re: Let me ask you something Bama fans

From Govolsxtra about the whole jersey ordeal.

"The cover of the Oct. 30, 1967, issue of Sports Illustrated depicts an airborne collision between a crimson-clad Alabama player and a Volunteer in an orange jersey.

Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin wanted to turn back the clock Saturday but Alabama wouldn’t let him.

Kiffin and UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said Monday that Alabama denied Tennessee’s request to wear orange jerseys against the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa.

“We tried,’’ Kiffin said. “Talking with some people in the offseason about the history here and both teams wearing the home jersey, I thought that would be something really neat for our fans and for their fans, too.

“We were approved by the SEC and Alabama denies us that.’’

A rule enacted in the late 1960s required that the visiting team wear white jerseys to provide contrast for viewers of black-and-white TV sets. A few schools, including LSU, choose to wear white at home so the visitor has to wear a colored jersey.

However, in February the NCAA football rules committee enacted a loophole (Rule 1-4-3-a).

The visitor may wear a colored jersey as long it contrasts with the home team’s jersey. However, both the home team’s conference and the home team must approve.

UT’s request included the opportunity for Alabama to wear crimson next year in Neyland Stadium.

The SEC granted permission but Alabama did not.

Asked if Alabama gave a reason for the denial, Kiffin said no.

Mal Moore, Alabama athletic director, issued a statement Monday night in response to the Mobile Press-Register:

“Mike (Hamilton) and I had a good conversation this morning and I told him that it is our desire to maintain the custom of the visiting team wearing their visiting jerseys. We’ll continue to wear our white jerseys when we visit Knoxville next year.’’

Last year, UCLA (light blue) and Southern Cal (cardinal) agreed to wear their colored jerseys in a UCLA home game.

Southern Cal was penalized one time-out for not wearing white. UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel then burned a time-out to even the scales.

The new rule for 2009 stiffens the penalty. If the visiting wears a colored jersey without permission it will be penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct following the kickoff of each half.

“We’re not good enough to do that,’’ Kiffin said. “The last thing we want to do is kick off 15 yards back.’’

The Vols no doubt would have enjoyed wearing orange on the road. Perhaps Alabama didn’t want to give UT any inspirational edge.

“We could wear pink and I’d still go down there ready to go,’’ said senior Wes Brown, an Alabama native.

“This game is special to me. But wearing the orange jersey is special and if you could do it in a great rivalry like this, that’d be very special.’’

I would like to see both teams wear their home jerseys like the old tradition because I've never seen it before but I'm not gonna get all bent out of shape about it.

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Auburn was never banned from having their little walk. In fact, they had it. Or did you not pay any attention?

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Uh, I was THERE...they did not have the usual walk. Not even CLOSE. The buses pulled all the way down to the gates of the stadium.

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The usual walk being what?

Also, why is it that the only defense Bama fans seem to be able to muster with respect to this issue relates entirely to the Tennessee/Auburn situation?

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Honestly just the fact that Kiffin and some Vols fans are bitching about it makes it worth the rejection. I really don't care if you wear your home or away uniforms. However I do think it's pretty funny that your coach and your fans are complaining about a tradition that has been broken for 40 years.

People bring up the Auburn situation because Kiffin is acting like he's "Mr. I Love Tradition" however he didn't mind when they were squashing Auburn's real tradition with BS safety concerns.

The uniform thing is a dead tradition. You've never worn orange in BDS. That is a tradition. Saban is going with tradition.

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Because its almost a carbon copy of that situation, involving Tennessee's denial of a program's request for a team-focused morale boost.

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I take it, then, that you support Tennessee's decision to deny Auburn the Tiger Walk?

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Honestly just the fact that Kiffin and some Vols fans are bitching about it makes it worth the rejection.

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Kiffin isn't bitching about it. I think there is a level of disappointment among Tennessee fans and even some Alabama fans about this, though. I'm hardly angry with Alabama, I'm just disappointed. I thought this would look really cool and make the game feel even more special.

If Alabama wants to wear crimson in Knoxville next year I hope UT says yes.

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Like I said at the time, "you're at their stadium, you do what they say you can do."

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And I agree. Alabama is obviously well within their right. They made their decision. I'm just disappointed because I think it's fairly petty.

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And I agree. Alabama is obviously well within their right. They made their decision. I'm just disappointed because I think it's fairly petty

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Thats the rub. Hard to reconcile your opinion considering the "safety issues" that derailed Auburn's Tiger Walk...

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1) The uniform thing is a dead tradition.
2) There is an NCAA rule that has to do with the uniforms.

Alabama rejected a request based on current rules of the game. It's a dead tradition so I don't really care.

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Then why did Alabama lead Tennessee to believe back in the summer they would comply with the modifications in the jersey rule ?

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Then why did Alabama lead Tennessee to believe back in the summer they would comply with the modifications in the jersey rule ?

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or Moore and or Saban is just being a jackass.

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Well,at least someone finally answered . It was like talking to the short bus passengers with the "old rule" and "Tiger Walk" answers.