Some of the UFL’s team names are a little on the unusual side. This time around, we discuss what a “roughneck” is and why Houston chose the name. In this author’s neck of the woods, the only nickname we have for people’s necks is related to how sun-burned they are. A name highlighting the need for a neck to be moisturized and not sun-screened was news to her.
Neck-related nicknames are usually unflattering at best. Frankly, commenting on someone’s neck feels a little derogatory. But when we get into just what a roughneck is and how it relates to Houston, we’ll see it’s much more of a point of pride for people who bear the name. Alright, let’s grab our neck lotion and get into it!
What Is a Roughneck?
According to the Webster dictionary, the primary definition of a roughneck is someone who is rough or uncouth. The secondary definition is someone who works on an oil well drilling crew and is not the driller.
Some other fun nicknames on an oil well drilling crew are the roustabouts, tong operators, derrickmen, and motormen. It’s a big crew, apparently.
Why Did The UFL Houston Roughnecks Choose Their Name?
Did the UFL team pick the name because they’re rough-and-tumble football players who can be a little uncouth? Maybe, but probably not. UFL players are dignified after all.
Considering the Houston Roughneck’s X bio has “DRILL BABY DRILL” followed by an oil can, we can safely assume the name is related to the oil well drilling crew members.
The Roughnecks could have been doing a little old-fashioned word play. For example, in theory, they are “drilling” their opponents into a loss each week.
However, it is likely playing into the fact that Houston, Texas, is the energy capital of the world. A third of oil and gas extraction jobs in the country are housed in Houston. There are nearly 5,000 energy-related firms in the city. Houston is definitely all about its oil.
Why wouldn’t the UFL pick a name that represents their players’ strengths and represents the industry the city is proud of? Drill, baby, drill!
Being an Roughneck Fan Is Embarrassing, and Not Because of the Name
This is not as much a criticism as it is a fact. The Houston Roughnecks are not as bad off as an UFL franchise like the Arlington Renegades, but they’re close. They’ve won once, and we’re heading into Week 8.
It’s frustrating because the Houston Roughnecks have what it takes to be an amazing member of the UFL, but they fall short and fumble the bag all too often. Last week, for example, they were leading the Brahmas the majority of the game and made San Antonio fumble the ball four times. How did they still lose? The potential is there; it’s just a so-close but no cigar situation every week.
Speaking of… did you hear about the San Antonio Brahmas exciting new sign? Read all about it here! What is a Brahma anyway? Should we cover that in another article? Sound off below!
About the Author
The author, Julie Miller, has two degrees that barely have anything to do with sports. They do offer insight on the health, body, and mind of athletes, as well as a background in statistics. Injury reports are a delight! Keep an eye on Julie, because her interests vary far and wide within the realm of sports, with an eye for the abstract.
You can find Julie Miller on X and Instagram at @itsmillercrime. She also has two weekly podcast shows, one on True Crime within the world of sports and another on general sports updates, that can both be found here.
