Saturday, August 21, 2010

University of Tennessee Volunteers Football Uniform and Team History


University of Tennessee Uniform History

1. This document was created by Scott Sillcox to provide information about:
- the uniform images depicted in poster shown above
- the particular players whose uniforms are shown in the poster
- some history of Tennessee football
- the University of Tennessee’s football stadium
- the University of Tennessee football team in general

2. Please note that all of the actual original, one-of-a-kind artwork of the University of Tennessee football uniforms as seen in the poster above are actually available for sale. These watercolor paintings are truly beautiful, original watercolor paintings, and there are only 13 of them so please act quickly if you would like to buy one. These would make a wonderfully memorable, beautiful and completely unique gift for someone who loves Tennessee football.

If you would like more information about this great artwork including the three ways you could purchase each piece, please visit our Tennessee YouTube video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6AC6P-e16w or go directly to the artwork website www.heritagesportsart.com/Tennessee-Volunteers-c92/ where you can see and purchase the artwork.

3. For more information on Tennessee football, you may want to visit these great websites:

The official University of Tennessee football team site can be found at:
http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/tenn-m-footbl-body.html

The following website offers an excellent summary page of University of Tennessee football, including a summary of Conference Championships; National Championships; Bowl Games; Coaches; Selected individual player records:
http://www.nationalchamps.net/NCAA/database/tennessee_database.htm

For further information and a view of Tennessee's football stadium:
http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/SEC/Tennessee/index.htm
Note: this site is also a good resource for additional past & present NCAA stadiums.

4. Description and history of the uniforms depicted in the University of Tennessee poster:


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1892
This painting honors the second season of University of Tennessee football. The 1892 team went 2-5 and played their home opener on the new “Curry Field”. The colors of orange and white were chosen by Charles Moore, a member of the 1891 team, and were later approved by a student body vote. The color was supposedly from the colors of the American Daisies which grew on The Hill, the home of most of the classrooms at the university at the time.


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1903
The 1903 team, coached by H. F. Fisher, had only 14 players yet still managed to win 4 while losing 5.

Here is what our friends at Wikipedia have to say about Coach HF Fisher.


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1914
The 1914 team, coached by Zora Clevenger, was the finest University of Tennessee team to date, winning all 9 games they played and outscoring opponents 374 to 37. Home games were played on old Wait Field in front of crowds of 2000+.

Here is what our friends at Wikipedia have to say about Zora Clevenger.


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1925
The 1925 team, captained by J. G. Lowe and coached by M. B. Banks, went 5-2-1. Home games were now being played on Shields-Watkins Field on 15th street (now Phillip Fulmer Way).


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1938
#37 was worn by All-American end Bowden Wyatt who led the team to a perfect 11-0 season. The team was coached by the larger than life General Robert Reese Neyland, who was by now in his 11th year as head coach. Neyland left Tennessee for the armed forces for all of the 1941-45 seasons, yet still coached the team for a total of 21 seasons.

Here is what our friends at Wikipedia have to say about Bowden Wyatt.

Bowden Wyatt was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as a player and as a coach.

This fun story about Bowden Wyatt's high school years as a football player was sent to me by a Volunteer fan.
"Roane County High School (Kingston, Tennessee) was given a cornfield to be their football gridiron. So, having little money to support the sport, the corn crib that remained was used as the 'change house' and lockers were spikes driven in high logs all around. The players would leave their sweaty uniforms and leather helmets hung on these spikes, and they'd maybe get taken home to get washed sometime or other. As weather turned cold, these stinky, sweaty, muddy, bloody, uniforms and helmets would freeze overnight. Because of the heavy logs of the corn crib they wouldn't thaw out before practice. So, there were days when the worst thing about playing football was having to put on those frozen pants, jerseys, and leather helmets that had come off the spikes and were able to stand on their own from the frost in them. It must have made those players tough. 1935 was Bowden Wyatt's and my dad's senior year in high school and their team went un-scored on. Four young men went on to star in college football from that team."

Great stuff!


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1942
The 1942 team was coached by John Barnhill and went 9-1-1. #62 is in honor of Clyde “Ig” Fuson, who was killed in WW II in December 1944 and whose number is now retired. Tennessee did not field a team in 1943, but resumed play in 1944.

Here is what UT has to say about Clyde Fuson.


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1951
The 1951 Tennessee squad is the stuff of legend and was Tennessee’s first outright National Championship team. Coached by General Bob Neyland in his next-to-last season, the team went 10-1 – the lone loss being to Maryland in the 1952 Sugar Bowl. #27 was worn by All-American tailback/halfback Hank Lauricella who finished 2nd in Heisman balloting.

Here is what our friends at Wikipedia have to say about Hank Lauricella.

Hank Lauricella was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Here is a summary of Hank Lauricella's NFL career.


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1967
The 1967 team won the SEC Championship outright with a perfect 6-0 record (9-2 overall). The team was coached by Doug Dickey and captained by two time All-American Bob Johnson. #75 honors all-SEC offensive tackle John Boynton.

Here is what our friends at Wikipedia have to say about the 1967 team.

Here is a summary of John Boynton's NFL career.


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1971
This 1971 jersey honors #7 Condrege Holloway who actually starred at Tennessee from 1972-74. The 1971 squad was coached by 2nd year coach Bill Battle, who was only 28 when he became head coach, and went a nifty 10-2 (as they did again in 1972). The 1972 season saw the first night game at Neyland Stadium, a 28-21 victory over Tennessee Volunteers.

Here is what our friends at Wikipedia have to say about Condrege Holloway.

Condrege Holloway was elected to the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame after a great 13 year career in the CFL.


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1983
The 1983 team, coached by Johnny Majors, went 9-3. Tennessee was captained by #92 Reggie White, an All-American tackle and legend in his own time – White went on to a multi-year all-star career in the NFL, but his reputation was sealed during his collegiate days.

Here is what our friends at Wikipedia have to say about Reggie White.

Reggie White was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Here is a summary of Reggie White's NFL career.


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1989
The 1989 squad was co-Champion of the SEC, going 6-1 in league play and 11-1 overall including a 31-27 win over Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl. Johnny Majors, in his 13th of 16 seasons, was head coach. The team was captained by All-American offensive guard Eric Still. #79 honors Eric Still who played all 4 years 1986-1989.

Here is what UT has to say about Eric Still.


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1995
#16 honors the legend, Peyton Manning, who as a sophomore in 1995 led the team to an 11-1 record. As many fans can recite from memory, Manning won 39 of the 45 games he started and finished his career as Tennessee's all-time leading passer with 11,201 yards and 89 touchdowns. The coach of the 1995 squad was alum, and former player, Phillip Fulmer.

Here is what our friends at Wikipedia have to say about Peyton Manning.

Peyton Manning has not yet been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Here is a summary of Peyton Manning's remarkable NFL career.


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1998
The 1998 squad did something no other Tennessee team had done, going 13-0 in a single season. In doing so, the team laid undisputed claim to the National Championship - their first in 47 years - beating Florida State 23-16 in the Fiesta Bowl. #37 honors wide receiver Peerless Price whose catching heroics helped lead Tennessee to the Championship.

Here is what our friends at Wikipedia have to say about Peerless Price.

Here is a summary of Peerless Price's NFL career.


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2007
The 2007 team played a record 15 games, going 11-4, including a four-overtime victory 52-50 over Kentucky in Lexington. #86 honors senior and 6’8” 270 lb tight end Brad Cottam who was selected in the 3rd round of the 2008 NFL draft. The 2007 team was coached by 16th year coach Phillip Fulmer.

Here is what our friends at Wikipedia have to say about Brad Cottam.

Here is a summary of Brad Cottam's NFL career.


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Celebrate the University of Tennessee Volunteers football uniform history by owning a piece of history:

If you love Tennessee and the history of Tennessee Vols football, you might really love to own an original piece of artwork celebrating the team's historic uniforms as seen in the poster at the top of this blog - you can actually own one of those original pieces of art! There are only 13 pieces of original art available for sale, and when these 13 are sold, that's it, they're all sold out.

These original watercolor paintings would make a great gift (birthday gift, anniversary gift, retirement gift, Christmas gift, etc.) for someone you love or even a great gift for yourself (one of these framed pieces would look fantastic in your home or office). Each piece can be bought one of three ways:
1. As unframed art that you could have framed or mounted yourself (the one on the left)
2. Framed in our "Classic" framed version (the middle version)
3. Framed in our "Deluxe" framed version (the version on the right)



If you would like more information about this great artwork including the three ways you could purchase each piece, please visit our University of Tennessee YouTube video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6AC6P-e16w or go directly to the artwork website www.heritagesportsart.com/Tennessee-Volunteers-c92/ where you can see and purchase the artwork.

And if someone you know loves the history of sports uniforms (but maybe another team) and loves great art, please let them know that we have over 1500 pieces of great original artwork for sale at www.heritagesportsart.com (all NFL teams, all MLB teams, all NHL teams, all CFL teams, select NCAA football teams) or check out each team's video at the Heritage Sports Art YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/user/ssillcox

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This blog was written by Scott Sillcox and was last updated August 21, 2010. I have tried to ensure the accuracy of the information, but I am human and can make mistakes. If you believe I have made a mistake, please let me know by email at ssillcox@rogers.com !
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Thank you for taking the time to add a comment - all input is welcome, especially the constructive kind! All the best - Scott