Two mannequins - one sporting an all-white jersey and one clad in navy blue tops and bottoms - ushered in the final piece of a new era for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football program Tuesday afternoon.
The Mocs unveiled their new Adidas uniforms, which will be on full display in their season opener against nationally ranked Ohio Valley Conference favorite Jacksonville State on Sept. 5. The change from Russell Athletic, which already had taken place in every sport other than football and volleyball, is a big step up for the UTC athletic program.
There are only some slight changes from the previous gear, the biggest of which is an optional undershirt with "Chattanooga" wrapped around. There is a bolder, darker stripe on the helmets now, and the word "Chattanooga" is also much more prevalent on the center of the jersey.
There's been a buzz surrounding the new football look since the announcement about the change was made last year, and the coaches have used the change in their recruiting.
UTC is the fifth school in the Southern Conference to go with Adidas, joining The Citadel, Mercer, Western Carolina and Wofford. Furman, Samford and East Tennessee State - which begins league play in 2016 - wear Nike, while Virginia Military Institute is the lone Under Armour school.
"If the players are excited about it, I'm excited about it, and I know the players are excited about it," UTC coach Russ Huesman said. "It doesn't affect me one way or another - if affects me how we play - but everything is about the players, and there's no question about that. If it's not about the players, you're not doing it the right way.
"The Adidas brand goes a long way in recruiting. If the players like it, and like how it feels and looks, then you've hit a home run."
Initial reports from the players suggest that they like how the new threads look. Many popped their heads into the media room Tuesday to catch a glimpse of the jerseys, with a seemingly overwhelming approval rate.
"I'm excited. They look real good," linebacker A.J. Hampton said. "They're make us all feel confident, and if you look good, you'll feel good and you'll play well. It's not going to change how we play, but it could give us a boost, a motivation. We're going to enjoy wearing the new uniforms, for sure.
"We hope to represent them well, and I'm glad that as a senior I get to wear them. It's a good way to go out."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.