Black jerseys Halloween treat for team and fans

Black jerseys Halloween treat for team and fans

By WHITNEY HOLMES
6 News Anchor/Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- While many people are still talking about the Vols' victory over South Carolina Saturday night, what the Vols wore is just as hot as a topic.

After much speculation, the Vols ran out on the field in black jerseys Halloween night. 

This, after athletic director, Mike Hamilton, refuted earlier in the week the black jersey rumor.

And love or hate the new jerseys, Hamilton says don't get used to it.

Tennessee colors will always be orange and white. The jerseys were just a treat for the team on Halloween.

"I liked them. They were a little different," said UT fan Tony Chase.

"I thought they looked very good. They looked pretty intimidating and it kind of said ‘Happy Halloween South Carolina," added UT senior Mary Ann Chipkevich.

Some of the fans even wonder if the new jerseys had something to do with the Vols' big win over the Gamecocks.

"I thought the jerseys were awesome when they came out. I think they made us play better too actually," said UT sophomore Brandon Cobb.

"They looked good at there last night. If it because of the jerseys, if we are going to be superstitious about it, I definitely think the jerseys should be worn more," said UT junior Laura Gouge.

"Maybe it was a little bit of an edge. It got them excited. Got them off to a good start at the beginning of the ball game," speculated fan Bob Chipkevich.

But not everyone is a fan.

Black jerseys haven't been worn since 1921 and some say don't mess with tradition.

"The jerseys were a little confusing to me. When I first clicked on the game I had a little bit of trouble figuring out who was who," said Gary Dishmon. "Tennessee is the big orange. You wear orange or white jerseys."

The team wearing black jerseys had been rumored for a while and the answer was always no but that changed when team captains Montario Hardesty and Eric Berry asked Wednesday for the jerseys.

That's when covert operation ‘black jersey' began.

"Our equipment manager was able to say 'Hey I might be able to pull this off,'" explained Hamilton. "It is a local company and so we had these jerseys produced locally over a period of about 48 hours in secret."

The final decision wasn't made until Friday after the colors were given the seal of approval.

While some fans say they liked to see the black jerseys on the field every once and a while, it'll be back to orange and white next Saturday for the match-up with the Memphis Tigers.

Hamilton says as far as he is concerned it is a one time deal.

The black jerseys were made by local manufacturer, SM Athletics.  The company is not licensed to sell these jerseys so they will not be available for purchase.

UT athletics officials talked about auctioning the jerseys off for charity but NCAA rules prevent them from doing this.