phillips and "Love Ya Blue" enthusiasm in this 1980 segment for KFDM-TV.
Watch the full video at: tinyurl.com/mudsjjf8
Explore the web exhibit, Game Film, at: tinyurl.com/es6vrude
Contributed to the Texas Moving Image Archive Program by the Tyrrell Historical Library.
#football #nfl #houstonoilers #astrodome #luvyablue
Between the hiring of head coach Bum Phillips in 1975 and the drafting of Texas Longhorns running back Earl Campbell in 1978, the Houston Oilers were showing more promise than they had in over a decade. On November 20, 1978, a home crowd of 50,000 people waved blue and white pom poms as Campbell rushed for 199 yards and four touchdowns. The "Luv Ya Blue" era had begun. Possessed with civic pride and the optimism of possibility, Houstonians rallied behind the ascendent team to create a seasons-long fan frenzy. The Oilers appeared in back-to-back AFC title games in 1978 and 1979, but failed to advance beyond the Wild Card round the next season. PM Magazine co-host John Walls features Phillips and "Love Ya Blue" enthusiasm in this 1980 segment for KFDM-TV.
Watch the full video at: tinyurl.com/mudsjjf8
Explore the web exhibit, Game Film, at: tinyurl.com/es6vrude
Contributed to the Texas Moving Image Archive Program by the Tyrrell Historical Library.
#football #nfl #houstonoilers #astrodome #luvyablue
