Kit Morris, Nike Director of College Sports Marketing

"When I first came to Nike, we had the good fortune of working with the Volunteers, and I was quite proud to do so. And for the last 17 years, it's been kind of tough. We have a great portfolio of partner schools, but there's been a missing ingredient. And bringing the University of Tennessee back into the Nike family is, for me, the fulfillment of a long-held dream."

Todd Van Horne, Nike VP/Creative Director for Football & Baseball

(on approaching the project of partnering with Tennessee)
"Every project is unique and different. There are no two that are the same. The fun part about that process is discovering what traditions and stories lie behind those traditions. When you're hearing those things, and you hear someone else articulate the power of those, you're respecting that tradition. But then, if you can tell that story in a new way... if you start to look at how that checkerboard stripe is articulated on the football uniform, or this notion of the `One Tennessee' and the new logo that has the checkerboard within it, representing the full state. All of that is respecting that tradition but bringing it forwarding a capsulated way where people can know who it is right off the bat, instantaneously (know) what it means, and gives them pride. That's a really great part about the whole process."

(on the Tennessee football uniform)
"Everything starts with performance first. Nike's latest performance innovation for the world of football. We call it our Mach Speed Uniform System. We designed it inside and out, four-way stretch material so there's no grab points for opponents. (It has) full range of motion--lightweight, breathable--you name it. This is 40 years of innovation brought to this moment for us."

"You'll notice that the base layer system works in conjunction with the uniform itself. So the pants and the jersey all works together; that's why we call it a system. So there's nothing to be pulled apart, and it works together for pure performance for these athletes. We're really excited about that."

(on the aesthetics of the uniforms)
"The first thing we did was nail the perfect Tennessee orange. We had to get the orange right. You combine that with a little bit of the modern aesthetics, so it's a very clean, modern uniform. (We incorporated) a couple of storytelling mechanisms with the checkerboard through the leg and on through the back of the helmet stripe, and you've got that perfect blend of performance, innovation and history--respecting that past with a modern leaning toward the future. Innovation and inspiration. That's what you'll see in all the Tennessee uniforms today."

(on the Tennessee orange)
"(The uniforms are) very loud and proud with the Tennessee orange. We wanted to make sure that was just right. Then you'll notice some other details about the number font itself and the way that works in conjunction with the new Tennessee font. (The font is) really leaning together, it's about the state of Tennessee--all about One Tennessee. We're bringing all these elements together, and that's what creates a great uniform."

(On the Smokey Grey helmet)
"If you notice, this is a silhouette of the Smoky Mountains, so you see that played into the helmet. You hear the players just talk about the symbolism, that power, that emotion and to be able to put the grays on and play in it in the Smoky Mountains is just a powerful statement about innovation and inspiration."

(On why Nike chose Smokey grey)
"This is part of being unique. This is a big part about being Tennessee. We are about the greys, the Smoky Mountains. You play into those greys, you get something that no one else can play into. No one else can have this kind of look in this kind of uniform and this kind of helmet."

(On the addition of a Smokey Grey helmet)
"Big reaction from the kids. Again, this is a special game uniform. You pull this out, it gives them a pump. It gives them that edge when they need it, and that's what a special uniform is about. You play that in with a unique story for Tennessee, and you have something that no one else has. "

(On his favorite part of creating the new Tennessee look)
"I think the favorite part was getting the right orange. Across the board, getting the right orange and getting consistent. We heard that time and time again from the athletes to the coaches to the fan base. Get us the right orange and stay consistent with it. I think we got that. I'm really proud of that. It's going to be on fire, looking like sunshine on the field."

(on the design of the Tennessee baseball and softball uniforms)
"We call this the Nike Hypercool Uniform System. You notice the engineering through there. It's all about lightweight performance, keeping the athletes ventilated and cool, and all about range of motions. You see that with the materials, the gusset, everything that's designed into it. It's all about the performance of the players. Keep them cooler, lighter, feeling good, feeling good, feeling good, play good."

"It's all about that full range of motion, and you talk to the players, they really feel it. They can get the full stretch and full range as they extend, as well as the ventilation. That's what you really see in some of these back panels that layer into this system as far as the base layers, the sliders they're wearing, and it's a complete system that works together."

Dave Hart, Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics

(on the long awaited arrival of July 1)
"It gives me goosebumps, because we are a student-athlete centered athletics program... We're very, very excited. You see the passion of our fan base on full display again today at our Vol Shops. You see the excitement of our alumni. But the group that I'm most excited for are these young men and women who represent us in competition, in the classroom, in community service. I'm excited for them today."

(on what the Nike partnership means for the Tennessee athletic department)
"It takes us to another level, in my opinion, because we are now partnered with the best there is in the branding industry. In terms of branding and marketing, nobody does it better--in any facet of the business world--than Nike does. I've had the pleasure and the privilege of being at Nike schools in the past, so I know what it's going to mean to us."

(on Nike's ability to help Tennessee student-athletes promote their own personal brand)
"The fans react to, and the passion is drawn from, the competitive aspect of what we do. But we have an obligation that reaches far beyond that with these young men and women, to help them be better people, better students, and prepare them to follow their dreams in whatever they've chosen to do with the curriculum of study that they're pursuing. That's not lip service. That's who we are, and that's what we're about."

(on what the transition to Nike has been like behind the scenes)
"We're blessed in that we have very talented people around us. This studio we're in today, the Ray & Lucy Hand Digital Studio, has been a learning laboratory for students in our communications studies program. It has enabled them to grow and learn. The people who do what we do here from the video perspective are the best in the business. It's been gratifying to watch it all come together. And to Nike's credit, we were on a shorter timetable than the norm. Normally for a roll out of this magnitude, you'd want at least two years, and we have turned this--in conjunction with Nike--in about 16 to 18 months. So it's been a little bit nerve-wracking at times. `Are we going to make it? Do we have everything in order?' But again, when you have high-quality people surrounding you, it gives you a lot of comfort that things are going to be handled in a first-class manner. And we've hit every deadline, and Nike has hit every deadline as we've gone through this process."

Butch Jones, Football Coach

"It speaks volumes that a company or organization such as Nike would come to us at the University of Tennessee and want to be our provider and be in partnership with us. That speaks volumes. When Nike speaks, everybody listens, and we're proud to be great partners with them moving forward."

(on what the Nike partnership means to Tennessee)
"It is a very exciting time. You talk about the global brand of Nike partnering with the global brand of the Tennessee Vols, and it's a perfect fit. And I know our players, they're all very excited. Our prospective recruits are very excited. And our fan base as well, as all of Vol nation has been waiting anxiously for this day and we're finally here."

(on how the Nike partnership impacts recruiting)
"Well I know (recruits) have all been anxious to watch the show today. And it's another illustration of what we're doing here at the University of Tennessee--not just in football, but our entire athletic department. Anytime you can partner with a brand like Nike that's global, that everyone knows, it's the best, it's innovative, it's technology. And with everywhere we want to go as a football program and athletic department, this makes perfect sense. It's a great fit."

(on his favorite part of the build up to the July 1 transition)
"I think (it has been) the overall anticipation. Just the anticipation of seeing things come in, seeing the product come in, but also the anticipation of our players and our fan base for this day to get here. I think it speaks volumes about Nike, but also again about where we're headed."

(on Nike staying true to the history and tradition of the University of Tennessee)
"That's one of the things we wanted to do, to make sure we were innovative, that we stayed up with the times. But we really respect the great tradition that we have here at Tennessee. The Nike research and development and design team did a tremendous job of really looking into our traditions, our values, our ideals that we have here and incorporating those into our uniforms."

Curt Maggitt, Football Player

(on his favorite part of the new Nike uniform)
"Really the jersey, it's real comfortable. The jersey and the pants are the most important part, really. The cleats as well. The whole uniform. It's cool."

(on the buzz within the team leading up to the switch to Nike)
"Oh there was definitely energy. Coming into those last workouts, you heard guys saying, `We've only got two more workouts until we get to Nike." So there's been a lot of positive energy around."

Joshua Dobbs, Football Player

(on running through the `T' at Neyland Stadium wearing Nike)
"It's awesome. I remember the first time I saw it, there was a lot of hype behind it. People were saying we were getting a new Smokey Grey and everything, so the first time I saw it, I was amazed. It's gorgeous. I can't wait to represent the `T' wearing the uniform. I know our fans will definitely be excited to see it and the other players will definitely be very excited to see it."

(on what it means to be a part of the Nike Family)
"It's awesome and it's amazing. Growing up, I always rocked Nike, so being able to go back and wear Nike, represent Nike and have Nike represent this university, it means a lot."

Jalen Hurd, Football Player

(on his anticipation of wearing Nike gear and uniforms)
"I feel privileged. Just to be a part of the first team and everyone to wear Nike, it's awesome. It's very special."

(on the added hype that Nike's presence will bring this fall)
"It's going to be insane, just to see the reaction of all the Vol fans with the Nike gear. The first home game and all the hype around this year, it's going to be special."

Michael Smith, Nike Basketball Senior Product Line Manager

(on creating the Tennessee basketball uniforms)
"This is one of those processes that when we saw the uniform designs and concepts, it just felt perfect from the start. One of the main things the Tennessee folks will see is the way we have painted some of the branding into the uniform. The back of these uniforms will both represents what we call an aerographic, which is a way for us to weave the identity of the uniform into the technology of the uniform. Tennessee is pretty simple, it's the Power T on the men's uniform with the new `One Tennessee' mark above the player's number. It's a simple, bold statement that I think people will love to see once it hits the lights of the court.

"On the women's side, the addition of the Lady Vols mark and the specifics of that uniform and that aerographic will feel similar, but yet show the identity of each program independently.

"The last thing that we've put on this, a special version of the Smokey Grey mountains, a cool representation of an alternate uniform as a special nod to some of the early historical Tennessee teams from 1908, 1909, which there are probably not many people around that remember those teams, but a neat historical tie to some of those teams."

Holly Warlick, Women's Basketball Coach

(On Tennessee's transition to Nike)
"There's no way I can catch up to all of the Nike apparel and shoes that some of our players have. When you say, `We're going to Nike.', all of a sudden their whole mood changes. Nike, welcome to Tennessee. We're so excited that you're with us."

Bashaara Graves, Women's Basketball Player

(On her childhood memories wearing Nike)
"To me, Nike means swag. I love Nike's running shoes, basketball shoes, the Hyperdunks, the Shox. Thinking about that again and playing in those Nike basketball shoes makes me smile."

(One Tennessee's transition to Nike)
"Knowing that I go to the University of Tennessee and I get to wear Nike all the time, it got me excited."

(One what it means to represent UT wearing Nike)
"It means a lot. I grew up wearing Nike and to end my senior season wearing Nike, it's wonderful."

(On which jersey she likes the most)
"It definitely has to be the grey. Smokey Grey is just something different, and I can't wait to wear it."

Andraya Carter, Women's Basketball Player

(On her childhood memories wearing Nike)
"My dad always got me the coolest Nike shoes, even when I was a baby. I could be in a dingy T-shirt or a dingy onesie but I would have the freshest Nikes on. I had messy hair, and I kind of looked crazy, but my shoes looked good. That is the one thing I could always talk about how I was fresh when I was younger.

(On what it means to have Nike at Tennessee)
"Finally, that's the one thing that nobody can have against us. We are a Nike school."

Rick Barnes, Men's Basketball Coach

(on what it means to be a Nike school)
"When you talk about Nike, you talk about the brand. But I think more than anything, with as long as I've been with Nike, it's the family. It really is a Nike family. I'm really excited because the players are excited. From the time that I got here, we've talked about Nike. They simply couldn't wait."

(on the Nike family)
"I'm excited to still be a part of Nike because I've met so many wonderful people that what they do is make it wonderful for the athletes. It's a great thing for the University of Tennessee to be a part of the Nike family."

(on his reaction to the Nike unveiling)
"It's time to go. They said the wait is over, it's time to get to the operating room."

Kevin Punter, Men's Basketball Player

(on his first impression of the Nike uniform)
"The comfort. It's really comfortable and light. You just feel good to go out there and win the game."

(on the impact of Nike on Tennessee)
"All the little kids out there want to wear Nike, so for us to go out there and put points on the board (wearing Nike gear), it's going to be really good for us."

Rainey Gaffin, Softball Player

(on the first time she saw the Nike uniform)
"I was speechless, to be honest. It looks gorgeous, it was awesome, I was ready to put it on and start the season."

(on her favorite version of the new uniforms)
"The Smokey Grey is pretty good looking. I would have to say that would be my favorite."

Brittany Lindl, Women's Tennis Player

"For me, Nike means confidence. You go out there and you're feeling good, and you feel like you're put together and going to perform better."

Kyle Serrano, Baseball Player

"Nike, to me, mean comfort. On top of that, swagger, too."

Cameron Brown, Men's Track Athlete

"Whenever you're thinking about track & field, you're thinking about Nike. Now that Tennessee's going to Nike, you think about being the pinnacle, at the top of track and field, and Tennessee's going to be right there. Nike helped us, pushed us to get there."

Travis Lamp, Nike Global Merchandising Manager

(on merchandise opportunities for fans)
"We really tried to look at performance, which you would expect from Nike, and how that meets what the fan wants and expects from a lifestyle lens."

Jimmy Delaney, Tennessee Assistant Athletics Director -- Sales & Marketing

(on the business boost of partnering with Nike)
"This is huge. When you think about it, it's a complete overhaul. Our fans have been used to one brand for quite some time. And now, we're switching to Nike, and (our fans are) hungry. And within Collegiate Licensing Company--CLC--we are the No. 4 Nike school, and we just launched. We're already No. 4 in terms of Nike gear, in terms of Nike pre-books."

(on the overhauled Vol Shop)
"It's not your average team store. It is a completely gutted, rebranded Nike concept shop with nothing but Tennessee apparel in it."