Now that's a good trick.
There were rumors and speculation on the Internet all week that Tennessee would don special Halloween uniforms - specifically uniforms with black jerseys - for Saturday night's game against South Carolina at Neyland Stadium.
The Vols came out for warm-ups wearing orange jerseys and orange pants, but when they lined up in the tunnel to run through the 'T' they were wearing black jerseys with orange numbers and orange pants.
It was contrary to what UT officials and coaches had been saying all week: There will be no funky uniforms for Halloween.
"On Wednesday Eric Berry and Montario Hardesty came to see me about possibly wearing black jerseys," UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said. "You know, I'm a pretty consistent person. That wasn't something I was really in favor of, but I do believe as Lane (Kiffin, UT coach) alluded to it's a players' game and those guys have represented our university in a great way all season long in the way they've handled themselves both on the field and off the field. Frankly, at that point (Wednesday) I didn't know if we could get it done."
Kiffin was first asked about the uniform changes after last Sunday's practice.
"It's a players' game," Kiffin said after the Vols' 31-13 victory. "Our players have kind of been begging for them for a while and once they knew it was a night game and it was Halloween night and a couple of players went to Mike Hamilton and asked him about it. It was unbelievable to find a way to get it done that fast. Roger Frazier (equipment manager) did an unbelievable job getting that done. I think it gave us some energy."
It wasn't the first time the Vols wore black jerseys. They wore black jerseys with white numbers in 1921. They first wore orange jerseys in 1922.
Hamilton said the black jerseys were a one-time deal. "Don't plan on doing it again," he said.
UT quarterback Jonathan Crompton said: "It was good. It was a change-up. We did it for the fans on Halloween night. When we came into the locker room (Friday night) we knew we were going to do it. It was pretty exciting."
Frazier Hurt: UT's Savion Frazier, the starter at middle linebacker, had to be helped from the field on the last play of the third quarter. Frazier, who wasn't putting weight on his right leg when he was taken off, moved into the starting job after Nick Reveiz tore his ACL in the Sept. 26 Ohio game.
"We don't have final updates on any injuries at all," Kiffin said. "It was tough to see Frazier go out there. He's been playing really good for us and playing his best ball."
One play before Frazier was hurt, UT starting strong-side linebacker LeMarcus Thompson had to be helped off the field after a hard hit. He did not return.
Cunningham Kicks: Junior Chad Cunningham was the place-kicker in place of Daniel Lincoln, who has been bothered by a quadriceps injury. Lincoln was 1-of-4 on field-goal attempts against Alabama last week and had two of them blocked.
Cunningham, the starting punter and kickoff specialist, made two conversion kicks and had a 40-yard field-goal attempt blocked by Devin Taylor in the first quarter.
With 4:28 left in the game, Cunningham booted a 39-yard field goal. He finished 4-of-4 on PAT kicks.
Walker, Edwards Out: UT junior defensive end Chris Walker missed the game with a nagging back injury. He was not in uniform. Walker had five tackles last week in the loss at Alabama.
Redshirt freshman Willie Bohannon, slotted as the third-string left end, started for Walker at right end.
Freshman cornerback/special teams player Mike Edwards was not in uniform, either. His injury was not disclosed.
Walker and Edwards were both wearing black warm-up pants and their black jerseys with orange numbers.
UT Legends: UT's "Legends of the Game" Saturday were Dustin Colquitt and Antone Davis. Colquitt punted for the Vols (2001-04) and Davis played offensive tackle (1987-90).
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Tennessee Lady Vols 82, Auburn Tigers 64
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group hands the ball off to running back Montario Hardesty (2) at Neyland Stadium Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.){kind=link}
Comments » 62
OrangeBlur writes:
Heard they wore them in '60 too. i think we can win out the rest of the year.
GBO!
kring writes:
Loved seeing the black jerseys.
Gave me goosebumps to see them running through the "T".
Thanks for a good game Vols!
VOLorado writes:
Why don't I hear any of these "traditionalists" crying about the baseball team, the band, and other UT uniforms that feature black?
Hey "traditionalists" ...we've worn black before. It's ok.
I like the variety. Nothing wrong with having another option. Besides, the players (and recruits) LOVE it.
Voluvr writes:
I'm for what ever the players will get fired up about. Who cares, just win.
Patterson8040 writes:
I thought they were kinda ugly, but if the players like them, go for it.
eutefan writes:
Hamilton said the black jerseys were a one-time deal. "Don't plan on doing it again," he said.
Thank you.
tenuscvol writes:
Good Call MH...
This is a marketing opportunity of significant proportions!...
Great Game guys...
GoVols!
POTSVol writes:
Actually, the band uniforms are a really, REALLY dark navy. So dark that it doesn't technically matter but since I wore one for five years I figure it wouldn't hurt to comment on them. They are a really odd color. Still wouldn't change them though.
As for the football team, I liked them. I wouldn't mind it being a new tradition for games played on Halloween. Black does really make the orange pop.
volfaninjc1 writes:
i like the black jerseys and wish we would wear them again this year and in the future i got an ideal how about black jerseys and orange shorts for a ut home basketball game anyone agree come on bruce
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I don't think so. I was a stadium usher that year and saw every home game. I'm pretty sure they didn't wear black jerseys at any of them.
TommyJack writes:
Ok, ok...every halloween at home is cool.
keepitreal4vols writes:
I was against the Black jersey but it was cool to see it on Halloween night. The players embraced it and were fired up so I love it for them and they should get rewarded for their hard and dedicated efforts this season. I realize that I am not playing the game anymore so its a different era for players. If Lil Wayne and a black jersey makes 5 star recruits come to UT, then lets support those efforts. GBO
adamsmith5529#630125 writes:
i love the Change. This would never happen if fulmer was still around!!! i love the black tops. It would look better if they wore black pants with the black tops,and maybe black helmets with orange T's. they should do this every year at home on halloween
volfaninutah writes:
Variety, especially in uniforms is good, unless we start copying The Oregon Ducks. Good hell, it looks like they get some of their uniforms from the Salvation Army bin!!!And they have about 10 different helmet colors. Wonder what their budget runs? BTW..... Great game tonight. We looked good right off the bat and got them in a hole. It helps to get another team out of their gameplan early. Catchup is not fun.. Go VOLS!!!
ddbirdvol writes:
Oregon has no budget when it comes to Nike Uniforms...
volfaninutah writes:
They apparently have no taste. Man they have come out in some ugly combinations this year.
Txvol57 writes:
Love the jerseys...hate the pants!!!.....White pants look much better...but great win!! Capitol One Bowl reps were there to watch SC...bet we changed their minds....we will win out and go 8-4 like I said we would during fall camp and have a Jan 1 bowl game....only getting better and better!!
vols615 writes:
LOOK, THE BLACK UNIFORMS WERE AWESOME NO LIE. BUT I LIKE THE ONE TIME THING, WE CANT BREAK TRADITION HERE BECAUSE THE TRADITIONALISTS YOU SAY ARE TEH DONORS, THEY GIVE MONEY. I MEAN THEY DONT WANT TO SEE IT ALOT. I LIKE IT BUT COMEON ON WE ARE ORANGE AND WHITE, NOT ORANGE WHITE AND BLACK.... YA IT WAS COOL I WAS IN FAVOR FOR EM BUT ID RATHER SEE THE BLACK FOR SPECIAL OCCASSION ONLY NOT A REGULAR
IwillalwaysbeaVOLunteer writes:
The black jerseys were AWESOME. I am a traditionalist and the jerseys were AWESOME. We should never wear them again. But they were AWESOME.
ClassicVol writes:
Ok we saw them. That's enough for me. Time for the moth balls.
FlyFishingVol writes:
OK, it was kinda fun and hip for one game. It sure beats the orange jersey on orange pants look. BUT PLEASE STAY MOSTLY TRADITIONAL.
ut102969 writes:
ABSOLUTLEY LOVED THE BLACK!! Need to bring them out once in a while for big games. I will most defintley buy one.
Great game but Please do something in the kicking game, esp field goals, these blocked kicked are unexcusable.
This team should only have 1 loss or could even be undefeated right now. Not bad seeing how no one excpected us to be in a bowl game or have a winng record. I know the season isn't over but UT shouldn't lose again which would be 8-4 great turn around. Awesome job from Hamilton to Kiffin and staff and the players. They are ready every saturday, GO BIG ORANGE AND KEEP THE BLACK AROUND!!!
phillyvol writes:
Which would be roughly once every seven years or so.
shulessjo writes:
The best part of black was the "surprise introduction" of the jersey in the tunnel. Cool. Remember/ it was 21-0 before you could get comfortable on the couch. "Black" did its thing. Welcome back to Tennessee Coach Spurrier.
I did miss names on the back, but I understand why they weren't there. We are still the BIG ORANGE.
chestnutglade writes:
This is good item for a poll. I didn't like the black.There are other teams ,in the S E C,with black in their colors.Change the T to another letter.If you want to see the numbers better put black border around the numbers.Next are we going to have blue so we can look like another S E C team to the north ?
creekroad writes:
Totally agree....effective one time...awesome one time and loved the win, but they were ugly and hopefully NEVER again.
eutefan writes:
Black is very bad psycologically. If you notice, large women always use black in their wardrobe to make themselves look smaller. Same goes for football jersies.... makes a player look smaller and gives opponents a feeling of superiority. It didn't go that way last night, thank goodness, but the danger is there.
txvolsfan writes:
Agreed, it was cool seeing them ready to run through the T with them on.
Great game
TXVOLSFAN
1BigOrangeVol writes:
Maybe so. Then they get smacked in the mouth and that "feeling of superiority" kinda goes away. You fail to mention what black may do FOR the team wearing it. Go Vols!
UrbanCryer writes:
I guess the Pittsburgh Steelers didn't get the memo. I'll be getting my BLACK UT jersey as soon as I get to Knoxvegas next Friday. GBO
Mtnbiker writes:
Originally I didn't want the Black jersey's, but I have to admit they looked awesome. However, how awesome would they have looked had the score been reversed?
Besides this is the first game ever that we matched Smokey.
rubbervol writes:
Id buy one.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
i thought it was a great look-------anything but orange/orange as they warmed up in-------i like the white/white
joshvols writes:
with all the injuries to our linebackers, what are the chances we will see either chris donald or jerod askew? havent heard much about either one in awile
vol_4_fan writes:
the black was ok for a 1 time deal....but there is a reason we say GO BIG ORANGE!!
Couchdummy writes:
Black jerseys were a good look! Personally, I like the black, with orange being used only as a trim color. Minimizing the orange to only be a trim color would really coordinate better to phase in solid white helmet and black pants! That would get my vote for a permanent uniform change. That would preserve some bit of orange for the older traditionalist fans who are adverse to any change.
TommyJack writes:
Of course you would. That was the idea, methinks.
kindawarped writes:
What would have been really sweet would be to run out of the tunnel in Orange and then right before kickoff the Orange be tear offs and switch to black!
muhtaL writes:
Mr. Hamilton, I'll take an Black #14 please (or #11 for the future)
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
Agree! I laughed when they came out of the tunnel, and they definitely had their mojo going on! But I did miss the names a lot. It's my guess that it either would have taken too long to do it (since they just did them this past week), or that they didn't want to spend the extra $ for a one time thing. But I was bummed about not having names. (Yeh, wish I had all the numbers memorized, but don't.)
CT_VOL writes:
What's the downside in making the black jerseys a Halloween night tradition?
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Might not even be that often. We might have an away game that night(;-P)! Although I suppose it's not impossible that we might wear them at an away game sometime, too. I would not like for them to be a regular thing in any case.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I'm with you. It was a great look ONE time. I also hate the orange/orange and like the white/white. I'm still enough of a traditionalist to prefer either white over orange or orange over white as the usual thing. I WOULD be annoyed if we ever went to any other color but white for the helmets, but I would find a way to get over it unlike SOME of the tantrum-throwers posting on the subject.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Three other things could have impacted that as well. First, there is the economy. If you haven't noticed, both Tennessee and South Carolina have double-digit unemployment right now; not only are people out of work, the ones who have jobs are being more careful about how they spend their discretionary income.
Second, it was Halloween night. Lots of fans have kids who like to trick-or-treat, or they may all be involved in kids' Halloween parties at their churches and community organizations.
Finally, there was the I-40 rock-slide that just happened this past week. Having made that trip many times, I see LOTS of UT and SC flags on that route, and the new route adds an extra hour each way from the Carolinas, a significant factor for a night game for any fans who didn't want to stay over--see my first reason, above.
I certainly agree that the team deserves all the support we fans can give it, but I rather doubt many teams are setting attendance records this year--again, see the first reason.
LiveFaith writes:
Black helmets would have pushed it over the top. I loved this, but the white helmets just looked hideous in contrast. Way to go Vols!!!!
TommyJack writes:
White helmets would have been smoothed out if we had worn white pants.
TNPilgrim writes:
Orange helmets would have been a much better look, but Hamilton probably didn't want to spring for the extra money. Maybe next year they can refine the look with some more contemporary trim on the uniforms. Hamilton is kidding himself if he thinks we won't see the black jerseys again - the players like them, the fans like them, and I'll bet anything the basketball team will show up in black this year too. For that matter, the baseball team has already been wearing black so we need to get used to it. And while we're at it, let's get rid of all orange at home and the all white road uniforms once and for all - they're the most boring road outfits this side of Penn State.
newtonrail writes:
At the game, they looked like Halloween costumes. We have had " Halloween" unis before during my Soph. year in 1964. That was when Jim McDonald was Interim coach and we ran 1/2 Single Wing and 1/2 T formation. Uni's were trimmed in black in different places with predominant color still orange. This one time deal OK, but as much as I love Lane Kiffin and what he's doing, he's got to get past his Raider black. I'm not in love with our orange color either, but until the Orange and White colors are voted out, we have it. Get rid of it, and no BIG ORANGE. The million plus homes accessorized in orange will all have to be destroyed, and on and on.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Yeah, that's the ticket! It was CLK's heart-warming associations with the Raiders that caused him to besmirch UT's traditions(;-P)! Why WOULDN'T he want to relive those precious memories every day? Now, I understand all(;-D)!
volguy1 writes:
Black jerseys were ok, being a traditionalist, I prefer the orange. But If wearing black is something to be done on the rare occasion, I think the black jersey's would have looked better with the same white helmet and white pants with 2 thin black stripes bordering a thick orange stripe in between. Or 2 equal size stripes, 1 orange and the other black ... just my opinion!
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