As is usually the case, the statistics on Ray Nettles, the former Vol linebacker (1969-71) who died Sept. 29 in Jacksonville, Fla., don’t tell the whole story.
Nettles, who was an All-SEC selection in 1971 and had 22 total hits in the 1971 Alabama game, brought enthusiasm and energy to the Vol defense, playing with a reckless abandon typical of Vol linebackers of his day. It didn’t take long to figure out that Ray, wearing No. 58 in orange and white, was something special.
Bill Battle, his coach in 1970 and 1971, said Ray “wasn’t afraid of anything.”
Those of us who saw him play know that first-hand.
Ray was part of the “Offensive Defense of 1971,” the year Vol defenders set still existing NCAA records for Most Yards Gained on Interception Returns (782 yards), Highest Average per Interception Returns (31.3, 25 interceptions for 782 yards), and Most Touchdowns off Interception Returns, 7).
During his time as a Vol, Tennessee was 30-5, won the SEC title in 1969, and won two bowl games in 1971, the Sugar Bowl Jan. 1 and the Liberty Bowl Dec. 20.
In 1969, he played behind “Hacksaw” Reynolds and apparently learned a great deal from the legendary Vol All-America linebacker. Once he got his chance in 1970, however, there was no stopping him. There was a great deal of Jack Reynolds in Ray Nettles. Ray was wherever the ball was, generally in a bad humor.
There are two special “Ray Nettles stories.”
In Ray’s day, when a Tennessee defender scored on an interception, punt return, or fumble recovery, he was in far more danger from Ray once he scored than from trying to outrun the opposition on the field.
Ray was usually there to greet him in the end zone, and the result was a pile of players in orange and white celebrating the score. Ray was always there first, and his teammates followed him.
After his final game, the 1971 Liberty Bowl, there was a newspaper picture the next day of Ray celebrating by wearing an Arkansas “Hog Hat,” purloined from an unsuspecting Arkansas fan on the way to the game. Legend has it Ray got it when the team bus was stopped in traffic. All Ray did was reach out the window and take it.
Without asking.
Ray was indeed something special, on the field and off. While he battled his own personal demons much of his life, he had recently said, “I want my story to matter to someone.”
Ray Nettles’ life story definitely “mattered,” to his family, his Tennessee teammates, to those who knew him.
If there’s football in Heaven, one team’s defense just got a lot better.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
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Comments » 29
EZVOL writes:
The guy was something special. He was one of the first to add "linebacker U" to Tennessee's list of nicknames. Wish we had more like him. RIP
jakethevolguy writes:
R.I.P. Ray. You were a great football player and a wonderful Volunteer. Prayers to his family. GBO!
tnbigg writes:
Sad. GREAT guy. God rest his Soul and take care of those who loved him.
TommyJack writes:
Played hard. Lived harder. But found peace. R.I.P.
GeneralNeylandsReturn writes:
A great player on a great team, a team which included multiple players that in more ways than one served to lay the foundation for the success Tennessee football has seen since 1984...just take a look at that roster, who they played (and beat..and how) and you will see something special, and for you younglins, you can see some of the ancestry of not only the staff you all think failed so miserably (while winning the SEC east every three years and compiling one of the most amazing runs of wins in Tennessee football history, including back to back SEC Title Games and the First BCS National Championship); but you can also see much of the current human resource infrastructure of UT Football and UT Media that still is in place today.
RIP Ray Nettles
May God Grant Your Family Grace
shoelessvol#236864 writes:
Ray Nettles, "he gave his ALL for Tennessee", may he rest in peace and may peace be with his family.
cloudodust writes:
Ray played the game with a reckless abandon that defined LB's as LB's. What ths guy brought to Tennessee football is hard to put into words, but let 30-5 speak for itself. Shoot, I'll bet some Red Elephant still wakes at night in a cold sweat remembering being tatooed by Ray Nettles...
MidTennVol writes:
God rest your soul, Mr. Nettles. You were one of the reasons I fell in love with Tennessee football as a kid.
SavTnVol writes:
Me Too.....I saw where college football was so much more of a sport than Pro ball was a job when I saw that bunch of UT players play the game...I was at the 1971 Sugar Bowl as an 17 year old kid...I remeber all the great plays and players...Ray, Bobby Scott, Joe Thompson (from my hometown by the way)Lester McClain, CPF, Watson, Priest, all them...what a wonderful bunch of men and players....Went and saw them that year in Memphis also when they played,I believe, the Citidel....Walked down to the sideline and talked to those greats...they had time for anyone....Ray, RIP...UT fans will miss you
10volunteers98 writes:
I remember Ray Nettles and Jaime Rotella.A great combination of linebackers for UT.Glad Ray found peace with the Lord before he passed away.He gave me a lot of fond memories of the Vols as a kid.Peace be with his family.As for the 'hog hat' mentioned in the story,I still have a picture of Ray wearing it that I clipped from a Bristol newspaper as a kid!
Volunatic writes:
Great article as usual, Mr. Mattingly.
10volunteers98 writes:
I remember the 1971 Sugar Bowl,also.I still have newspaper clippins from the game.Tennessee and Air Force.I have a big picture of Bobby Scott and Ronnie Drummond holding the game trophy.By the way,remember Chip Kell?We could sure use more offensive linemen like him.GO,VOLS!!!
woody45#537767 writes:
Nettles was tough and I remember the Liberty Bowl where we beat a good Maryland team. Somebody help me, I'm having a "senior moment" and can't remember the Maryland defensive tackle who went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys. Our offensive front line and Tight End,Tommy West, head coach at Memphis pounded this guy all night long. It was great when Curt Watson scored the winning touchdown. The guy from Maryland, whose name I'm having trouble remembering, bad mouthed Tennessee after the game because nobody had manhandled and whipped him like that all year and Tennessee surprised the heck out of him.
RIP, Nettles!
jrichas#214845 writes:
Tom, have you ever told the story in print re the "cattle rustling" thing that I think Nettles was such a big part of? If not it would be a hilarious story!!!! :-)
Jerre
dvsvol writes:
Randy White was the Cowboy you're thinking of - he was one tough hombre! Probably good enough to have made UT's team back then, and that was one SPECIAL team.
halloffamebowler writes:
Nettles was playing the first game I remember seeing at Newland Stadium.I can hear John Ward now, saying,SCOTT TO TROT,GIVE IT TO HIM,TOUCH DOWN BIG ORANGE.I LONG FOR MORE OF John Ward AND Babbling Bill Anderson.Would love to have another Ray Nettles also. Kiffin, please bring this school back to where Tennessee is feared once again.
GerryOP writes:
Well said...
SavTnVol writes:
The Sugar Bowl tickets came with a commemorative copy of the coin used for the opening coin toss..I still have that coin...Ray was all over the field that day..He, Bobby Majors and Claud Simonton laid some serious hits on the AF boys...as did Jackie Walker and Rotella too...Story goes,that Laster McClain ran his first two pocessions for about 35 yards each...He came back to the huddle and told Bobby Scott not to give him the ball inside the 30 for the rest of the game because he didn't want to mess up his yards per carry average....those guys could have fun and play well at the same time.....What a joy they were to watch...
feathersax writes:
Seems we've lost several former Vols lately. Ray Nettles was a true Vol warrior. God bless this family in their loss. Thanks for the article, Tom.
SavTnVol writes:
Woody, the praise for any UT team is always a welcome thing, but I do believe you have some dates incorrect...Watson and Nettles played for UT from 68 thru 71..UT with Tommy West played Randy White and Maryland in the Liberty Bowl in 1975...I do remeber that game and how it came down to about the last play of the game...and BTW, Randy White was the Liberty bowl MVP that year...
gslaton#227127 writes:
As a 1973 grad of UTK, I loved watching Nettles and that era play. Some great ballplayers.Bobby Majors,Bobby Scott,Jackie Walker,Condredge Hollaway,Conrad Graham,Curt Watson,et al. Ray fit right in during that era..great defense and solid offense. My thoughts go out to Ray's family. He was the embodiment of what we all want Tennessee spirit and dedication to be about these days. He will be missed. God Bless.
illinoisvolfan writes:
Ray Nettles played football the way it was meant to be played. He gave no quarter and expected none in return. All teams could use more of that style today. God bless him and his family...Peace.
STEELMAN4VOLS writes:
great article, brings back memories of those late 60's and early 70's vols who played hard, were a joy to watch, and knew how to play as a team. thanks for the tribute and to see posts mention players like Kiner,Reynolds, Walker,and Rotella reminds us of the great 'backers in that day along with Nettles.
theoldbear writes:
I think I may still have a copy of that picture of Ray Nettles in the Hog hat! I think it ran on the front page of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
The hat was ugly, and it looked worse on Ray Nettles than it would have on just about anybody!
Ray was one of several good players from that era that never got a chance in the NFL. But he did dominate in Canadian football, where he is a legend and a Hall of Famer.
I remember watching him play as a freshman, and the freshman team was wild and wooly!
RIP, old Vol! Blessings to your family from the old bear!
leedsvol2007 writes:
Randy White
leedsvol2007 writes:
Nettles certainly added to the list of outstanding linebackers but there were many before him such as Mike Jacobs, Mike Lucci, Frank Emanuel, Tom Fisher, Paul Naumoff, Steve Kiner, Jack Reynolds and Jackie Walker.
Nettles was certainly one in a long line that continues to the present of outstanding linebackers.
In my opinion the 1969 through 1972 Vols were among the best defenses ever in NCAA football history.
And Nettles was a big part of that group.
The dismantling of talent laden Penn State in 1971 was testament to their abilities. Penn State had 9 players on offense that went on to pro careers including Lydell Mitchell and Franco Harris who were all pro and I believe are both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
They made most of their yards in the 4th quarter with the game decided and neither rushed for 100 yards. The only time in their college career that the pair were both held under 100 yards.
Those of us who had the pleasure of watching Ray Nettles are greatly saddened by his passing but remember fondly his play.
Prayers and condolences to the family.
tobydude writes:
I was extremely fortunate to not only watch Ray play from the sidelines but also during practices. I also was witness to his work during the off-season as well. He was without question one of the most violent and toughest linebackers I was fortunate enough to see during my time with the UTAD. There may have been more physically gifted players but there was never one who worked harder or loved the game or the Vols more than Ray. He was 100% old school football (the way it was meant to be played). God Bless Ray, Family and Frieends.
tobydude writes:
I would like to add....when Ray was a Senior I was just a freshman Student Trainer. He was a force on the field with a mean streak a mile long. Off the field he was the one guy you loved to hang around with because he was hilarious and full of life. He treated everyone no matter who you were or what you did like you were his best friend. That's what I will miss the most.....A TRUE FRIEND. Thanks for the memories Ray.
rnett08 writes:
my name is robert nettles ray nettles is my uncle thank you for all your comment concerning his family he came to my house a few weeks before he died and wanted to hang out with my dad but my dad turned him down to hangout with me my bro any my step mom
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