learn the assignments of every position on the field for helping him to understand the game and become a better coach, though he did not try to imitate Neyland's aloof and highly disciplined coaching style. Professional playing career With the nation embroiled in World War II, Graves attempted to enlist in the United States Navy after graduating from Tennessee in 1942. 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. 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. He played offensive line and linebacker for the Eagles during the 1942 and 1943 seasons, including the temporary merger of the Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers known as the "Steagles." (The Steagles were formed when the league had to limit rosters and cut back to eight teams in 1943 because of manpower shortages during World War II.) 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 Graves volunteered to briefly resume his playing career and appeared in seven games. Overall, Graves played in 28 games (including 15 starts) during his professional career. Coaching career Assistant Tennessee Graves had seriously considered on 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. After two seasons in the NFL, Graves returned to Knoxville to become the Volunteers' line coach in 1944. 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. Georgia Tech Graves returned to the college ranks as a defensive assistant at Georgia Tech under head coach Bobby Dodd. Under Dodd, Graves and offensive coach Frank Broyles, the Yellow Jackets won Southeastern Conference championships in 1951 and 1952, the 1951 Orange Bowl, the 1952 Sugar Bowl and the 1952 national championship. Graves