Oil Crisis: The Tribulations of the Tennessee Oilers

[@johnnycajxrt]

Houstonian here. You hit the nail on the head about Bud Adams. Mention his name to any native over the age of 30 and you’ll hear those choice words about him, plus more. When he died, Houstonians were still pissed at him because he croaked a week after Bum Phillips did, he didn’t even have the decency to die before the most beloved head coach in Oilers history.

[@crosstatt7441]

I wonder if any people under the age of 10 years are saying that they hate Bud Adams in Houston. I have heard about things like it in Cleveland with Art Modell. It would be interesting to hear about it.

[@terra__incognita]

Fellow Houstonian reporting. My late father worked as a courier for a while and routinely delivered to the office building where Bud Adams kept his own offices. He'd promised himself years before if he ever met Adams, he'd tell him what he thought of him. One day, after years of pickups, he encountered Adams in one of the elevators. He hesitated, weighing his job against his word, and decided that his soul was more important than his paycheck. He turned to Adams, looked him straight in the eye, and said, "I promised myself I'd do this if I ever got the chance: Mr. Adams, fuck you." To his (infinitesimal) credit, Adams merely looked at him and replied, "fair enough." When the doors opened, they both exited the elevator, and thankfully never ran into one another again, despite my father keeping his job.

[@quigonkenny]

​@@terra__incognitaHe was at least the third or fourth person that day to tell Adams to fuck himself. He's been dead nearly 12 years now, and he's still the most hated man in Houston sports history, despite Bill O'Brien's best efforts.

[@t0ph4t1]

​@@terra__incognitayour dad has balls of titanium

[@terra__incognita]

@@t0ph4t1 Yes, my father did. Thanks!

[@skyclaw36]

Oilers jerseys are still so fresh

[@UrinatingTree]

I have a fondness for baby blue unis. The old San Diego Chargers baby blues? Awesome.

[@deathtowrestling2518]

@Lucien Hicks I too genuinely like the Creamsicle unis

[@deathtowrestling2518]

@Lucien Hicks Eh to be fair those early Bucs would have sucked no matter what unis they wore

[@skyclaw36]

@@deathtowrestling2518 creamsicles are one of best jerseys in NFL. there i said it. im not even bucs fan

[@brianmiller1077]

@@UrinatingTree See I'm a Fouts era Chargers fan so to me it's dark blue unis. Say the Dolphins/Chargers in January of 82 would be a great video for you to do. Winner gets to play Cincy in one of the coldest games ever !!

[@davester1970]

As a native Memphian here, I remember the Oilers in Memphis disaster quite well. ESPN and other sports outlets wanted to shame the city for not supporting what we called the Nashville Oilers at that time. Tree hit the nail on the head as to the real reason why people stayed away unless their favorite team happened to play the Oilers in Memphis. The people of Memphis was angry with the NFL for spurning the city for not granting the city a team after 30 years of trying. I went to the final home game in 1996 when the Steelers came to town. It was a meaningless final week game. The Steelers had already sown up a playoff spot by then. The Oilers were already eliminated. Out of the 50,600 people who showed up for that game, 50,000 were rooting for the Steelers. If it weren't for the fact that it was cold and rainy that game, we would have sold out the Liberty Bowl just to spite Bud Adams. The Oilers came to Memphis at the wrong time. Fresh off of getting spurned by the league for one of the expansion teams that eventually became the Panthers and Jags. Plus they were expecting the people to support a team that they didn't feel like was ever going to be theirs. I am willing to bet money there are more Steeler fans in the Memphis area/West TN than there are Titan fans.

[@JWex-jy7sk]

Yeah not only were they angry at the NFL for not awarding them a team, but they awarded them one in basically the worst way possible by just giving them a rental team that’ll just head to Nashville in two years. And biggest problem to that is Nashville and Memphis loathe each other. Memphis sees Nashville as a pretentious, hopelessly conventional suburban enclave and Nashville seeing Memphis as a trying-too-hard, affected-cool backwater river town. Those two cities have spent a century trash-talking each other for everything from music (country vs. blues), food (hot chicken vs. barbecue), to on-brand nicknames (Smashville vs. Grind City). Assuming Memphis fans would support a Nashville team is like assuming Giants fans would go to Jets games.

[@johnenigma8506]

The Nashville Oilers sounds like an AHL team.

[@lukeallen7529]

Its funny because Memphis has rivalries with Nash due to the reasons stated, which is also laughable considering, and Knoxville with the UT UM rivalry. So 2/3 of the state dislikes Memphis.

[@chickengenius4202]

I remember it being the Tennessee Oilers. I could be wrong. I lived in Dyersburg and we drove down to the Bengals oilers game

[@kalilbell]

Dang, I was born in Memphis 18 years ago(we moved when I was like 10), my parents told me the Titans were once in Memphis but and didn't realize it was a bad thing.

[@bdavis24fan]

Dude this whole move from Houston to Nashville would make for an amazing 30 for 30 or docu-series.

[@brian2440]

It’s pretty good but nothing matches the quality of secret base

[@AEMoreira81]

After the move, support for the Oilers dried up overnight, so fast that Houston let them out of of the Astrodome lease one year early. But Bud Adams thought that Vanderbilt's stadium was too small, so they spent 1997 in Memphis, but Memphis didn't support them knowing they were bound for Nashville once Adelphia Coliseum opened.

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

@@AEMoreira81 then Adelphia would go broke after a scandal, then bought by Time Warner (after THAT AOL merger) and Nissan would take over, how is this stadium bad now?

[@JaguarGator8]

Fun fact about that 1997 game against the Steelers- that game helped determine the AFC Central winner (Pittsburgh) on the 5th tiebreaker. Longest tiebreaker of all-time. All the Steelers had to do in that game was not lose by 60 points and they had the division won, since the Steelers and Jaguars were tied on the first four tiebreakers, and Pittsburgh had the fifth (point differential within the division) if they kept the margin to anywhere that wasn't historically embarrassing

[@davester1970]

I am a native Memphian and I went to that game. The only thing that kept that game from being a sellout was the fact that it was cold and rainy. Even to this day, we probably have more Steeler fans in Memphis than we do Titan fans.

[@OfficialJaguarGator9]

@Harry Engel At the time, it was: 1) Head-to-head (Jacksonville and Pittsburgh split) 2) Division winning percentage (Jacksonville and Pittsburgh were 6-2 in the AFC Central) 3) Winning percentage against common opponents (Jacksonville and Pittsburgh were 7-5) 4) Winning percentage within the conference (Jacksonville and Pittsburgh were 9-3) 5) Net point differential within the division (Jacksonville was at +23, Pittsburgh was at +88)

[@STTDB1990]

That's crazy. I wish I were old enough to have watched football in 1995..I was only 5.

[@eddiejc1]

Theoretically it's possible. The Burgundy and Gold lost the 1940 NFL title to the Bears 73-0. (As you might guess, team owner George Preston Marshall said something stupid to rile up the Bears and make them run up the score. Otherwise, I'm sure even Papa Bear Halas would have pulled a George Gibbs in the fourth quarter.) But most NFL games---even routs---don't have margins of victory THAT huge.

[@ronfroehlich4697]

@@STTDB1990 i wish I were young enough to not realize that football is a gay shadow of its former self

[@Saintnix69]

I'm from Memphis.... you told the story EXACTLY as it happened. Ironically, when Memphis hosted NFL preseason games, the team that played the most times were the Houston Oilers.

[@steventheking4630]

“Babe WAKE UP, Urinating Tree uploaded a video!”

[@samilicious2112]

@All Our Steelers Have Abandoned Us yup

[@samilicious2112]

@All Our Steelers Have Abandoned Us why do I see you all over the place

[@samilicious2112]

@All Our Steelers Have Abandoned Us ok

[@OceansideBoy760]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXe9dIZ7ipp4e80

[@DeadlyDanDaMan]

Bruh, we all know you ain't got no girlfriend or boyfriend. Stop lying.

[@pequals34]

According to my dad, Bud Adams held a rally to keep the Oilers in Houston and to convince the city to build a new stadium and apparently no one showed up

[@hardieharrharr]

I was here. That rally came too little too late. Man tried to strong arm while giving us wild card teams. The worst part of it all was it wasnt like he was wrong, but doing it while the teams kept bowing out early in the playoffs wasnt a good look. I went to a home game that last season. It was weird seeing NO advertisement anywhere.

[@marka.graffakasnakebitenat3736]

Bud Adams grazed on the practice field.

[@TPTGopher]

I think it was 65.

[@dadgonegamer2654]

I could see the McNairs doing this when NRG Stadium is considered antiquated. They have no pull in this city and that probably won’t change unless they can advance past the divisional round.

[@shaunroland8053]

The city loved the Oilers, but hated Bud Adams and rightfully so. He took the "Luv Ya Blue" era and pissed it all away after 1980. Then started complaining about a new stadium in 87, then again in 95 after their 93' choke job against the Bills. Of course taxpayers won't pay for a new stadium, unless "Bud Adams" sold the team to somebody else.

[@continentalrcinglg]

And to this day, there's still construction on I-40 near Memphis.

[@Obi1Classic]

Oh wow

[@KamsPoliticalPredictions]

Yep, this is gonna fuck up transportation nationwide

[@Wrhjr166]

Yeah, the bridge was broke for like two weeks and it shut down I-40

[@UdoShan]

Not surprised. I-40 runs right through my hometown (Durham NC), and it seems there was ALWAYS construction going on!

[@mongoslade277]

@@UdoShan Durham, NC. Home of the University of New Jersey

[@HellHoundTSO]

I always strap in tightly when UTree makes a video about a team I'm a fan of, but this was more pleasant (especially for the ending). Thanks for teaching the sports world about Tennessee history as well.

[@Khashmonet]

And thus the Preds became the unlikely premier sports team of Nashville.

[@qwertyuiop123453993]

in 2017 sure, not anymore though lol

[@nicholasgleason3763]

Really the premier team of Tennessee. Even in cities in the Sunbelt that have 2 teams you don't really see hockey be the number one team. Like LA has the Lakers, Dallas has the cowboys, Miami has the heat, Raleigh doesn't even have a professional sports team, but even roots for NCSU.

[@nicholasgleason3763]

@@qwertyuiop123453993 i mean walk around Nashville and i see a lot more predators merch. I mean hell even go to small towns in the region like Paris or Columbia and you still find more people walking around with predators gear.

[@williamhargrove3773]

@@nicholasgleason3763 while I live about 30 minutes outside of nashville I do go there often but I would still say there are probably more Titans fans but I feel like preds fans are more passionate about the team where they will wear merch or if you wear preds gear you are more likely to get some reactions from other people whereas I feel I never get any reactions when I wear Titans stuff

[@qwertyuiop123453993]

@@williamhargrove3773 im from out of state, but just from the couple times i've been to nashville and listening to radio/media from nashville theres more coverage on the titans

[@ThreePointOneFou]

10:09 "Memphanites." He picks a city that has been burned by pro football three times over as the temporary home for a team destined to play in the one place that city hates the most, tries to strong-arm Memphis for everything from season-ticket campaigns to travel expenses, does nothing to try to connect the team with it's new temporary home, and on top of all that, can't even be bothered to look up the right demonym. There's executive indifference, and then there's *this.*

[@Tyrunner0097]

Bud was SO out of touch with the world around him.

[@johnconway5963]

Those oilers uniforms are gorgeous

[@BadMoonRising92]

One of the best uniforms ever.

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

To play in a city that barely wins anything (I mean Houston)

[@MalunoMcSketch]

Tree you outlined yourself with this one. Wonderful content and then some.

[@DrMcSpankus]

outlined

[@akish302]

outlined

[@isaacpeachey8609]

I’d really like to see more videos like these. It’s similar to the legacy of failure videos, but it opens up the possibility for a ton of topics in sports history.

[@jesfel14]

Love to see him do Olympic themed videos like How Denver declined the 1976 Olympics, How Atlanta, the city with a long history of choking won 1996 Olympics rights, LOLCOW on the IOC discussing their issues and a legacy of failures on failed bids, sports and teams and Olympians themselves.

[@mjwatts1983]

@@jesfel14 Colorado was certainly a different place in 1972 that it is now A statewide referendum in 1972 to pay for the games with a $5 million ($31.9 million in 2021) bond was rejected by the voters 60-40. This was the same year that Nixon won the state’s 7 EVs (will be 10 in 2024) 63-35 over McGovern and won all but 2 counties. The two counties were not in the Denver metro area. Colorado population in 1972 was 2.41 million compared to 5.7 million today. The Eisenhower Tunnel, west of Denver on I-70, was under construction at the time and would not be completed until 1973. One problem: it was two-lanes and use exceeded initial predictions. So a second tunnel was built: the Johnson tunnel, named for the governor and later senator who advocated for I-70 to be built in his state. Pro sport teams in Colorado at the time: Broncos had yet to post a winning season. The Nuggets were still in the ABA as the Denver Rockets. The Kansas City Scouts would move to Denver in 1976 and rename themselves the Rockies. Speaking of the Rockies, the MLB wouldn’t put a team there until the 1990s. Major airport: Stapleton Airport that was later replaced by Denver International located east of where it once was. Today the neighborhood is now known as Central Park in part due to the namesake had connections to the KKK I imagine a lot of the skiing & bobsled events would’ve been held up in the mountains while things like hockey, ice skating, and other skating events would’ve been held in Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs. Mile High Stadium 1.0 would’ve been used for the opening & closing ceremonies. So after that referendum, Denver pulled the bid. Salt Lake City, who got the games in 2002, and Lake Placid, 1980 winter host, put in bids but the IOC likely felt rejected by the US and chose Austria as the site of the 1976 winter games. Vancouver, 2010 host, put in a bid but probably was rejected because Montreal was hosting the 1976 summer games as well as the NDP winning the provincial elections in 1972

[@jesfel14]

@@mjwatts1983 love to see Tree rip into how Tokyo 2020 became from the Dream games to a PR Nightmare.

[@alexcastellini2672]

I'm so glad you're continuing this series, Tree. Your video from March was documentary quality good.

[@UrinatingTree]

This is probably going to be my last on this particular team (unless I wanted to do stuff from earlier), but I wouldn't mind doing others like it.

[@alexcastellini2672]

@@UrinatingTree If this is indeed part 2 of 2 you did a damn good job dude. Personally I would love if you did a mini-series on 2001 sports. So much crazy stuff happened that year. Bonds hit 73 homers, the Mariners win the most games in history, the D-Backs won the world series, the Patriots upset the Rams in the Super Bowl, The Lakers dynasty and the emergence of Allen Iverson, and even 9/11 affecting every sport. It would be just such a rich and exciting topic that I think you would cover perfectly In this documentary-style format. Anyways great video as always Tree.

[@tripleoo0]

@@UrinatingTree I know you're not much of a basketball guy, but it'd be cool to see you do a video on the Seattle Sonics during the sportsball down period next year (after all, you're going to be pretty busy with another expansion draft Hater's Guide in a couple months, I assume).

[@digitalrailroader]

@@alexcastellini2672 and don't forget the Greatest Loss in Auto Racing since Ayrton Senna's death at Imola: the Fatal Crash at the Daytona 500 that took Dale "The Intimidator" Earnhardt's life.

[@sportballotaku2139]

@@UrinatingTree Potential Houston professional football Legacy of Failure? Highlighting both the Oilers and the Texans? That's a vid that has to be done this year.

[@whoasked9500]

Your historical videos are honestly your most underrated in my opinion. Great job man!

[@adamcarroll6438]

Honestly he should make more

[@MrBlue3rd]

Yeah they are great material for the off season.

[@2stepjoey]

From houston and thank you for this. It was honestly cathartic hearing you bash bud so damn hard.

[@spencer_1727]

As a Titans fan, I didn't think I would see the day Tree made an entire video about the franchise. This was well researched and a great watch! That you for all the work you put into this video. I may be a bit biased....but my favorite one so far!

[@jacksonbrown6199]

I'm really glad you spent time acknowledging why Memphians were so apathetic towards the Oilers when we had them. I feel like we get written off as a dispassionate fan base because of it and it's absolutely not the case. Hell most of us still actively root against the Titans

[@originalname9824]

Imagine rooting for out of state teams because Nashville got the titans and not Memphis. That’s some traitor shit not the energy I’m looking for in my volunteer state go to bama or FLA with that shit

[@Todzilla98]

I look back on the Tennessee Oiler days with fondness. My first NFL game was the first game at the Liberty Bowl against the Raiders. I was 12 years old. It was the hottest day in Memphis history and my thighs were burned from the bleachers. But Eddie ran wild and it was amazing. #TitanUp

[@scottydude456]

This is the greatest content I’ve seen on KZbin in a while

[@thenvpshow7627]

This was an incredibly interesting story of what happened to this franchise after 1993. I didn't even know they played in Memphis for 2 years. In the end, everyone got in one way or another what they wanted

[@marcus813]

They played there only in '97. If not for Memphis not giving a damn about them, they wouldn't have broken down and moved to Vanderbilt in '98.

[@stacieorico5624]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2TZoIR9idODb6M

[@maxmuetzel5364]

I'm loving this turn into short documentaries. Looking forward to the next one. What will it be? St. Louis Rams moving back to LA? The Raiders going to Vegas? The Fall of Washington ie when Jack Kent passed and Snyder bought the team.

[@prismfireproductions3772]

Something to make him eat salt The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Cleveland Browns

[@jesfel14]

Could do how Denver Declined the 1976 winter Olympics, 1976 Moteral Olympics and how it causes issues but thst certian Fencing champion became president facing a challange on How Tokyo 2020 became a nightmare and long term future

[@RYMAN1321]

@@jesfel14 Tokyo still pulled it off quite well though despite having basically no crowds and in the middle of a pandemic.

[@erics.czernecki7333]

At the rate things are going, the clusterfuck of the Athletics relocation can fill an entire *film* by him.

[@williamdavis2960]

I miss those uniforms so much...

[@tompkinssquaretrackclub]

same. I wish the Titans ownership would give back the team name/history to Houston like how the Coyotes gave back the Jets name/team history to Winnipeg

[@Jfraire99]

It's crazy the Titans have only used Oilers uniforms because they had to that year they celebrated the AFL's 50th anniversary.

[@Jfraire99]

@@tompkinssquaretrackclub Don't forget about the Browns/ Ravens as well. It's in history that Cleveland went on a hiatus and Baltimore was brought in as an expansion. Maybe the same thing might happen for the Sonics/ Thunder if the Sonics ever return they could also take their championship back

[@tompkinssquaretrackclub]

@@Jfraire99 thank you! I couldn't remember who else had given team history/name back to the original city

[@SkidMan_Jurej]

Oil Crisis: Houston was part 1 this is part 2 definitely looking forward to part 3

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

@Lucien Hicks so it won't come?

[@Tiltedslim]

Part 3 would be 2008-2011. Start with the 13-3 season, CJ2K, 100M for Haynesworth in FA, and then the Bud/Fisher/VY split.

[@tyronefromwiisports6766]

Can’t wait to see the congratulations oilers video go jets go

[@chickengenius4202]

I was at the game in the thumbnail. I’m a Bengals fan and we drove down to Memphis to see them play. We sat at the top me and my dad. It’s very possible I see us in the picture but I can be 100% sure

[@jedlockett52]

Conglaturations, this is one of the best videos you have produced. Well researched, well edited and well told, this doesn't just serve as entertainment but inspiration for my own KZbin dreams to hopefully one day become reality. I would be totally fine if you wanted to just focus on content like this. Excellent work. (No joke!)

[@scaryhobbit211]

3:44 "Imagine a stadium serving three or four teams: A logistics nightmare." Metrodome: "Git gud, son."

[@edschramm6757]

i was gonna point to Staples Center. the Kings, Lakers and Clippers all play there. i feel like i'm missing a team, but can't place it

[@Z64sports]

@@edschramm6757 Arena football off and on

[@haferstenproductions3515]

The Alamodome in San Antonio: "Do I look like a joke to you?"

[@honeybadger1610]

@@edschramm6757 Los Angeles Sparks

[@bigravensfan21]

@@haferstenproductions3515 The Alamodome had three teams at one point, but one of them was a college football team. Also, it was just two sports: football and basketball. Bud Adams was trying to build an arena for pro football, pro basketball, and pro hockey.

[@johnnymccollum5935]

As a titans fan there is NO WAY im missin this one.

[@johnskudris4058]

12:46 Just a guy casually lighting a cigarette in the stands. Back in the time where you could smoke them anywhere. Even on planes.

[@TheSteveSteele]

Bud Adams did some good things for the AFL, helping Al Davis fight the NFL, but no one remembers that. Firing Bum Phillips was such a major blow to his rep. Phillips was an icon, (rivaled only by Rudy Tomjanovich). The loss to Buffalo was almost the final straw. The Buddy Ryan/Kevin Gilbride collapse against Joe Montana and Marcus Allen was the final nail. I remember people saying “I’ll never watch this team again”, and obviously we meant it. That ‘93 team had so much talent they could have won the Super Bowl, but in typical Oiler fashion they screwed the pooch in a way only the Oilers could. That’s really what led to the “Choke City” name after the Rockets near collapse before they turned it into “Clutch City.”

[@crosstatt7441]

Not saying that negative things shouldn’t be discussed. However, it’s important to remember the positive things that Bud Adams did, too.

[@TheSteveSteele]

@@crosstatt7441 I agree. Mostly those were related to the AFL. He may have pushed for the Astrodome, but I think Roy Hofheinz made that happen. I guess you could credit Bud for allowing the late 80s early 90s team to be built. It was built to win. I can’t think of much else.

[@crosstatt7441]

It’s nice to know the good things that Bud Adams did.

[@crosstatt7441]

@@TheSteveSteele Are you originally from Houston? I’m from the Cleveland area. Not to bring up the bad, but, which was worse for Bud Adams, moving the Oilers or firing Bum Phillips? I know that Art Modell has a similar reputation. The Steelers fans supported the Browns fans and the next year, Oilers ones.

[@FEknuckle]

I'd love to see a video like this covering the North Stars.

[@brentos96]

Lots of very interesting relocation stories from the NHL. The Jets moving to Phoenix is such a great story filled with incompetence, and stupid management/ownership who didn't react when they first started seeing warning lights. People outside who don't know the story just take the easy answer of "well your city didn't support the team. low sales, then makes no financial sense." which is just the dumbest response to why the Original Winnipeg Jets relocated to Arizona.

[@erics.czernecki7333]

Still, it could work as its own video. If not just for one of the most pettiest reasons why an owner would refus occupying a new stadium- Norm Green apparently refused to share the Target Center because they had Coca-Cola as the official soft drink, while the Met Center had Pepsi. The way he defended that, either he had stock in PepsiCo or they gave him one *hell* of a deal. That was fucking NUTS to read about.

[@danyouch5011]

"There was major construction on I-40" No no, that's normal. Would you like to see our broken bridge in Memphis?

[@pattondinkins300]

Got to love our wonderful infrastructure. Top of the line lol

[@iamnotawesome227]

Yes please!

[@Tyrunner0097]

@@pattondinkins300 So great, it needs major repairs every 18 months, which in itself will take 18 more months to fully fix. 😜

[@Lancun]

Tree pulling out the SimCity 3000 music in part 3 and I feel like I'll be the only one nerdy enough to notice

[@kingboosh4466]

You should make an updated “Houston: The City That Sold its Soul” video

[@CrowT23]

Really like these historical retrospective. Hope to see more like this for other teams and leagues

[@charismatic9904]

As a Dolphins fan since the 80s, I would give anything for the Oilers run from 87-93. Always a contender. Hope yearly. Unlike my Dolphins for the last 20 years.

[@RYMAN1321]

At the least your Dolphins have two titles, and still the only one to pull off a full undefeated season. The Oilers / Titans are still waiting for their Lombardi. The Oilers absolutely though should’ve won at least one but the constant playoff exits I feel, especially 35-3 was part of the reason they left

[@JonesDylan874]

Great documentary. You need to be on ESPN. You'd make it kind of watchable again in this day and age...

[@patotmaster7747]

This is a tough one. I was born and raised in Houston in the 60's and 70's and loved the Houston Oilers. I was there during the 1970-1973 drought and there during Luv Ya Blue as well, in attendance for most every home game. It would be hard to underestimate the effect the Oilers had on the city (and vice versa) when Bum was the head coach. You would have to be there. The floods and hurricanes are nothing in comparison, losing the Oilers was the worst thing that ever happened to the City of Houston. I'm glad I was gone by then. Sundays haven't been the same since, though. I never adopted another team. The Oilers were simply irreplaceable.

[@HeavyJ713]

You may want to reconsider because stroud is looking like that dude

[@TheJL103]

Adding Mike Keith from the University of Tennessee as radio guy helped the move to Tennessee, but the name change was the biggest help. You can still silence Texans fans by bringing up the Oilers.

[@marka.graffakasnakebitenat3736]

Right now we're dealing with Cal McNair. The late Bob McNair's son. God help us all.

[@samhouston9162]

@@marka.graffakasnakebitenat3736 If Bob McNair doesn't die, Houston isn't in this spot. Change my Mind.

[@facecampingbubba4656]

Love this Oilers series. Now we need an another video on the Edmonton Oilers

[@TakeDeadAim]

I remember when they were going through the naming process and were asking for suggestions. The greatest one I heard was to name them the "Tennessee Tuxedo's"...you can imagine the mascot!lol!

[@kennycai8695]

I really do feel you have the chops to be a narrator, Tree. This was a very well done video.

[@zxmoore1]

My very first NFL game was the Oilers vs the Bills at the Liberty Bowl in 1997. It was only 2 hours away from my hometown which didnt have pro sports and were so excited to see them play.

[@christophersuswal9544]

Madden 99 was the first game that had a franchise mode. The Tennessee Oilers were the darlings of that game, with young studs McNair and George at the most important positions. Frank Wycheck could be your fb or tight end. Newly signed Yancey Thigpen was a highly rated wide receiver, with rookie Kevin Dyson (unnamed NFLPA issue with rookies) and young Chris Sanders forming a great core. The O line was solid. Once you beefed up your defense you were going for a super bowl run, as obviously the Titans did the next year. Except the early Maddens wouldnt let you switch to those SWEET Oilers jerseys. Plus Madden didnt really know what to do with the stadium, so they made this wide open, sectioned BEAUTY that I think they just labeled Tennessee stadium. Madden og's know the Tennessee Oilers were absolutely the shit

[@wittybanter96]

If you ever feel like doing this level of documentary on the Preds, I'd be down. There's so much fascinating stuff to discuss between how the team came into the league, the Balsillie situation, the postseason ups and downs, and how the fanbase rose to where it is today.

[@matteichel3420]

Appreciate the SimCity background music Tree

[@0ater]

Tree seems to have a knack for great background music and sound effects

[@paulsimorella]

I’m not a football fan but this is absolutely the best video I’ve ever seen from you Tree. I love how you managed to turn this video into a documentary and shitpost in it at the same time. Amazing work tree you outdid yourself on this one!

[@danpratley974]

I couldn’t imagine going thru that much suffering as a fan and then losing the Super Bowl by single yard in that way

[@Mr.Samuel250]

Yeah it sucked

[@rickycarroll4000]

Not fun at all

[@Bouldah]

I blame my heroin addiction on the loss of the oilers

[@snowcat8971]

Titans fans really didn't suffer at that time, and losing the Super Bowl in the first real year of the team didn't feel too terrible. There was even a parade after the game. What has really hurt is that the Titans haven't been back in the last 21 years, when the expectation was set so high. Year 1 (1999) was supposed to be the starting point for greatness, not the peak of the team (though they have had a few great years since).

[@ryanahr2267]

Yeah well as a lifelong Bills fan it was pretty damn cathartic.

[@901Cardinal]

As someone who worked and volunteered for the Autozone Liberty Bowl and proud Memphian myself. I am proud to say Liberty Bowl is very much the same. But we now have LTE coverage!!! 💯

[@Venom3254]

16:07 Music City Miracle, more like revenge for the 35-3 choke

[@Tyrunner0097]

And the Titans only won because Ralph Wilson wouldn't let Wade Phillips play Doug Flutie.

[@crosstatt7441]

That was my thought, too!

[@andymimmo1844]

You probably won’t see this tree but you are by far my favorite KZbinr out there I’ve been there since 2017 keep this stuff up dude

[@bn_2759]

Love to see a Tennessee-centric video!

[@Odin029]

Calling Nashville, Memphis' big brother gave me a chuckle. We didn't get out a Memphis' shadow as a city until the late late 90s early 2000s and didn't pass them in population until a couple of years ago. The rivalry between the cities is real though.

[@markkar4663]

Yeah ol' Bud was a piece of work alright. I remember the early 70s when they went 1 and 13 in back to back years and their best player was the freakin punter.

[@atsushiidobe9113]

Thank you for this video Tree. I didn't know all of the details about the Oilers' move to Tennessee and the video explained everything clearly.

[@j.a.greene3523]

The ironic part is that they lost the Super Bowl to the Rams, who inspired Bud Adams to move the team in the first place.

[@ninersdd21]

5 years before that, it would've been an LA vs Houston Super Bowl

[@crosstatt7441]

@@ninersdd21 Not necessarily. I mean, it’s possible, but there’s no guarantee that all the personnel would have gelled that way or even came to one of those areas.

[@ismayonnaiseaninstrument1120]

This even better than a legacy of failure

[@MalunoMcSketch]

69th upvote

[@KaiserInGilroy2K]

The franchise hasn’t won a championship since 1961. Maybe a Half-Century of Failure like what the Leafs got.

[@sawyertuide7636]

@@KaiserInGilroy2K Tbh do we even need one? The 7 year span from 1993-99 is enough. (Also the Cleveland Indians need their 75 Years of Failure first)

[@iamhungey12345]

@@BiggaNiqqa In a way it is.

[@iamhungey12345]

@@sawyertuide7636 They more than qualified for a Half-Century of Failure either way but this video covered a better story being had.

[@Swaggernaut_X]

Whenever Tree decides one day to do "Oil Crisis 3" about the Texans' years as a franchise, please include the game when Sage Rosenfels got turned into a helicopter.

[@sawyertuide7636]

We need part 2 to the Houston video. Houston: The City that lost Everything

[@samhouston9162]

@@sawyertuide7636 More like the 2013 collapse and how it led to everything that happened with Bill O'Brien

[@sawyertuide7636]

@@samhouston9162 Eh I’d say a video on BOB’s tenure as a whole. Oil Crisis: The Failed Installment of Bill O’Brien

[@samhouston9162]

@@sawyertuide7636 Yeah

[@samhouston9162]

I say do a 2013 season vid though is it is still the biggest one season collapse in NFL history. Not due to losing a core, but losing so much despite having that core. Matt Schaub regressed, the D was a trash fire, we constantly choked. As well as Gary Kubiak's health issues and Bum Phillips dying, so much happened in this season. Almost as worse as the turmoil of the '93 Oilers

[@snowcat8971]

I am one of the original PSL holders for the Titans, so I am pretty familiar with the story. UrinatingTree did a good job presenting the difficulty of this move. I didn't go to a single game in Memphis, and only went to a couple of games at Vandy. I am a big Vandy fan too, but I hate that stadium so much (glorified high school stadium). My seats were in the middle, but one row from the top, and it took me 30 minutes to leave my seat, go to the bathroom, get a drink, and get back. But in the end, it's been worth it, and the 1999 season is still the most special in Titans history. And for the all the hate Bud Adams received from both Houston and Nashville, his daughter Amy Adams Strunk is doing a heck of a job as the main owner of the team.

[@mongoslade277]

I'm not buying that. Isn't she the one that said what does the Houston Texans & the Tennessee Titans have to do with each other?? Duh......

[@colbyughanze2309]

I love that you continued the series, Tree!

[@ajgonzalez8451]

I remember watching NFL Primetime when they did the highlights for Ravens/Oilers and Chris Berman was mad at the attendance and called it "a disgrace."

[@otaviofrnazario]

Man, someone must find this video

[@uzkhan9803]

Warren Moon and Earl Campbell will always be Houston legends rather than titans legends

[@KevinSmith-vr3mg]

as a chargers fan i wasnt expecting to be reminded of there fails based on the title of the video but i hope Herbert gives us hope!

[@erotomainasequnce]

As a chargers fan too. I agree

[@benjaminfeige7986]

Oilers crowds in 1996 and 1997 were a sneak peak for 2020 across America.

[@lilshagg4151]

totally not even related to football but man the background music that started at 7:16 sent a rush of nostalgia. That track took me right back to playing Hitman Blood Money on the PS2. Also great video

[@vrdragon12]

And yet the Astrodome hosted Wrestlemania X-7, one of the greatest Wrestlemanias of all time

[@perseverance1st4]

Dang I’d didn’t know that 😯

[@BuffaloNyBornRaised]

One of the best wrestlemanias ever definitely I guess it took them months to set it up to get that Dome ready. I remember hearing something right at the center where they would set their ring up wasn't even they had to almost consider an alternate setup putting the ring away from the 50-yard line. But they pulled it off I'm almost positive that was the last major event ever held inside the Astrodome

[@UHOH_415]

“THEIR SHAKING HANDS!”

[@thepassingstatic6268]

Ohhhhh boy, another deep dive. These are really good. You and 5Points have been really putting out quality content as of late in this style

[@MatthiaGryffine]

I noticed the SimCity 3000 music at the tail end of the video. Good call, UT.

[@bobbob465]

Probably the first time I've ever heard Magic City in anything other than SC3K. Best track from a solid soundtrack.

[@cmd31220]

These are my favorite Tree videos. Sure, the lolcows and sportsballs are great, but these informative history videos are just the best

[@Jay_76]

It occurs to me that everything that Tree said about the 1995 Oilers can also easily be said about the 2020 Steelers.

[@thechairwithjamesgonzales]

So much I never knew. Awesome content as always.

[@overbanked]

Dud Adams should've chosen Vandy's stadium as a temporary home, regardless of loss alcohol sales and it having no skyboxes. No brainer. Also, he should've changed the Oilers name right away.

[@toddc3988]

As someone old enough to remember all of this step-by-step, this was an excellent showing of The mediocrity and pathetic attitude about Adams. Honestly, he was not the worst team owner. He hired decent coaches and talent evaluators. The Oilers were good more than bad. But he was a horrible business man that I have no idea how he made enough money to own an NFL franchise. That one year in Memphis was an absolute bomb. But that last year in Houston was the most painful any team will ever have to endure forever. I remember thinking to myself as Oakland was waiting for their new stadium in Las Vegas that it was going to be another Oiler situation. Bless the Oakland fans, they toughed it out with their team. What a GREAT video

[@americangiant1003]

Todd he was the Founding Oilers Owner going back to their founding in 1960 as an AFL club. Adams became rich similar to fellow AFL Founder and First Chiefs Owner Lamar Hunt in the Texas Oil Biz (the middle 20th Century version of how Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, etc. became Billionaires in the computer/online industry at the start of the 21st Century) However outside of his oil empire, Adams was not the brightest guy as a Business Man either which is true. Plus Adams had some real deep pockets and thus why he was able to survive the losses as what happened in Memphis and later Nashville when the Oilers left Texas.

[@OfficialJaguarGator9]

In 1995, the Carolina Panthers played their games in Clemson, over 2 hours away. And even though that distance was shorter than the distance between Nashville and Memphis, the Panthers barely averaged 50,000 a game. The only game that got over 55,000 fans was against the 49ers, who were the most popular team in the league at that point not named the Cowboys. So you would think that Bud would realize that playing in a city that is not going to have a team in a few years and is not going to be your own, and is even further away, and hates the NFL and wants nothing to do with it after how badly the NFL treated Memphis in the wake of the collapse of the WFL was going to be a recipe for disaster from a fan perspective. And yet, the 1997 Oilers happened

[@Viva_la_Snowman]

In 1995 Death Valley had around 65000 seats, as opposed to the 81000+ now. So averaging 50k was pretty damn good. Clemson made out like a bandit on the agreement, with Jerry Richardson’s company agreeing to provide funding for renovations to the library, Jersey Gym (where women’s volleyball play) and other projects Clemson had going on. Along with an extra couple million in profit from ticket sales and amenities.

[@prismfireproductions3772]

Fun fact: Clemson wasn't even first choice... It was Williams Brice Stadium, home of the South Carolina Gamecocks

[@stacieorico5624]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2TZoIR9idODb6M

[@Tyrunner0097]

That's actually not bad attendance. Plus, the Panthers were able to endear themselves more to the South Carolinians by calling themselves the "Carolina Panthers", not the "Charlotte Panthers." The owners really made sure to show that the team belonged to both states, and they did that by having the team play their home games in SC while their stadium in Charlotte was being completed.

[@jamescavanaugh9770]

14:38 the attention to detail with the sound effect, true journalistic brilliance.

[@notoriouseagle1074]

Would love to see the Titans win the Super Bowl soon with D-Hens and this core.

[@adamzielinski2001]

Awesome historical video Utree. Loved every second of it

[@Kaiden-9226]

Tree is back with a another banger

[@Lou.Kiltro]

Oh no the video is finally here. I was waiting for it.

[@djtrankilo231]

Never would've guessed the Grizzlies were having issues staying in Memphis currently. As someone who lives outside the STL area, a couple of people wanted an NBA franchise over an MLS franchise. But that made me wonder how small market teams like the Grizzlies, Pelicans and others were doing.

[@Todzilla98]

They're not struggling anymore than the rest of the NBA is. That's why it's not a big deal and people don't talk about it.

[@djtrankilo231]

@@Todzilla98 that's why it surprises me. Granted, I have family who live outside of Memphis. Never seen them go to a Grizzlies game. But then again, they're not really sports fans and I figured the rest of the surrounding area does everything they can to support the Grizzlies. And especially now that they're in the playoffs and won Game 1 against a really good Utah Jazz team. Sure, Grizzlies haven't been the same since Marc Gasol left, but I figured they'd build around Ja Morant and Morant would be the superstar the Grizzlies need

[@hallo_welt_ag]

Also the white Helmet/Navy and Light blue jersey/white pants combo looks pretty damn good.

[@KickItToTheKing]

Who's here because the Titans unveiled their Oiler throwback jerseys?

[@ppj0241]

Tree, you are the best NFL KZbinr!

[@davidvelazquez9473]

Who's here after the Texans beat the Titans in overtime? The Titans were not only wearing Oilers throwback uniforms, but Mike Vrabel was doing a Bum Phillips impression. Karma's a you know what.

[@arizonawrestlinginterviews1040]

I can't wait for part three! Thank you Tree!

[@txbuzzkill6276]

I remember the last year Oilers were here. Denver lost to the Oilers that year... Elway said that it was so quiet in the dome, it unnerved him.

[@marka.graffakasnakebitenat3736]

Elway nearly became an Oiler.

[@thema1998]

I had never heard anybody talk about the Tennessee Oilers until tonight! 🤓

[@Tex_Mex_A_Lex]

As a houstonian, I crave more vids on our sports history

[@crosstatt7441]

What’s your opinion of Bud Adams?

[@Tex_Mex_A_Lex]

@@crosstatt7441 good riddance, I just wish COH made a deal like Cleveland to keep their history

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

On the other hand, at least the Titans don’t have to pay rent to another team.

[@N_manMETA11]

I didn't know the Devils nearly moved to Houston. I know they were awful in the early 80s after they moved from Kansas City and Colorado but I didn't think it escalated that far. Everyone talks about the Penguins like "oh the Kansas City Penguins almost happened" as if nobody remembers, why don't we make fun of the Devils? I feel like it'd be funner for Devils and Flyers fans anyway.

[@UrinatingTree]

No, they nearly moved to Nashville, not Houston. Although Houston has been linked with a few hockey teams in the past (The Oilers [ironcially] and Penguins in the late 90's), they weren't linked to the Devils.

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

At least we got then the Preds and the Avalanche, but poor Nordiques

[@FelipeYoshioCordeirodeSouza]

Oh, the Hamilton Penguins

[@clipobserver]

@@UrinatingTree Really the Oilers? Guessing after the days of Gretzky and Messier.

[@mikeyoungblood1642]

@@clipobserver Pocklington was now the wealthiest owner in the NHL and was always looking for cash, just like when he traded Gretzky

[@NeverwascooL]

Finally the prequel to Houston's soul selling to the succubus of sports

[@t.o.6953]

That Sim City 3000 music is bringing me back

[@Lancun]

Hey, someone else noticed! I'm amazed I'm not the only one

[@shaneparrish9544]

It’s distracting me with nostalgia lol

[@ericdunbar6230]

Growing up a Bengals fan and following the AFC Central back then the two dominant teams were the Browns and Oilers. The Steelers where past there prime. We all thought the Oilers where going to be the next 49ers. The red gun offense with no tight end and no fullback was way ahead of its time. Just like with the Browns ownership got in the way.

[@erics.czernecki7333]

It was reportedly so quiet in the Astrodome in '96, if the crowd was quiet enough, you could hear ON FIELD discussions between coaches and players.

[@belhariry]

Brilliant video. The SimCity 3000 music really brings it to another level.

[@RatedRMario21]

Thank you for reminding everyone that Bud Adams is the one responsible for the horrible unoriginal name "Houston Texans." At least Cleveland wrested the name "Browns" from Art Modell

[@aariesharris7894]

Browns had too much history behind it to be lost like the Oilers

[@samhouston9162]

It may be unoriginal, but it's still a good name. And with a bull as mascot.

[@mongoslade277]

Yeah the Browns had a lot of "history". How many super bowl appearances for them again??

[@RatedRMario21]

@Mongo Slade Well they did win several NFL Championships in the 50s/60s and literally destroyed the AAFL

[@jbtesquiretheseventh5556]

I'm so glad someone dedicated videos to the bizzare history of the Oilers/Titans, and their ownership. Tree, will you cover the Titans history? Especially with how Bud Adams' daughter Amy Adams has basically become his polar opposite as an owner.

[@marka.graffakasnakebitenat3736]

That's his granddaughter.