Does Anyone Remember Tear Away Jerseys

#1

westsidevol

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#1
I was watching a game on ESPN classic in the mid 70s. It got me thinking about the old tear away jerseys the Vols used to wear in the mid 70s. They were cool. They would come down over the shoulder pad but would leave a good bit of the stomach exposed, maybe 3-4 inches above the belt line for the backs and WR. When a player had the jersey grabbed it would just rip away and they would basically be running in shoulder pads.

Now that would be a retro look !
 
#2
#2
I remember those. The bad thing about the tear aways - once the jersey was torn the player had to go to the side line for another jersey. RBs would be in for one play, out the next play getting a new jersey. :unsure:
 
#3
#3
yeah, I guess that is why they became old news. I remember Kelsey Finch always seemed to be going to the sideline for a new jersey. My man Jimmy Streater was another who wore the tear away.
 
#4
#4
That's vintage Tennessee football. I love watching those highlight videos where a player is sprinting down the sideline with his jesery half hanging off.
 
#7
#7
They were outlawed by the NCAA. Essentially they were cheap t-shirts without hems to allow unraveling.
 
#9
#9
yeah, I guess that is why they became old news. I remember Kelsey Finch always seemed to be going to the sideline for a new jersey. My man Jimmy Streater was another who wore the tear away.
Or they would run a substitute in with a new jersey. The officials wouldn't require a new jersey unless the number was gone.

That was back in the days when Jimmy Hoffa ran the numbers in New Jersey. :crazy:
 
#10
#10
I used to sneek down to the basement of Stokley after the games where the equipment managers would throw away the torn jerseys. I came away with some pretty great backyard football uniforms for me and my buddies. Got a #7 that was in good shape after one game but I was not smart enough to put it away instead of wearing it in the next pick-up game.
 
#11
#11
Some teams wore them when I played in high school. Our coach told the defensive players to tear up as many as we could in the pile after the play was over so that they would have to go out for a play to get a new jersey.
 
#12
#12
I hated them. I thought they looked very cheap and the idea behind them was sort of "bush league" imo. In the end they didn't really help us win anything.
 
#13
#13
I hated them. I thought they looked very cheap and the idea behind them was sort of "bush league" imo. In the end they didn't really help us win anything.

Alot of guys felt the same way holding a handful of Stanley Morgans jersey in their hands while he left them standing there.
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#14
#14
Oh my gosh-I constantly remember seeing Stanley Morgan's jersey hanging along with Kelsey Finch. Jimmy Streator scrambled so much his was always hanging. I love watching those highlights. I also remember seeing Anthony Hancock's always in shreds.
 
#15
#15
I definitely remember them. Nothing was worse than grabbing one and realizing all you had was a shirt :(
 
#16
#16
You can thank The General

General Robert Reese Neyland

  • INNOVATIONS
  • The Quarterback position (as it is used today)
  • The balanced line Single Wing offense
  • In-depth scouting/recruiting reports
  • State-wide radio network
  • Press box spotters
  • Sideline telephones
  • Low-cut shoes
  • Lightweight pads
  • Tear-away jerseys
:good!:
 
#18
#18
Seems like I remember they had the extras stacked up on a folding table on the sidelines.
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