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UVA Men's Basketball: The Journey Back to Orange Uniforms

2024-12-17

While University of Virginia men’s basketball fans have long held a special place in their hearts for the success of the program’s all-time winningest coach, there has been a persistent sentiment among certain sections of supporters. They have often expressed their discontent with the absence of a particular school color in the Cavaliers’ uniforms during the Tony Bennett era. Equipment manager Matt Althoff has been acutely aware of these cries, as he would regularly post photos of the team’s jerseys on social media before road trips, only to receive the same response time and time again. “It’s usually the first response,” Althoff said. “‘Get rid of those blues. Where is the orange? When’s TB going to bring out the orange? Are we ever going to bring them back?’” A narrative had taken hold: Bennett must have a deep-seated aversion to orange.

Wednesday Night's Revelation

However, on Wednesday night, for their 11th game in the post-Bennett era, the Wahoos, now under the guidance of interim head coach Ron Sanchez, donned orange uniforms for the first time in 14 years. This momentous occasion took place as they hosted the University of Memphis at John Paul Jones Arena. It was a sight that had been long awaited by fans and a significant step in the team’s uniform evolution.

The Legacy of Orange

Our strongest memories are often intertwined with the senses. When we think of Virginia, the colors orange and blue come to mind. Basketball announcers have witnessed the Virginia Cavaliers’ victories and the beauty of sports has left a lasting legacy. The connection between the color, the jersey, and the university is what defines us – it is our brand.The timing of this reintroduction of orange uniforms is actually a coincidence. Bennett, in fact, gave his approval to these uniforms long before his retirement in October. They are a quasi-throwback to the Ralph Sampson and Wally Walker eras of Virginia basketball. Last month, the Hoos debuted an alternate white uniform with a vintage script “Cavaliers” across the chest, and the orange set was part of a larger long-term project involving Bennett, Althoff, Virginia Athletics administrators, and the University’s communications office.

Bennett's Past Experience

Bennett truly never disliked orange. Typical of a superstitious coach, he was scarred by the Cavaliers’ most recent performance in the color. On Feb. 28, 2010, during his first season at UVA, the team suffered a 67-49 loss at home to Duke University. That game left a bad taste in his mouth, and he was reluctant to go back to wearing orange. Despite subtle prods from his players, assistant coaches, and fans during his radio call-in show, Bennett remained steadfast in his decision. Since March 1, 2010, his Cavaliers had stuck to a traditional white uniform at home and a blue uniform on the road.There was even a third (non-orange) option that almost saw the light of day. An alternate blue jersey with a large V-Sabre logo replacing “Virginia” across the chest was set to be worn for the Hoos’ game at Wake Forest University on Jan. 26, 2016. However, at the last minute, Bennett decided against it. UVA went on to win that game thanks to a furious rally and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Darius Thompson.“I’ve always thought had we worn those (and the game played out exactly like it did),” Althoff said, “there would have been a mystique with that uniform, and he always would have wanted to wear them.” But for a long time, the Virginia men’s basketball team remained one of the few programs on Grounds without at least a third uniform option.Now, with the addition of the orange uniforms, the team has four options to choose from. Althoff said Bennett was sold on the new uniforms, particularly the orange set, as it pays tribute to the program’s rich history.“It was a big part of the push, for sure,” Althoff said. “Like, ‘Coach, this isn’t just something we want to do. This is something the University and everybody wants to get behind. We hear the fans. We hear what the people want – they want orange.’”After some back and forth on design, with Althoff saying they tinkered with a patriotic jersey for the season opener against Campbell University on Veteran’s Day, the two new uniforms were finally approved and ordered in the summer. Tyler Jones, UVA’s deputy athletics director for external operations, remembers Bennett approaching him at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Hardie Football Operations Center and confirming his commitment.“I think he was most excited about the orange and what it meant and its reverence for the past,” Jones said. “And I think he kind of was getting a sense of the narrative and was excited to debunk that a little bit. He pulled me to the side, and was like, ‘I’m all in on the orange alternate.’”