Lots of Tennessee apparel, with the color pink adding a nice touch, will be on sale Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
photo by Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Fans will notice a different trim on the Tennessee football apparel Saturday as the Volunteers host Tennessee-Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium in the team’s first meeting since 1969.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and as part of the effort, the Vols will wear pink accessories on the field and on the sidelines to help raise awareness for breast cancer.
The accessories arrived in the equipment room on Wednesday, ready to be distributed to players for Saturday's homecoming date with the Mocs.
"It means a lot," quarterback Justin Worley said of being able to show his support on the field. "There are always people out there going through that struggle of breast cancer. For us to be able to promote awareness for that on a national scale is awesome."
As they did a season ago against South Carolina, the team will wear pink socks, gloves and wristbands along with the usual orange and white.
For Jalen Reeves-Maybin, he'll be able to add pink shoelaces to his cleats, which are typically the only pair of shoes that he wears without them. The sophomore lost his grandmother to breast cancer during his junior year of high school, making the team's gesture all the more meaningful
"Everything I do, I dedicate to her," Reeves-Maybin said. "I wear pink every day. Every pair of shoes I have, I put pink shoelaces in them. I won't wear shoes without them, except on the field."
Tennessee's coaches and staff will also have pink accessories on the sidelines including hats, visors and towels. It is a gesture that defensive coordinator John Jancek is proud to be able to make.
"I think it's very important," Jancek said. "Breast cancer touches a lot of lives across the country. I know we have members of the team and organization at the University of Tennessee that have been affected by breast cancer. I personally have friends whose wives have battled through breast cancer or are in recovery. I think it's important to give back when you can."
Giving back was the theme of the day, the pink just another simple way that Tennessee football can support members of Vol Nation and beyond.
"It's good for us to realize the bigger picture that people are fighting, struggling more than we are," Reeves-Maybin said. "We realized that we're blessed and able to fight for someone else."
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)