[1] Before enrolling at Duke, however, Graves received a scholarship offer from Tennessee coach Robert Neyland and choose to stay in state to play for the well-regarded Volunteers.

[1] 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 Graves was the starting center and team captain during his senior year of 1941, earning third-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) honors.

However, he was rejected for service when a physical examination revealed a congenital hearing problem, and he was classified as 4-F, meaning that he would not be called to active duty except in a dire manpower emergency.

[1][6] The Philadelphia Eagles selected Graves in the ninth round (seventy-third pick overall) of the 1942 NFL draft, and he ended a brief stint as a high school football coach to play professionally.

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

[11][12] In 1946, 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.

[17] Graves led Florida to five bowl appearances and he coached several outstanding players, including quarterback and Heisman Trophy recipient Steve Spurrier (1964–1966), running back and future NFL first-round draft pick Larry Smith (1966–1968)[18] and defensive end and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Jack Youngblood (1968–1970).

[19] In one of the more interesting footnotes to his football legacy, 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.

[20] After seeing the formula's potential in an intrasquad scrimmage, Graves asked Cade to make enough for the entire team for the next game against Louisiana State; the LSU Tigers wilted in the 102-degree game-day heat, and the Gators came from behind to win in the second half.

[28] His 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.

[35] When Steve Spurrier returned to Gainesville as the Gators' head coach in 1990, he created the Ray Graves Trophy, an annual team MVP award selected by the players.

The Steelers recreated the era in their "Turn Back the Clock" ceremonies, including broadcasting in black and white on the Jumbotron and airing World War II footage during the national anthem.