WATCH: Vols HC Tony Vitello receives 'home run coat' from MLB Draft coverage squad, sparking memories of Blake Burke
The MLB Network made sure national champion coach Tony Vitello received the grand welcome he deserved—the Tennessee Volunteers way.
Vitello, who guided the Volunteers to their first-ever national championship by winning 2-1 over the Texas A&M Aggies in the College World Series best-of-three finals clash last month, was a guest in the MLB Network's draft coverage on Sunday at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.
The network's staff made Vitello feel like he was still with the Volunteers by draping Tennessee's home run coat onto his shoulders.
The surprised coach happily accepted the fur coat, which according to some reports hasn't been washed since it was first conceptualized in 2022, and explained how the coat is part of the team's celebrations and what it means for one of its players and draft prospect, Blake Burke.
"The home run coat happened a few years ago. And Blake Burke really is the one who made sure it stayed so I'm hoping this is the night Blake Burke will forever remember. I've got a lot of memories with him that's for sure," Vitello said of the coat.
However, he reminded everyone that he only called the shots for the Volunteers, and the only thing that he could think of using this coat for was the afterparty of his former players' draft selection.
"But I don't remember hitting any home runs. So the only time I wear this coat is to maybe attend the party," he said.
The Volunteers had several players picked on Day 1 of the draft. These include Christian Moore, Billy Amick and Blake Burke, who were part of the record-setting squad that became the first SEC team to win 60 games this past season and the first team to win the national title as the No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Tennessee Volunteers tradition of fur coat and a daddy hat during home run celebrations
The Tennessee Volunteers had their way of celebrating a home run hit in every game and this past season wasn't different from when the celebratory gears was conceptualized a few years ago.
The daddy hat, or the pink hat with the word 'DADDY' on it, made its first appearance in 2020 after former catcher Evan Russell purchased it for fun. From then on, this became Tennessee's trademark celebration after every home run. Then, two years later, Russell added a home run coat to the mix.
These items have been part of the Volunteers' home run celebrations and even the players' mothers have worn the coat and sported their mommy hats to join their sons in the team's home run parade.
The Volunteers smacked 184 balls out of the fence this past season and five players hit 20 or more round-trippers this year. They were Moore (34), Dylan Dreiling (23), Amick (23), Tears (20) and Burke (20).