Bill Battle, Tennessee football coach for seven seasons in the 1970s, died on Thanksgiving morning. He was 82.

He was one of the really good guys of college coaching, perhaps honest to a fault, and later an amazing success as a businessman. He became a proverbial Southern gentleman, gracious and generous with friends and former players, seemingly anxious to help whoever he could.

It was almost incidental that he was from Alabama, played end for Bear Bryant and the Crimson Tide and even became athletics director.

Battle joined Doug Dickey’s Tennessee staff at mid-season 1965 as a replacement for end coach Bob Jones who died in the tragic train-car crash. When Dickey switched to Florida, UT athletics director Bob Woodruff promoted Battle to head coach. He was 28.

UT president Andy Holt was surprised. Some of us were stunned. Many others raised eyebrows.

Years later, Battle admitted he, too, was surprised by Woodruff’s move “but I thought I could do the job.”

He did – for a while.

Battle got off to an excellent start with Dickey’s leftover roster. He was 36-5 in his fourth season.

Caution light: The highlights of his coaching career came at the beginning, on the third Saturday in October 1970, a week later and on Jan. 1.

Tennessee intercepted a school-record eight passes and smashed Alabama, 24-0. Players carried Battle to midfield to meet with Bryant. They hugged and shook hands. It was a magic moment, to be once in his lifetime.

The schedule insisted Dickey bring his Florida Gators to Neyland Stadium. Fans were polite but the Vols romped. In the Sugar Bowl, Jackie Walker, Chip Kell, Bobby Majors, Curt Watson, Bobby Scott and other good men took the coach to the top. Tennessee shocked undefeated Air Force, 34-13. It was the best of Battle’s time.

A little later, Ray Trail recruited Condredge Holloway. Excitement continued. Alas, productivity declined. The record began dropping off about one victory per year, from 11 victories to 10 to eight, seven and finally six.

Unforgettable: The fake punt that backfired in the 1973 Georgia game remains a landmark.

Battle’s overall worksheet, 59-22-2, was misleading. He was 2-4 in Southeastern Conference games in 1976, his final season. A fan sent a moving van to his home before he was fired. The coach didn’t like that and was very unhappy to be dismissed but departed with dignity. He had a great going-away line.

“When they run you out of town, make it look like you’re leading the parade.”

Bill Battle created this motivational line

He departed with the respect of former players. That never changed.

“He was a great influence on my life,” said Eddie Brown, star defensive back and team captain. “Coach Battle did everything right.”

“I enjoyed playing for him,” said all-American receiver Larry Seivers. “We got to know him better in later years. Several of us spent several weekends with him at his big farm in Georgia. He was a great guy.”

Old Vols will never forget what the coach did for former tailback Walter Chadwick, damaged severely in an auto crash. When Walter could no longer make it to the second floor of his condo, Battle paid for an elevator – but never said a word about it.

Battle and others thought what he did in business was his most significant success. Bryant started that. The day after Battle left Knoxville, Bear suggested that he get a real job. He could be vice president of an aluminum window company in Selma, Alabama. A Tide donor was the owner.

Battle said he didn’t know anything about aluminum or windows. Bryant said he could learn.

Bill hit a home run on his first at-bat. A big company in Saudi Arabia wanted thermal windows for a big building. The deal was $42 million.

Battle came up with the idea of colleges licensing the production and sales of caps, sweatshirts and a hundred other items enhanced with college names and logos. He wanted to ask someone at the University of Alabama for their opinion.

“I must have gone to six or seven offices asking where the licensing department was,” Battle said. “They said, ‘Licensing for what?’ Nobody knew what I was talking about.”

Bingo.

Battle’s Collegiate Licensing Company eventually represented more than 200 schools, bowl games, conferences and other college entities. Big programs, including Tennessee, now make millions annually from the sale of branded products.

In 2007, Battle sold the company to IMG for more than $100 million.

He thought he was going to spend more time at Jackson Hole and on his farm. In fact, he went back to work. Out of loyalty to his old school, he became athletics director when Alabama called. He stayed four years.

Red light: In 2016 Battle said he was undergoing treatments for multiple myeloma, a condition he had been dealing with privately for more than two years. He had a stem cell transplant.

He later said there was no connection between the affliction and being Nick Saban’s boss. In fact, they were partners and close friends.

Yesterday Saban said: “Bill Battle was first class in every way. He represented The University of Alabama with tremendous character and integrity. He was an outstanding football player at Alabama, a successful collegiate coach and visionary who revolutionized the business of college athletics.”

Dickey said: “Coach Battle was a wonderful addition to our staff and was very popular with the players. He was a terrific recruiter and had great vision and initiatives for our team … He did an outstanding job as a football coach after I left Tennessee. From there, he was one of the remarkable stories in the sports business world with his company … He will be deeply missed.”

Phillip Fulmer, a guard and captain on one of Battle’s teams, said: “When Coach Battle took over for Coach Dickey, he was a tremendous leader for us. We did not miss a beat, and we continued to have outstanding teams. He was supportive to us as players. He adopted us as his school and was always loyal. Coach Battle was a fantastic businessman and an even better person. We shared a great friendship.”

I said: If you believe God works in mysterious ways, His miracles to perform, you have the basis for understanding the Bill Battle story.

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