Traditions

Colors

UT's school colors, orange and white, were chosen by Charles Moore, president of the athletic association in 1889. According to Moore, he chose the colors after the orange and white daisies he saw growing on the Hill; it is possible that Moore was color blind, however, since no daisies of such colors are known to exist.

Mascots

The Volunteers get their name from one of Tennessee's most popular nicknames, “the Volunteer State.” The nickname derives from the overwhelming number of Tennessee citizens volunteering for military service in past wars.

Smokey, a bluetick coonhound, was instated as the official live UT mascot in 1953. The school chose a hound because the breed is native to Tennessee, and according to the UT Web site, the dog's “small stature and loud baying represent a unique combination.”