KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — During homecoming week, The University of Tennessee Libraries looked back at the history of the school's mascot.
"The costumed human who portrays the Vols’ beloved canine mascot at sports events has undergone many makeovers over the years," UT Libraries said.
Smokey was voted in as the school's mascot at a football game in 1953.
"So, it started from the students, and then eventually became official. Now, it's this larger-than-life mascot that travels all over campus and visits with different groups," UT Archivist Alesha Shumar said.
In the 1960s, the earliest Smokey costumes were homemade tan jumpsuits.
According to UT Libraries, the first modern Smokey debuted in 1988 with a more professionally produced costume that resembled the Bluetick Coonhound breed.
To learn more about the history of the mascot, visit the UT Libraries website.