An Era Ends On Rocky Top

Perhaps calling it the end of an era is presumptive, but there’s no doubt a fashion revolution happened in Knoxville on Monday.

Ok, maybe that is a bit overzealous. But on Monday, for the first time that I can remember since Butch Jones came to Tennessee, he went sans the top button of his polo.

#FashionUpdate... No #RiseToTheTopButton for @UTCoachJones today in a #SmokeyGray polo pic.twitter.com/mHC9MiRixW
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) October 13, 2014

Of course Jones might decide to go back to the top button.

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But for today, I applaud him. I’m pretty certain the inventor of the polo shirt never intended for the top button to be utilized (that claim is totally unfounded, but I stand by it).

It should be noted, however, that Jones’ players apparently didn’t follow suit with their coach. Linebackers Jalen Reeves-Maybin and A.J. Johnson were united in their efforts to #Risetothetopbutton on Monday.

. @Finally_Maybin and @aj_thebeast_45 had a little fun at todays press conference pic.twitter.com/81q4i1eqIj
— Vol Photos (@Vol_Photos) October 13, 2014

And before you say it doesn’t matter whether or not Butch Jones buttons his top button, I offer you this: Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason appears to be the only other coach in the SEC that has a penchant for buttoning the top button.

Take that for what it’s worth (which admittedly isn’t much).

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