KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Vol football players will don special jerseys on Saturday to honor Condredge Holloway, the first Black quarterback to start in the SEC.
The home opener against Austin Peay marks 51 years to the day of Holloway's first start at the University of Tennessee. He was the Vols quarterback from 1972 to 1974.
Holloway, known as the "Artful Dodger," was also UT's first Black baseball player. He played shortstop and was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.
Tennessee announced last year that a new partnership with Nike would bring a different Smokey Grey uniform design each season beginning in 2023 and continuing through at least 2025.
"When we arrived on Rocky Top, one of our primary goals was to honor our storied tradition with a modern twist. This year’s Smokey Grey uniform does just that; it pays homage to a Tennessee legend and the first African-American quarterback in the SEC, Condredge Holloway, but is a modern look for our current student-athletes," Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Danny White said. "I can’t wait to see our team run through the T on Sept. 9 in the home opener in the Smokey Grey uniform, on the 51st anniversary of Condredge’s first start as a Vol."
The game kicks off in Neyland Stadium at 5 p.m.