30 Facts About Ray Graves

Samuel Ray Graves was an American professional football player and college football coach.

Ray Graves was a native of Tennessee and a graduate of the University of Tennessee, where he was the starting center and team captain for the Volunteers under head coach Robert Neyland.

Ray Graves was the head football coach at the University of Florida from 1960 until 1969, where he led the Gators to their most successful decade in program history up to that point.

Ray Graves served as Florida's athletic director from 1960 until his retirement in 1979.

Ray Graves was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on December 31,1918.

Ray Graves was the son of a Methodist minister, and the Graves family often moved as his father took various pastorships in eastern Tennessee.

Ray Graves married Opal Richardson on November 3,1942, and they had three daughters.

Ray Graves attended Wesleyan for a year, then received a scholarship offer from Duke University coach Wallace Wade, which he accepted.

Ray Graves was a starter on the offensive line and at linebacker for the 1939 Tennessee team which was undefeated and unscored upon during the regular season and was invited to the Rose Bowl.

The Vols played in the Sugar Bowl following his junior season, and Ray Graves was the starting center and team captain during his senior year of 1941, earning third-team All-Southeastern Conference honors.

Ray Graves left the Eagles to serve as an assistant coach at Tennessee in 1944 and 1945, but he returned to the pro franchise as an assistant coach and scout in 1946.

The Eagles lost several lineman due to injury that season, so Ray Graves volunteered to briefly resume his playing career and appeared in seven games.

Ray Graves had seriously considered an offer to coach the Tennessee Volunteers' offensive line in 1943, but when the school did not field a football team that season due to World War II, he continued to play pro football.

In 1946, Ray Graves returned to the Eagles to serve as a scout and assistant line coach, though he was pressed back into action as a player due to a rash of injuries.

Ray Graves returned to the college ranks as a defensive assistant at Georgia Tech under head coach Bobby Dodd.

In turn, Ray Graves credited Dodd with serving as his role model of a "player's coach" who built relationships with players and coaches to get the most out of his team.

In 1960, Ray Graves was hired as head football coach of the University of Florida, replacing fellow Tennessee alumnus Bob Woodruff.

Ray Graves served as the Gators' head coach for ten years from 1960 to 1969.

Ray Graves led Florida to five bowl appearances and he coached several outstanding players, including quarterback and Heisman Trophy recipient Steve Spurrier, running back and future NFL first-round draft pick Larry Smith and defensive end and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Jack Youngblood.

In one of the more interesting footnotes to his football legacy, Ray Graves allowed Dr Robert Cade, a professor in the University of Florida College of Medicine, to conduct dehydration analysis and rehydration experiments using team members which led to the formulation of Gatorade in 1965.

Ray Graves told his friend, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Hank Stram, of the drink's effectiveness, a move that eventually led to Gatorade becoming the official sports drink of the NFL.

Ray Graves remained the winningest coach in Gators football history until his former quarterback, Steve Spurrier, surpassed him in 1996.

Ray Graves' Gators are remembered for their remarkable academic success as much as their athletic success.

Ray Graves's remaining tenure as athletic director was notable for the University of Florida embracing the challenges and opportunities in women's college sports presented by Title IX.

Ray Graves was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1972, the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

Ray Graves was on hand as six of the nine surviving members of that Steagles team were honored by the Steelers during halftime.

The jersey worn by Ray Graves was returned to the team after the festivities.

Ray Graves served as a consultant to the Jacksonville Bulls of the United States Football League.

Ray Graves retired in 1989, and he continued to live in Tampa with his wife Opal.

Ray Graves died in nearby Clearwater on April 10,2015, at the age of 96.