KNOXVILLE — University of Tennessee football is rich in tradition and Vols Wire will explore the program by examining each head coach’s tenure at UT.
This installment will focus on the Tennessee football program from 1921-25 when M.B. Banks was the head coach.
Banks, who played football, basketball and baseball at Syracuse, ushered in a new era for Tennessee football when he arrived on Rocky Top in 1921.
It was that year, the Volunteers joined the Southern Conference and they remained there until 1932.
Also, the Vols wore orange jerseys for the first time. Tennessee donned what would become their trademark color for the first time on Sept. 24. In that game the Vols defeated Emory and Henry, 27-0. It was also the first game played at Shields-Watkins Field.
The Vols went 6-2-1 in Banks’ first season, beating Maryville, Chattanooga, Florida, Sewanee and Mississippi A&M.
Banks, a quarterback at Syracuse, compiled a 27-15-3 record at Tennessee, where he also coached basketball and baseball.