University of Tennessee Athletics
Inside The T - Orange Blazer Magic
February 13, 2015 | Men's Basketball
By Brian Rice
UTSports.com
There was magic in the air Wednesday night in Nashville.
But it was not the "Memorial Magic" that fans of a school to the west claim hits often this time of year. It was much brighter. I'm going to call it "Orange Blazer Magic."
I'm a longtime fan of the orange blazer. Ray Mears made it famous, and did so mostly while antagonizing Vanderbilt. The legendary Volunteer coach would often parade around the court at Memorial before games, accompanied by a group of orange blazer-clad body guards.
Don DeVoe never wore an orange blazer, in deference to Mears. Every Vol coach since has worn one at one time or another, some more famously than others.
Donnie Tyndall wore the orange blazer for the first time Wednesday night and never appeared more comfortable. Then, the magic happened.
The situation was familiar, perhaps a bit too much so. After a hard-fought, back-and-forth battle, a couple of late possessions had not gone the Vols' way. With 15 seconds left on the clock, UT was down by five following a free throw from Vanderbilt's Luke Kornet and the jeers from the opposing crowd had begun in earnest.
But another familiar theme came up for Tennessee: The fight to never quit as long as there is time on the clock.
So it came as no surprise when Kevin Punter nailed a three to cut the deficit to a pair moments later. Another 1 for 2 trip to the line for the Commodores gave UT more life.
Up three, VU wisely fouled Josh Richardson with 6 seconds to go. He calmly hit both free throws to cut the lead to a single point. A foul, another missed Commodore free throw, a made free throw, then a timeout. 30 seconds in a huddle with the orange blazer-clad Tyndall, who furiously drew up plays for the defensive alignments that he anticipated his team seeing.
Robert Hubbs III saw a hole in that defense and needed every second left to take the ball to the hoop to tie the game as time expired.
The Volunteers made the overtime period theirs to get the road win, 76-73. But it was the final 15 seconds of regulation that were the defining moments, particularly with the way some of the previous rallies at the end of games have gone for UT. That is, just a little short.
"We've been on the other side of games like that in the last couple of weeks, and again I know I am repeating myself, but we are very fortunate to win this game," Tyndall said afterward.
But the message, spoke or otherwise has been very clear from this basketball team and their leader. The Volunteers are never out of a game and fans should never leave early. 15 seconds left down five? Regardless of the ultimate result, Tyndall's team will make those 15 seconds worth your time. And now that they have broken through and completed one of those comebacks, you can count of more following.
Maybe it was magic in the attire. Donnie Tyndall wore the orange blazer like it was made for him on Wednesday night. As he walked off the court victorious, he had the look of someone that just belonged in it. It is not just a jacket, just like the win over Vanderbilt was not just some other game.
"I am very proud to be the coach at Tennessee and to continue the tradition that Coach Mears started, who is the best coach in the history of our program and all the great things he did for Tennessee basketball," Tyndall said of the jacket. "It is very humbling for me, and it is a tradition that I will certainly carry on."
Whether it was the wardrobe, the location or just the execution of a special group of players, there was magic for Tennessee basketball this week. And if the style they used to create it is any indication, there is much more magic to come.
