University of Tennessee Athletics
NETTLES INDUCTED INTO CANADIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
September 30, 2005 | Football
Sept. 30, 2005
Former Tennessee linebacker Ray Nettles will become the third former Vol to be inducted into the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame this weekend. Nettles arrival on Rocky Top in 1968 and began a journey that led him to stardom at Tennessee (1969-71), followed by a distinguished Canadian Football League career from 1972-80.
Among the activities surrounding this weekend's induction are a bust unveiling ceremony Friday afternoon, the Hall of Fame Game between the Edmonton Eskimos and Hamilton Tiger-Cats Friday night and an official induction dinner and ceremony Saturday.
Nettles joins former Vols defensive tackle Dick Huffman (1942, 46, inducted 1987) and quarterback Condredge Holloway (1972-74, inducted 1989) in the CFL Hall of Fame. Holloway is attending the induction ceremonies as the University of Tennessee's official representative this weekend.
"It's my greatest football honor," said Nettles. "It's overwhelming to be associated with such outstanding athletes. It's a highlight to have been associated with the University of Tennessee."
"He was always one of my favorite players," said Bill Battle, his coach at Tennessee in 1970 and 1971. "He had more energy, enthusiasm and love for the game than any player I ever coached. He was a tough guy, who led by going full speed in practice and in the games. He made practice fun and increased the tempo and intensity. It's a rare breed who can do that."
He was part of a solid class in 1968, coming to Knoxville with other future Vols, including Tom Bennett of Somerville, Joe Balthrop of Clarksville, Jackie Walker of Knoxville, Curt Watson of Crossville, Carl Johnson of Palatka, Fla., Sonny Leach of Raleigh, N.C., Bobby Majors of Sewanee, Phil Pierce of Athens, Gary Theiler of Louisville, Ky., and Phillip Fulmer of Winchester. That class produced All-America selections Walker and Majors, All-SEC selections Watson (three times), Majors and Walker (each twice) and Nettles. Not to mention producing a head football coach at Tennessee (Fulmer).
Nettles was listed as a center at 6-0, 190, on that 1968 freshman roster, but made his mark as a linebacker in his three varsity seasons, playing at 6-0, 220. He led the 1971 team in tackles with 108 solos and 66 assists for 174 total. He had 15 solo tackles in the 1971 Alabama game, 22 total.
He played behind Jack Reynolds as a sophomore in 1969, learning everything he could from "Hacksaw," an All-America selection that season. He would start the next two seasons and would make his imprint felt on the gridiron and on opposing players.
The Vol defensive units in those years were record-setting groups, forcing an SEC record 36 turnovers in 1970 and setting NCAA records for interceptions (25), yardage off interceptions (782), yards per interception (31.3) and touchdowns off interception returns (7), all a year later. All these records still stand.
After leaving Tennessee, Nettles had been a sixth-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in the NFL draft, but decided to join the B.C. Lions where he ultimately spent nine seasons in the CFL.
After playing in the Coaches' All-America game in Lubbock, Texas, he joined the Lions at the beginning of the 1972 season. Following a short time at outside linebacker, Nettles became the team's starting middle linebacker, becoming known as much for his colorful off-field personality as for his on-field feistiness.
He was named to the Western Football Conference's All-Star teams each of his first three years with B.C., making the CFL All-Star squad in 1972 and 1973. In 1973 he also won the Schenley Award as the CFL's outstanding lineman after winning the DeMarco-Becket Memorial Trophy as the WFC's top lineman. A series of injuries slowed him in 1975, a year in which he was named a co-winner of B.C.'s Dietrich Most Inspirational Player award, and he still recorded 112 tackles.
Nettles was traded to the Toronto Argonauts in 1977. In addition to being named Toronto's outstanding defensive player, he was an Eastern Football Conference All-Star in 1977, and won the honor again in 1978 as a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Nettles completed his 122-game career with a series of one-year stints with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1978), Ottawa Rough Riders (1979) and Calgary Stampeders (1980).
Nettles now lives in his native Jacksonville with wife, Bonnie.
"I thought I could compete anywhere, no question about it," he said. "It's a matter of being in the right place at the right time. A lot of good things have happened to be in athletics. It was my duty to take things as far as I could."
