Players asked Hamilton for black jerseys

Photo by Adam Brimer

Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton (8) hands the ball off to running back Montario Hardesty (2) at Neyland Stadium Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.

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).

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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