Why does Tony Vitello's Tennessee wear daddy hats? Exploring the potential reasons behind the unique tradition

Tony Vitello's Tennessee Vols have a proud daddy hat tradition, one of the most interesting sights during the games. The Vols have been wearing daddy hats for years, and it has become even more mainstream following their success in the 2024 College World Series.

Let's examine Tennessee's daddy hat tradition, its origin and why it's probably not going anywhere anytime soon.

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Why do the Tennessee Vols wear daddy hats?

The Tennessee Vols hit over 150 home runs this season, and there was a common denominator after each homer. That was the presence of the pink daddy hat worn by the person who just hit the home run.

The Vols debuted the daddy hat celebration in 2020 and have stuck with it ever since. When asked about the celebration's origins, Tony Vitello has yet to give a definite answer, and he's not too interested in finding out. He's more eager to see his players hit well-placed home runs and celebrate in whatever way they see fit.

The daddy hat is not the property of any one player; it's given to the latest player to hit a home run in a game.

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Who wore the daddy hat in Game 3 of the 2024 College World Series?

Two Tennessee Vols stars wore the daddy hat in Game 3 of the College World Series. They were Christian Moore and Game MVP Dylan Dreiling.

Christian Moore hit a leadoff home run to set the tone for the rest of the game. Moore made perfect contact on the bat and sent the ball soaring over the wall for a leadoff home run to give the Vols the deserved lead. It set the tone for what was to follow for the rest of the ball game.

With two innings left, Dylan Dreiling made the daddy hat his own as he sent a high-flying ball into the sky. Dreiling's homer made a 5-1 game, and there was no coming back for the Aggies.

With his home run in Game 3, Dylan Dreiling became the first player to hit a home run in all three MCWS finals games. He was later named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2024 MCWS.