'A unique opportunity': What Josh Heupel said about Tennessee's new uniform honoring Condredge Holloway
Tennessee football is taking advantage of “a unique opportunity” on Saturday by wearing an alternate uniform that pays homage legendary quarterback Condredge Holloway. They Vols will wear a new version of their Smokey Grey alternate uniform against Austin Peay.
“Saturday is a unique opportunity, celebrating a 51-year anniversary of Condredge Holloway, the first Black quarterback in this league,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said during his weekly press conference on Monday.
“Pretty special opportunity to honor a great legacy, somebody that had meant so much through who he is, his character, how he handled himself here and post-playing career as well. The legacy that he’s left behind.”
Holloway started on September 9, 1972 in a win at Georgia Tech, becoming the first Black quarterback to start a game in the SEC. The Vols announced the new look in his honor on social media on Monday morning.
Up Next: Tennessee vs. Austin Peay, Saturday, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Tennessee last year introduced the Smokey Grey Series, brining back the alternate uniform after it had not been worn between 2018 and 2021. The series was announced as a four-year deal, starting last season, with a new version of the alternate uniform for each season.
The ‘Artful Dodger’ version in honor of Holloway is the first alteration of the Smokey Grey look.
The new version has orange around the neck and shoulders of the jersey, a silver facemark with a thinner orange helmet stripe and two orange stripes on the pants, all from the Tennessee uniform worn during the Holloway era. There’s also a new white trim around the orange jersey numbers to go with the Smokey Grey pants and helmet.
“I think it means a lot, especially as a Black student-athlete,” Tennessee receiver Bru McCoy said on Monday. “I feel you get to look back and see the first Black quarterback to play at Tennessee and it’s nice to see here in 2023, we’re commending something that happened such a long time ago. It means a lot.”
Condredge Holloway accounted for more than 4,000 total yards during four seasons with the Vols
Holloway, a native of Huntsville, Ala., played three seasons at Tennessee, from 1972 to 1974, passed for 3,102 yards and 18 touchdowns. He ran 351 times for 966 yards and nine more touchdowns on the ground, giving him 4,608 total yards and 27 total touchdowns as he starred for the Vols.
He passed for 1,149 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games in 1973 and 1,146 yards and five touchdowns in 1974. He made his debut in 1972, throwing for 807 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed for 266 yards and three touchdowns in 1972, 433 yards and four touchdowns in 1973 and 267 yards and two touchdowns in 1974.
Holloway went on to play 13 seasons in the Canadian football League, passing for 25,193 yards and 155 touchdowns and rushing for 3,167 yards and 13 touchdowns.
“Like all the guys that have statues and are honored outside of our stadium, it’s an awesome way to honor their legacy,” Heupel said. “Smokey Greys will be worn in the pattern similar to the uniform that (Holloway) wore while he was here. Smokeys are something that our players are get excited about and hopefully our fan base does too.”
