Story updated with funeral information

Tennessee football history took a hit on Thursday. Ray Trail died.

Trail came to the Volunteers on October 21, 1965, under emergency circumstances, three days after three coaches were killed when their car was struck by a train.

Trail, then 24, a former Arkansas captain, a graduate assistant coach for the Razorbacks, responded out of loyalty to a “We need you” call from Doug Dickey. Ray’s wife, Sandy, said he didn’t even ask what he would be paid. It wasn’t all that much – $6,500 a year.

Trail developed into a truly outstanding line coach and recruiter. He could have gone to Florida when Dickey changed jobs. Trail told the head coach the move was a mistake. Trail chose to remain at Tennessee. He stayed through Bill Battle’s time at the top.

Trail’s greatest football impact was signing Condredge Holloway. That was a monument to making all the right moves, touching all the bases and staying in touch until the task was finished.

Trail coached some of Tennessee’s best offensive linemen – Bob Johnson, Chip Kell, Charles Rosenfelder and Mickey Marvin. Three of the four became all-Americans. Two became NFL greats. Three are in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Trail died in the early hours of Thursday morning, probably from kidney failure. He had endured a lengthy illness. The family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Click Funeral Home, 9020 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville. The full obituary is here.

Johnson felt the hurt when he heard the news. He also recalled the heartbreak of line coach Charley Rash’s death in the train tragedy. He remembers the day Trail arrived as a replacement.

“He wasn’t much older than some of us players. I never thought we taught him to coach but we sort of grew up together.”

Trail was a warrior as an Arkansas guard. “Fire out” was one of his fundamental beliefs as a player and beginning coach.

“That was very effective on running plays,” said Johnson.

That was a polite way of saying it didn’t work too well in pass protection.

Johnson said Trail’s personality fit the job.

“He could be very firm in correcting mistakes and a minute later, he would have moved on and be smiling. Our offensive line was an important part of a good football team but a fun bunch. Coach Trail was an important part of the good times.”

He was also an effective teacher, big on fundamentals and motivation. He was a keen strategist who helped develop very successful plans of attack. He was a significant factor in 101 Tennessee victories.

Trail was deliberately different as a recruiter. He had a touch of zing.

“I saw all those coaches in navy blue blazers and khaki Dockers and I decided to be something else.”

He hit the small towns of the South like a cowboy straight out of the movies. His horse was a sporty orange Pontiac convertible, white top and white leather interior. His persona featured blue jeans, cowboy hat, cowboy boots, big belt buckle and a 75-cent cigar.

So it was in Huntsville, Alabama, when he called on Holloway. The entire neighborhood knew Trail had arrived. He was often there, in spirited competition with Alabama and Auburn and the Montreal Expos who drafted Condredge in the first round for baseball.

Trail encountered a recruiting crisis the summer of ’71. He lived dangerously.

Condredge Holloway (UT Sports Information)

 

“It was time for our family vacation and we were going to my father-in-law’s chalet on a mountain lake in Arkansas,” said Trail. “Coach Battle didn’t think I should go but Sandy felt I really needed to be there so I made a deal with Condredge. We shook hands and he promised he wouldn’t do anything until I came back.”

The Trail family had been away for a few days when a man drove up to tell Ray he had a phone call down in the village.

Trail didn’t think Battle even knew where he was but when the head coach heard the quarterback was about to sign as a shortstop, he insisted Ray should be in Huntsville. Trail said Condredge’s word was good. He remained on vacation.

Battle called another day and then a third time.

“I admit I was worried – but I kept believing what Condredge had told me,” Trail said.

The day after the holiday ended, Trail confirmed that he still had a job. Soon thereafter, Holloway called and said it was time to make a decision. He was going to meet with the Expos. He wanted Trail to be there. Trail went. He saw the briefcase filled with baseball money. He heard Condredge’s mother say no.

That was almost as good as a Tennessee victory over Alabama.

Marvin West welcomes comments or questions from readers. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com