Black Uniform Debate Rages On

It didn't take long for the reviews to start coming in when the Vols showed up at Neyland Stadium in their black jerseys.

Just after the Vols kicked-off against South Carolina, my phone went-off with an email from a viewer:

Just turned on the UT v. South Carolina game. What's up with the black jerseys? UT colors are ORANGE AND WHITE!!! Is Kiffin trying to change our colors? If so, the students, faculty, alumnia (sic) and fans need to let him know that this is not acceptable. If he doesn't like our colors, he should never have accepted the job. GO BIG ORANGE!!!

There have been more emails, and tweets-- both supporting and denouncing the move.

Personally, I thought the jersey debut was anticlimatic.

I'd been talking about black uniforms as far back as before the Alabama game when a viewer emailed me an altered picture of what it might look like. In the press box on Saturday, I was humorously accused of campaigning for black uniforms. Not true, although one campaigner did try to make me the unofficial treasurer of the effort.

I have no firm opinion on the black jerseys-- I don't hate them and I don't love them. 

Actually, I find it funnier the Vols are actually about 10 years behind the curve on this whole black uniform thing. They've almost become passe.

But don't underestimate the passion of Tennessee traditionalists.

I have a good friend who is an East Tennessee native and a life-long UT fan. I know for a fact he was among the fans rumored to have walked out on the Vols Saturday night-- he told me he didn't watch the game on TV either.

Last year, Vols fans were walking out because the team was just downright bad. This year, some fans walked out because tradition was broken-- proving, win or lose, it's never dull covering UT football-- or being a UT fan.