KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The University of Tennessee has a new Smokey Grey uniform for the 2025 football season.
The “Volunteer Spirit” Smokey Grey Series Uniform was created to honor the United States Armed Forces and pays tribute to Tennessee native Davy Crockett. The team will suit up in the new uniform on November 15 when they host New Mexico State for the annual Salute to Service game, which honors service members, veterans and their families.For centuries, Volunteers have answered the call on the front lines to protect our freedom. Crockett and over 30 Tennesseans made a heroic last stand at the Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836. ‘The Davy Stripe,’ a modern take on Crockett’s famous, fringed uniform in grey, flanks the orange center stripe of the helmet and is prominently displayed on the sleeves of the jersey,” wrote UT in a release.The university worked with the Tennessee Military Department, the 134th Air Refueling Wing in East Tennessee and the Tennessee National Guard to bring the uniform to life. The two-tone jersey and pants combination aims to resemble the look of steel forged from military artillery. The stencil numbers on the front, back, and shoulders of the jersey and the back of the helmet were inspired by military standard font.One of the unique pieces of the project was the conception of a ‘Volunteer Spirit’ Tennessee Tri-Star logo as an homage to the 134th Air Refueling Wing. The creative team brought all of the elements to life during a content shoot in May thanks to the service members at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base,” wrote UT in a release.This uniform also marks the return of the “Star Vols” logo for the first time since the turn of the century. The military-inspired patch can be found on the front of the pants and the front helmet bumper
This is the fourth Smokey Grey uniform created as part of UT’s partnership with Nike. The team first donned the new Smokey Grey uniforms on October 8, 2022, to face LSU. It was the first time Tennessee wore this uniform style since 2017. Other Smokey Grey uniforms include the “Artful Dodger” Smokey Grey uniform, which honored a Vol legend, Condredge Holloway, who played for the Vols from 1971 to 1974.
