Xavier University has entered the fray between the University of Cincinnati and a Tennessee middle school over the use of the Bearcat mascot.

Cheatham Middle School, located about 30 miles outside Nashville, said Friday it received a cease-and-desist letter from UC, which threatened legal action over using the university's mascot. School officials said the letter concerned copyright and licensing infringements, as Cheatham's mascot is a bearcat, and they call themselves the CMS Bearcats.

After the University of Cincinnati discovered a Middle Tennessee school was using its trademarked logo and mascot, Xavier University offered to help the school rebrand free of charge.