The men’s swimming team tradition of wearing coonskin caps began in 1971 and evokes the legendary service of Davy Crockett at the Alamo. Head Coach Ray Bussard had taken his undefeated team to Dallas, Texas, to meet undefeated Southern Methodist. Prior to leaving the locker room to meet a hostile crowd in excess of two thousand, Bussard explained the debt Texans owed Tennessee, opened a box of coonskin caps, and distributed them to the team. Adequately inspired, the Vols went out and handed SMU their first home loss since 1960. Now the coonskin cap is worn by UT teams that earn the right by performing in a manner worthy of being called a team.
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