[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 35 (Friday, February 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   TRIBUTE TO UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

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                             HON. ED BRYANT

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 24, 1995
  Mr. BRYANT of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, the University of Tennessee 
celebrated its bicentennial last year. For 200 years this excellent 
institution has provided a quality education to Tennesseans and to 
people from around the Nation and the world. The history of the 
university is tied to the history of my State and I would like to 
submit for the Record an article by Mr. Harold C. Streibich which 
illustrates how this flagship institution is rooted in the rich history 
of Tennessee.
                  [From the Daily News, Aug. 18, 1994]

             On UT's Colors: The Legend of Orange and White

                        (By Harold C. Streibich)

       Over the years, particularly during football season, people 
     wonder, ``Where did the University of Tennessee get the 
     colors of orange and white?''
       Now, there are many tales of how and why UT selected orange 
     and white, from the color of mountain daisies to stories 
     involving General Neyland's choosing them for a promotional 
     package, but you must hear the whole story of the orange and 
     white. So let's start at the beginning:
       On July 12, 1690, William of Orange, husband of Mary 
     Stuart, defeated Ex-King James II at the Boyne River in 
     Northern Island, and established the right of William and 
     Mary to the British throne. James had his ``Green'' Catholic 
     Irish, and William had a conglomerate bunch of mercenaries 
     and the Dutch Blue Guard, who wore orange and white cockades 
     in honor of William. Since that time, the Protestant Irish 
     have worn orange whereas the Catholic Irish have worn green.
       The next chapter takes place when the ``over-the-mountain'' 
     men of Western Carolina (today's East Tennessee) were proud 
     to be Protestant or Scotch Irish and wanted everyone to know 
     it. When they march out to help defend North Carolina proper 
     during the American Revolution at the battles of King's 
     Mountain and Cowpens under Uncle Dan'l Morgan and General 
     Issac Shelby (for whom Shelby County, Tennessee is named), 
     the only uniform part of their apparel was an orange and 
     white cockade. This untrained group of militiamen gained fame 
     for their value in holding the battle line, and being 
     excellent sharp-shooters.
       After the Revolution and statehood, the orange and white 
     cockade became a part of the tradition of the now Tennessee 
     militia, which fought the Indians at Moccasin Bend (Sam 
     Houston fought as a young Lieutenant and was wounded there) 
     and other places throughout Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.
       Later when Major General Andrew Jackson left to defend New 
     Orleans, the only way you could tell the difference between 
     the Kentucky and Tennessee militia was that the boys from 
     Tennessee wore their orange and white cockades.
       Next came a man by the name of Davy Crockett who with 23 
     Tennesseans rode into the Alamo wearing their orange and 
     white. After the Alamo fell, the rally cry of ``Remember the 
     Alamo'' was used by Sam Houston and his boys in their charge 
     of Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. They also wore 
     their orange and white cockades.
       During the Mexican War so many men volunteered from the 
     State of Tennessee that it is remembered as ``the Volunteer 
     State,'' and Tennessee Volunteer Regiments colors were orange 
     and white.
       When the Civil War came, Tennessee regiments of both the 
     Federal and Confederate armies honored the tradition of 
     orange and white to such an extent that when people saw the 
     colors, they just knew it was a Tennessee outfit. It just so 
     happened that this was not true. A Confederate regiment 
     fighting in Northwest Tennessee were very proud of their 
     orange and white colors, but they were Texans under General 
     Hood, and Texas Rangers to boot.
       Now when the University of Tennessee took the nickname 
     ``Volunteers,'' it only goes to reason that the colors would 
     be orange and white.
       What about Texas? The University of Texas also had colors 
     of orange and white, which were the same as the Tennessee 
     colors until Coach Darrell Royal changed them to ``burnt 
     orange and white,'' colors which are still used today. 
     University of Texas and the University of Tennessee even have 
     agreement on the use of the ``UT,'' the colors and 
     trademarks.
       So, this Fall, when the UT Band is playing ``The Spirit of 
     the Hill'' and 90,000 fans are screaming for the success of 
     the Tennessee football team, I wonder how many will know the 
     history of the colors and remember that they were also worn 
     at Kings' Mountain, Moccasin Bend, New Orleans, the Alamo, 
     San Jacinto, Shiloh and Missionary Ridge. The boys for ``the 
     hill'' again wear orange and white in remembrance of the 
     volunteers of old.
     

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