Vols T logoMinor. Subtle. A tweak here and there.
That’s how the University of Tennessee is describing the small alterations to this year’s Big Orange football uniforms.
And maybe they are. Adding a patch in the shape of the Volunteer State above the players’ names on the back of the jerseys and placing a checkerboard background behind the orange numbers on road unis don’t exactly sound like major overhauls.
But much like surgery and hangovers, minor is what happens to the other guy. Within a tradition-rich Southeastern Conference where at least three schools — Alabama, Auburn and LSU — haven’t made a significant uniform change in more than 50 years, just how tightly should fans cling to their proud pasts regarding their favorite team’s work clothes?
Does dressing for success in the SEC mean remaining frozen in time? Do unis unite or divide? And what about this post from “Olddogsrule” on a UT message board: “Actually, for any given year, whatever makes the players feel confident and they want to wear. It’s their team! Not ours.”