Why Not Wear Black Jerseys For All Big Games?

 When I first heard that Tennessee might hit the field against South Carolina in black jerseys, my first thought was, why would they want to wear black jerseys? The more I thought about it, the more I didn’t like the idea.  

Then as the Vols were ready to take the field, I heard Neyland as loud as I’ve heard it all year and I saw the excitement that it generated, and it didn’t bother me that the Vols came out in black.  

As many of you have, I have heard a lot of talk recently about the black jerseys that Tennessee wore in their game against South Carolina. The airwaves were filled with opinions and ideas for several days following the game, and if you were to take a poll of the people that took time to call in, I guess the verdict would have been about 50/50 on the issue. 

There were people who called themselves “traditionalist” who said there is no place for black jerseys in UT athletics, and some said a one time deal was all right with them.  

Most of the people I’ve talked too even the so called traditionalist, did not mind the black jerseys as long as it is a one shot deal. The problem is I don’t think that this is a one shot deal.  

Mike Hamilton, UT Athletic Director Mike Hamilton has been against the idea of black jerseys since it was apparently first brought up last year.

There has been talk that players actually went to Hamilton last year requesting an opportunity to wear the black jerseys.  It was not until this year when Monterio Hardesty and Eric Berry requested the jerseys for a Halloween night game against South Carolina did Hamilton give in on the issue and allow the Vols to wear black.  

Personally, I thought the black jerseys looked pretty good considering the fact that the UT equipment manager only had 2 ½ days to come up with the new look. From the sidelines I thought it looked good, and when I watched the replay on TV I thought they looked even better.  

The new fashion statement notwithstanding, I don’t want to see the black jerseys again unless it is for another unique, special occasion. You can’t be called “The Big Orange” if you wear black jerseys.  

There has been debate over the years as to what looks best. Johnny Majors un-veiled orange pants for the first time on October 15, 1977 against Alabama at Legion Field.

I didn’t get to see them until I watched the Johnny Majors show the next day, but as a seven year old, I loved them.  

What I have really liked over the years most of all has been the consistency of the Tennessee uniform and its traditions.

There have very few changes made to the overall look to the UT football uniform, but occasionally there has been a change. Aug, 1990, the black shoes were un-veiled at the Disneyland Pigskin Classic in Anaheim. The Vols would tie eventual national champion Colorado.

The black shoes have remained and still look just as good today as they did then.  One other subtle uniform change went as quickly as it came.

The blue outline of the numbers was first seen in 1987 against the California Bears. That look last long enough to make the trip to Birmingham that year, but following the Vols loss to the Tide, those jerseys were retired.

 Personally, I do not like blue outline on anything Tennessee.  So, as a traditionalist my answer to my own question is this: Why not black jersey’s at Tennessee?

Because Tennessee’s colors are orange and white, not black and white, not even orange, black and white.  

Save the black for a special occasion every five years or so, but otherwise let’s continue to be a university that holds to its traditions.

Tennessee is a school rich in history and tradition. There is nothing wrong with creating new traditions, but I don’t believe that any should be instituted at the expense of long standing traditions that have made UT one of the most recognizable universities in the country.