PSU "stole" the white-out from the 1980s version of the Winnipeg Jets, who first did the white-out it in a 1987 playoff series against Calgary, and later trademarked the term.
What most people don't know: Winnipeg initially did the white-out in response to the "C of Red" (everyone wearing red) that Calgary was doing in that same series.
And Calgary came up with the "C of Red" in 1986 in response to Edmonton selling tons of hats that said "Hat Trick Fever" in a series between THOSE two teams. (Edmonton was going for their 3rd consecutive Stanley Cup, e.g., "Hat Trick Fever")
And more complicated: the Winnipeg Jets that existed in 1987 are NOT the Winnipeg Jets that exist today. The "old" Winnipeg Jets are the current-day Phoenix Coyotes, and they do white-outs also (on the rare occasion they make the playoffs). Phoenix actually trade-marked the white-out term. But that didn't stop the CURRENT Winnipeg Jets from also doing white-outs during their playoff run this past spring.
So I guess it's one of two things:
(1) PSU stole the White-Out from Winnipeg --- but when we say Winnipeg, we need to note that we mean "the old version of Winnipeg", who trademarked the term "white-out" despite the white-out having most of its tradition in Manitoba as opposed to the Desert Southwest --- and the "old version of Winnipeg" stole the idea themselves from Calgary, who came up with the idea because of some promotion Edmonton was doing on headgear
OR
(2) Nobody stole anything from anybody. How can you "steal" fans all wearing the same color to a sporting event?!?!?!?
