Costumed Smokey Smokey (mascot)

the original smokey costume

the costumed version of smokey made debut in 1980s. until late 1980s, costume designed cartoon-like orange , white dog. version of smokey drink orange juice out of bottle cool down, because of color of drink.

tennessee attempted create more realistic looking hound costume in 1982, end result panned students , iteration of smokey retired. orange smokey reigned until 1988, when university tried once more redesign smokey. smokey s new, more realistic garnered mixed reactions volunteer fanbase, redesign became fan favorite , remains face of tennessee athletics day. costumed smokey s body black, leading occasional misidentification more familiar black , tan coonhound. however, white blaze firmly identifies him bluetick coonhound. typically wears tennessee jersey bearing number 00 .

in 2006, smokey made quarterfinals of capital 1 mascot challenge, making several appearances in capital 1 commercials. perennial favorite when competes in national mascot competitions, , inducted mascot hall of fame in 2008.

smokey joined female counterpart appears @ women s athletic events. joined @ events six-year-old little brother, junior smokey, serves kiddie mascot. junior typically wears jersey number 1/2 on it. in 2015, junior smokey named mascot of year @ world dog awards in los angeles.