Orange and white have been the official colors of the University of Tennessee almost from the inception of football here in 1891. They were "selected by Charles Moore, a member of the first football team in 1891 [and] later approved by a student body vote." It is true, however, that we did not get around to employing orange as the primary color for football jerseys until "the season-opening game in 1922. Coach M.B. Banks' Vols won that game over Emory and Henry by a score of 50-0" (
UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Fans).