CHATTANOOGA — It’s just a tattered black-and-gold jacket.Its lettering has cracked over the past 35 years. Its wispy sleeves can’t be much for warmth. It doesn’t even have Jared Curtis’ correct number on it. But it might be the most precious good-luck charm Vanderbilt football has ever had. “And it’s comfortable,” Curtis said. Curtis, the nation’s No. 1 senior recruit who days earlier stunned college football by flipping from Georgia to sign with Vanderbilt, wrapped himself in that jacket one last time — right after his Nashville Christian career closed with a 59-7 victory over University School of Jackson on Dec. 4 at Finley Stadium in the TSSAA football Division II-AA BlueCross Bowl.More: What is Vanderbilt football getting in No. 1 recruit Jared Curtis on signing dayMore: What Jared Curtis’ signing means for Vanderbilt as 5-star QB flipsThe Jacket, as it’s now known, made its public debut in December 2024. It belongs to Nashville Christian coach Jeff Brothers, who got it as team-issued gear when he was a Vandy QB in the 1990s. Curtis wore it on the sideline simply for warmth during Nashville Christian’s 2024 state title run, long before anyone knew which college he would join. A photo of him wearing it tantalized Vanderbilt fans on social media like a cruel joke — how could an elite prospect like Curtis ever wind up on West End? Vanderbilt wasn’t emerging in his lists of leaders with the likes of Georgia and Oregon. A year later, he’s a Commodore. “It’s crazy ironic,” Brothers said. After flipping to Vandy on the eve of signing day, with the state final days away, Curtis went back to Brothers. “Do you still have that jacket? Can we bring it?” he said. It had been stuffed in a closet for a year, but the jacket was available.“Sure, buddy,” Brothers said. .oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}Jared Curtis staying warm on the sideline pic.twitter.com/FwczFc6TbK— Tyler Palmateer (@Tpalmateer83) December 5, 2024Curtis laughed when he noticed the jacket had its own keeper after the USJ game. Nashville Christian support staffer, bus driver and all-around utility man Chuck Madden paraded it around proudly during the state title celebration, until Curtis was ready to wear it again while he autographed a few Vanderbilt football items for fans. “We bring (the jacket) out only for state,” Curtis said. “No practices, no other games. Only for state. So hopefully Nashville Christian can keep that tradition going with Tate (Mathis, sophomore quarterback).”That likely means Curtis won’t keep the jacket. But Vanderbilt fans should know that the fading nylon shell may hold some kind of mystical power. Commodore coach Clark Lea’s successful pursuit of Curtis is part of a “turning of the battleship” at Vanderbilt, Brothers said. “I’m sure he’ll have his own jacket (there),” Brothers said. Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.He also contributes to The Tennessean’s high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Inside story behind Jared Curtis’ Vanderbilt football sideline jacket