meet The Big Orange tux guy

It Started With a Tux...And Became So Much More.

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Gameday Quotes

  • ★★★★★
    “Who in the world is leading the team on the field, I have never seen that mascot before, looks like we are trying something new, and why not, it’s the national title game”
    John Ward
  • ★★★★★
    “I am J.R. Greene, the Big Orange Tux Guy. I’m here to show the world Tennessee has class!”
    J.R. Greene, BOTG

The Book

Not just for Vols fans, My Magic Tux shows how courage and confidence can help kids overcome fear, follow their dreams, and have a great time along the way. Enjoy this epic tale for children of all ages, football fans, UT Vols fans, and anyone who’s ever had stage fright.

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The Tux

  • Born to Be Big Orange

    You could say I was destined for it — leading the Tennessee Volunteers onto the field before kickoff of the 1999 Fiesta Bowl, decked out in a hand-colored tuxedo and dyed orange hat. The Big Orange Tux wasn’t just an outfit; it was a family legacy in motion.

  • Roots in Knoxville

    My Tennessee roots run deep. My maternal great-grandfather, John T. “Punch” O’Connor, served as Knoxville’s mayor from 1932 to 1935. Before politics, he was a boxer in the 1890s, earning the nickname “Punch” for his grit — a name that stuck with him for life.

  • A Legacy That Lasts

    The John T. O’Connor Senior Center still honors him today in old Irish Town. By the time Punch was mayor, General Robert Neyland had built the Vols into a powerhouse — setting the stage for generations of Volunteer pride in our family.

  • Hats and History

    I found a 1938 photo of my grandfather, John A. O’Connor, at a Tennessee game — the year the Vols won their first national title. He wore a hat much like mine decades later. Maybe it wasn’t orange, but the spirit was the same.

  • A Family of Volunteers

    On my dad’s side, nearly every relative attended the University of Tennessee. My father, Dr. James Allen Greene, carried his Volunteer pride from birth to his career as chairman of psychiatry at UT. His stories of old games and legendary players shaped my own love for the team.

  • The Big Orange Moment

    When Tennessee beat Mississippi State to reach the 1998 title game, Dad told me, “Son, it’s been 50 years — go enjoy every minute.” So I did. From the College GameDay set to running beside Smokey on the field, The Big Orange Tux became part of Volunteer history.
Paul Finebaum wearing the Big Orange Tux on SEC Nation
The original Big Orange Tux in the Graduate Hotel (Knoxville, TN)
The Greene Family on ESPN College Gameday with Rece Davis, Desmond Howard and Lee Corso.
J.R. at the Fiesta Bowl (1998 National Championship).

About BOTG

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