This is at least one day beyond silly, but I've gotten e-mails and seen it discussed on the message boards, so just to clarify things, no, FSU did not ask USF to take down its "Big 4" billboard on I-275 because the Bulls didn't ask permission to use the Seminoles' logo.

"We were not asking for it to be taken down. We're not going to rain on their parade," said Sherri Dye, FSU's trademark licensing director. "I understand where they're coming from. We were there 20 years ago."

USF had already said Tuesday that the billboard was coming down Thursday, replaced by a "Paint the Town Green!" campaign leading up to next week's home showdown against No. 8 Cincinnati at Raymond James Stadium.

Dye said FSU did contact Collegiate Licensing Company to let them know their logo was being used without permission, and said USF had used an outdated logo with the wrong color face -- the most current logo has a white face -- that had been phased out "about eight years ago."

"The concern that we had is that we weren't approached about using our mark," Dye said. "Generally, they would request permission to use the mark. As a courtesy, we expect to be contacted. We would want to know the context in which it's being used."

Asked if she would object to the context -- after USF's 17-7 win at FSU, it shows USF as part of the state's "Big 4" with FSU, Florida and Miami, saying "Welcome to the Club Bulls Fans!" -- she said she would likely have deferred that decision to FSU's athletic department.

(Times photo -- Atoyia Deans)