Is this just because they are quarterbacks and the coaches don’t want them to get hit, or is it a sign of things to come? We don’t know yet, but the spring game provided an interesting surprise for Tennessee football going forward.
All three Vols quarterbacks in UT’s Orange and White game came out in the Smokey Grey uniforms from the Butch Jones era. They only were wearing the jerseys and not the pants, but it is still an interesting storyline.
Rock Top hasn’t worn these jerseys since Jones was head coach, but they wore them at least once a year from 2013 to 2017. Nobody else for Tennessee football wore them. Here’s what the quarterbacks looked like on the field.
Smokey Grey uniforms return for Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/lDkoy3p0UN
— Dan Harralson (@danharralson) April 24, 2021
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The last time the Vols wore their Smokey Greys was 2017, when they fell 41-0 at home to the Georgia Bulldogs. That sparked a four-game losing streak and a five-in-six-game skid that cost Jones his job in the end.
In five games wearing the uniforms, the Vols went 2-3. However, they were 2-1 after the switch to Nike, and their only win over the Florida Gators the past 16 years did come with them wearing the uniforms, so it may be some good luck.
Jeremy Pruitt dismantled the Smokey Greys, seemingly to mold the program more like what Nick Saban built with the Alabama Crimson Tide, and that was a welcome addition at the time. However, he did hint at wearing black jerseys heading into last year, and had he stayed on, those would have been worn this year.
It does seem as if there’s more fun going on with Josh Heupel running the program. Does this mean these uniforms will be worn at some point this year? Given the fact that the quarterbacks weren’t allowed to be touched in the game, it’s highly possible this was just worn because they were quarterbacks and for no other reason.
There’s an obvious answer to how Tennessee football should handle its uniform combinations. The Vols should wear the Smokey Greys once a year. Also, they should be guaranteed a night home game every Saturday before or on Halloween, and they should wear black jerseys in those games. That’s the best way for everybody to have fun with their jerseys.