Tennessee’s alternate Smokey Gray uniforms have been divisive among fans. Some Vol fans like the alternate uniforms (especially the helmets) while others want a return to “tradition” and for them to be done away with.
Well those traditionalists will be happy to learn that new head coach Jeremy Pruitt apparently shares their sentiment.
According to Chris Low of ESPN, Pruitt told him that the Vols won’t be wearing the Smokey Gray uniforms while he’s head coach of the Vols. Pruitt wants to return to just the orange and white at Tennessee.
The traditionalists in the Tennessee fan base will be happy. Jeremy Pruitt told me the Vols won’t be breaking out the alternate “Smokey Gray” uniforms while he’s the coach. He said they would wear orange and white.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) February 8, 2018
Tennessee first brought out the Smokey Gray look in Butch Jones’ first season as head coach in 2013. The Vols wore those alternates against Georgia and Vanderbilt in 2013, but Tennessee didn’t wear them in 2014 under their final year of an apparel agreement with Adidas.
In 2015, Tennessee moved from Adidas to Nike, and with that move came the birth of a new Smokey Gray uniform. The new Nike Smokey Gray was worn four times (Georgia 2015, Florida 2016, Music City Bowl 2016, Georgia 2017).
All in all, the Vols were 3-3 in the Smokey Gray uniforms under both Adidas and Nike. Tennessee’s Smokey Gray helmets were up for nomination for best helmet design back in January of 2017.
Pruitt didn’t add whether or not Tennessee will wear an all-orange look or use any throwbacks for the upcoming season. We will provide any updates on that front as they come out.
