The inspiring new children’s book hits #1 on Amazon’s “New Children’s Football Books,” charts with 100% of author proceeds supporting children’s literacy programs.
Just like your favorite college team, the Big Orange Tux is nationally ranked.
Just as the college football season got underway, My Magic Tux: A Big Orange Story of Courage and Confidence from J.R. Greene and Joe Shands (with illustrations by Nicholas Childs) rose to the top of Amazon’s new children’s books charts, landing at #1 on Amazon’s New Releases chart in the “Children’s Football Books” category and #22 on the overall “Children’s Sports Books” rundown, for a true Top 25 ranking.
A remarkable achievement for any author, it is a monumental and special achievement for J.R. Greene, as 100% of his proceeds from the book go to support children’s literacy efforts. And, on top of that, every time J.R. has appeared on sports TV, podcast and radio programs to promote it, My Magic Tux has climbed higher up the charts.
The biggest appearance yet for J.R. Greene and My Magic Tux happened just this past weekend. On September 26, 2026, he returned to the iconic college sports program, ESPN’s College GameDay, for a segment where he talked with host Jess Sims about his original appearance on the show at the 1999 Fiesta Bowl title game in Arizona and about how My Magic Tux was inspired by that very event.
Asked about the book’s recent top of the charts ranking on Amazon on College GameDay, J.R. said, “Number 1, the proceeds all go to childhood literacy and number 2, it’s a story about a child gaining courage through a magic tux!”
Later, as Jess Sims emphasized how the book encourages children’s literacy, J.R. proclaimed, “It’s for Vol fans, but really (the book) is for ALL fans!”
Watch J.R. Greene on ESPN’s College GameDay
My Magic Tux follows a child who discovers courage and confidence through a magical tux. It’s a message that resonates with young readers and fans of every team with the encouragement of children to believe in themselves and to try and try again to achieve their dreams and goals. Book proceeds and 100% of Greene’s royalties support UT Libraries to help fund literacy, education and lifelong learning, as well as the planned development of a new charitable entity and awards program focused on supporting courage and confidence in children. Every copy sold helps put more books in the hands of young readers.
Based on a true story (chronicled by ESPN’s Chris Low), My Magic Tux is inspired by J.R. Greene’s moment in Rocky Top lore as the “Big Orange Tux Guy.” Greene ran onto the field with the Tennessee football team wearing an orange-and-white tuxedo at the Fiesta Bowl national championship game in Tempe, Arizona to show the world Tennessee had class, capping the Vols’ 1998 title season. ESPN later dubbed him the “ultimate College Football party crasher.”
“I was a 24-year-old student working on my master’s degree at UT,” Greene said. “My family had season tickets going back to the 1930s when my great-grandfather, John T. O’Connor – nicknamed ‘Punch’ from his Irish boxing roots – was the mayor of Knoxville. I never planned on being on that field in Tempe, but that is what happened. I became the Big Orange Tux Guy, and this book is a reminder how one brave moment can change everything.”
Watch the Big Orange Tux Guy origin story
Published by the University of Tennessee Press, My Magic Tux is now the best-selling book launch in UT Press history. It’s also the first children’s picture book in the press’s history and the first title in its new children’s publishing program. Greene created the book with coauthor and storyteller Joe Shands and award-winning illustrator Nicholas Childs. It’s a collector’s item: a unique “tête-bêche” (head-to-tail) book that combines two books in one. When readers reach “halftime,” they flip the book over to read the second half of the story. It’s perfect for preschool- and elementary-aged children and readers of all ages.
The book launched on the UT campus on July 28, where fans met the new book mascot “Tuxie” and enjoyed a read-aloud with Greene at UT’s John C. Hodges Library. Since then, J.R. has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX affiliates and in the Knoxville News Sentinel.
The Big Orange Tux is making waves, and it is just getting started.
My Magic Tux: A Big Orange Story of Courage and Confidence is available now in hardcover and ebook on Amazon and wherever children’s books are sold. Learn more at mymagictux.com. Follow Tuxie at @mymagictux on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest, and at @mymagictuxbook on TikTok.
You can find J.R.’s podcast SuperFan Diaries on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Media, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
All Photos Courtesy J.R. Greene except for Book Cover Image courtesy of UT Press and screenshot of J.R. with Jess Sims is courtesy ESPN.
About J.R. Greene
J.R. Greene is the founder of Psychiatric Medical Care and currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. Prior to his career in behavioral healthcare, Greene held leadership roles in marketing and sales at the Coca-Cola Company, Procter & Gamble, and Revlon. Greene is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a board member of the Nashville Healthcare Council, and a member of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine Board of Visitors. Greene is also the host of the SuperFan Diaries podcast and author of the children’s book My Magic Tux. One fun extra fact: J.R. was a contestant on the Price is Right with Bob Barker!
About University of Tennessee Press
The University of Tennessee Press is the Volunteer State’s book publisher, committed to preserving and promoting the rich cultural and intellectual heritage of Tennessee and the region. Through its focused publishing program, UT Press strives to deepen appreciation for the communities, ecosystems, and histories that make the state unique. Its mission is to enlighten readers, foster cultural dialogue, and improve the quality of life for the people of Tennessee and around the world. UT Press is a division of the University of Tennessee Libraries.
Website: utpress.org
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