The Tennessee football program will introduce three new Smokey Grey uniform variants over the next three seasons as part of a continued deal with Nike to boost the Vols’ amount of uniform combinations.
The Vols brought back the original Smokey Grey design this past season but will bring out three new versions of the jersey from 2023 to 2025 and potentially beyond.
“Tennessee Athletics in partnership with Nike will unveil a new Smokey Grey uniform design each season beginning in 2023 and continuing through at least 2025,” the U.T. Athletics departed stated in a press release last August. “The concepts will honor the past, celebrate the present and embrace the future of Tennessee football.”
On Sunday night, the Vol Scoops account on Twitter posted a picture of a brand-new Smokey Grey jersey being sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods. It’s unclear whether the Knoxville Dick’s Sporting Goods is the location being referred to, but the city does possess the “House of Sport” mega-complex attached to West Town Mall.
It’s important to note: The jersey in the picture below is unconfirmed for the upcoming football season.
On one hand, the leak from Dick’s Sporting Goods could be real. On the other hand, though, these uniforms could just be a playful design that is not to be worn on the field, something like the checkerboard shoulder jerseys that sometimes pop up from fans at games and in stores.
Found in Dicks Sporting Goods 🤯
How would y’all feel about Smokey Grey Throwbacks? 🍊 pic.twitter.com/FlGbfUuHIs
— Vol Scoops (@VolScoops) July 24, 2023
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The interesting note about this specific jersey variant is that it seems to be off the tree of the Tennessee 1971-1973 uniform line. The road jerseys, in that span, featured a primarily white jersey combination with a thick orange top that spans the shoulders and the collarbone. The new variant from Sunday does look awfully similar with the Smokey Grey color replacing the white.
Many NFL teams are bringing out new throwback uniforms this season, including the state’s own Tennessee Titans. Could the Tennessee Volunteers be looking to do the same with a take on the early 70s uniforms?
Tennessee did wear the Smokey Grey uniforms on the road last season while defeating LSU in Baton Rouge. The Vols dominated the Tigers en route to a 40-13 game in October.
The jerseys created plenty of Sunday night commotion on the Tennessee side of Twitter. Many fans expressed their dislike of the jerseys, but some pointed to a pairing with the newly-released orange helmets that could make for a sharp and new look on the field.
Again, it is important to note that the Smokey Grey jersey in the picture above is unconfirmed for the upcoming football season.
Could it be true? Maybe. Could it be a hoax? Sure.
We’ll just have to wait for the football season to see.
Likely wearing their traditional orange and white, Tennessee will host Virginia in Nashville’s Nissan Stadium to kick off the season on Saturday, Sept. 2.
4 Responses
Never wear the orange helmets again.
The Vols had an amazing run last season they are definitely going to be in the top five in the SEC may be even ranked in the top ten… good luck this season but I’m always purple and gold Geaux Tigers of LSU!!!!
They need to burn the smoky grays uniforms, our colors are Orange and White!
That was a bad idea from that goofy Butch Jones, time to move on from that era.
So what was wrong with my comment??