Ray Nettles, a former Tennessee linebacker who went on to stardom in the Canadian Football League and became the first native Floridian inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame, died Tuesday afternoon at a Southside Hospice in Jacksonville, Fla., after a prolonged battle with liver and lung cancer. He was 60.
“Ray is in heaven on his mother’s birthday,” Nettles’ wife, Bonnie, said. “I praise God for his life and the time I had with him. It was a gift to be with the true love of my life.” Nettles, an All-Southeastern Conference linebacker at Tennessee in 1971, played nine seasons with five different CFL teams. He played over half of his pro career (1972-76) with the British Columbia Lions in Vancouver, where he won the Schenley Award as the league’s top lineman/linebacker and was a three-time CFL all-star. He went on to become the defensive MVP with both the Toronto Argonauts and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, then played his last two CFL seasons with the Ottawa Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders.
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Comments » 25
notoriousBIGorange writes:
R.I.P Ray and may God be with your family
InertGas writes:
The thoughts and prayers of the Volunteer Nation are with the Nettles family.
bill#1374014 writes:
He was a warrior, as tough as any linebacker that ever wore the orange.
DennisVols writes:
May God's strength and comfort be with your family and extended Volunteer family during this time of great morning.
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!!
Cldvols1 writes:
RIP Mr. Nettles! God be with his friends and family in this difficult time!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Godspeed, Vol.
VolInIndy writes:
Great article a couple of months back on how his fellow Vols came to his aid in his tough times and how his faith turned his life around.
So glad he accepted Christ in his latter years. I hope I get to meet him in Heaven.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
i remember the name ray nettles being called out many times on the radio for making play after play after play. to make all southeastern and be on the 1970*71 teams ....wow..... those teams could play with any one in the nation at the time and were nationall ranked certainly in the top 10 or 5 at end of season. some of the best teams tennessee EVER had were with nettles at linebacker
crimsonviper writes:
Hate to hear about another Vol lost,Ray Nettles was one of my dad's favorites.Godspeed and peace prayed for the family.
TheFuj writes:
Like somebody else posted. That was a time when many of us listened to the games on the radio. I remember his name called over and over making tackles. He was one tough LB.
MillisaAnn writes:
His family has my prayers
GerryOP writes:
God bless and God speed Ray Nettles.
GerryOP writes:
Matthew 7:1-5 TnBigMan
Down_The_Field writes:
rest in peace, ray. now dad finally gets to meet you.
FWBVol writes:
Ray Nettles has, as the Apostle Paul wrote in II Timothy, "Fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
Yes, Ray had his faults, but his faith has now made him whole.
volaholic45 writes:
I enjoyed watching him play (and hearing his name called on the radio) back in the day. Whatever he was in life, that's all sorted out now by an authority higher than opinionizers here. Rest in peace, Ray Nettles.
leedsvol2007 writes:
One of the greatest to wear the Orange.
Our prayers and condolences to the family.
Razzle writes:
Very sad to hear this. Rest in peace Ray.
blitzshoot writes:
Thoughts and prayers with the Nettles family.
Godspeed Ray. Rest In Peace.
tnbigg writes:
WELL SAID...and TRUE.
tnbigg writes:
1971 Volunteer Roster: http://bit.ly/JQI3h
GREAT players surrounded him. No doubt.
tnbigg writes:
I'll NEVER forget that Penn State game! I had student tickets on the 45 yard line. A game for the ages. Bobby Majors had a career day on the day Tennessee honored the Majors family. RIP Ray. You were a great guy and a great player.
tnbigg writes:
You're VERY welcome! Long time Vols know that the program goes through phases, over the years we lose great legends, but the passion for Tennessee football never dies! Keep the Faith and GO VOLS!
belayvol writes:
My Orange jersey is bleeding tonight over this. Thanks for the memories Ray.
hlpreston52#237132 writes:
Ray Nettles is the reason that I am a Vol fan today. I remember one day in the spring of 1967 or 68, Ray walking down the halls of Englewood Hi School in Jacksonville with a big Orange Tennessee jacket on and telling all of us that he had signed a letter of intent with the Volunteers. If you think he was a great linebacker here, you should have seen him in high school. I will always remember Ray Nettles.
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