Former Vol LB Great Passes Away...

[Rocky Top]

Hopefully, this wont violate any Hippa laws   but former Vol LB Ray Nettles lost his battle with cancer. He was always a proud Vol and a tough loss for his family and Vol fans. Rest in Peace Ray.

Here is the link...http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-07-10/story/ray_nettles_seeks_redemption_while_facing_a_terminal_illness

[plumbervol]

That is what TN tradition is all about, the Lettermen got together and took care of their team mate. I had heard and read about this "intervention" on another board(UTONLY CHAT SITE) I have an interest in and I could talk all day about how they supported this guy. They literally paid his bills for him for both rehab and cancer(after insurance $100,000's of $$) Some of his biggest boosters with $$ are very quiet and the UT FANBASE never gives him the credit he deserves for supporting their UT causes.

I have no doubt that the UT tradition of "teammates foreverwill carry on.

I met Nettles years ago and he was crazy as hell. An ex HS friend had a brother very involved in the UT drug scene that ran in his circle. After 71 he always seemed to land in Knoxville and he was wide open. An ex OL from Virginia who had his own demons ran with him along with an ex full back who also had legal problems. Nettles friend (brother of my HS friend) ended up dead of an overdose in Zurich Switzerland. I never thought about the guy again and figured he grew up, I sure was not in his circle of friends. Guys like that usually do not live to be 60, anyway sober up.... His wife must really have been an angel.

[Gustoly]

His teammates are to be honored for their love for Ray.  They were so good to him and his wife.  Ray battled many demons throughout his life and I hope now he is at peace and rest from it all.  Another young man gone to soon.  God Bless ! ! !

[Gustoly]

Some of his biggest boosters with $$ are very quiet and the UT FANBASE never gives him the credit he deserves for supporting their UT causes.

What an excellent statement which BTW is very true.  Those who have the most and do the most are usually the quietest.  Unlike the MORON who brags all the time about what he has and how much better he is than the rest of us.  Well I say    to the MORON.

[Orange-SkyVolFan]

I am sorry to hear that.

Nettles loved to pile on in the end zone after a score.  As much as anyone, he helped start that Tennessee tradition which lasted for a while--at least until the bama games.