Raye brings wealth of experience to 49ers

Jimmy Raye’s 45-year football odyssey continues today when he strolls out to the 49ers’ practice field in Santa Clara.

The team’s new offensive coordinator started implementing his system this week in the classroom. The purported Alex Smith-Shaun Hill quarterback competition hits the field for the first time today when the 49ers hold their first of two days of minicamp practices.

Raye, who turns 63 next week, takes over this season after 49ers coach Mike Singletary fired Mike Martz shortly after the season. As many as three candidates for the offensive-coordinator position declined opportunities to take over, leading to Raye’s selection on Jan.28.

Raye’s most recent experience as offensive coordinator came with the Raiders in 2004 and ’05, but coach Norv Turner handled the play-calling duties. But if there’s one thing Raye has in abundance, it is experience.

And he’ll need to draw on all of it. Raye is the 49ers’ seventh offensive coordinator in seven years, and his performance might shape the team’s season.

He has been active as a player or coach at the college or professional levels every season since 1965. Raye has been employed as a coach in every NFL season for the past 33 years. His first NFL coaching job came in 1977 when Ken Meyer hired him as 49ers wide receivers coach.

But the journey began more than a decade earlier.

Born in Fayetteville, N.C., Raye was a standout quarterback. But, because of the color of his skin, about the only place he could play college football was Michigan State.

In 1952, Willie Thrower became the first black quarterback in the Big Ten, and he led Michigan State to the national championship. He later became the first black quarterback to attempt a pass in the NFL.

“If you were from the South and you were a black athlete and you wanted to play, you went to the Big Ten,” Raye said. “If you wanted to play integrated football, you went to the Big Ten. If you were west of the Mississippi, you went to UCLA.”

During his Michigan State career, from 1965 to ’67, Raye was the only black quarterback starting at the NCAA DivisionI level. He played a central role is one of the most memorable games in college history.

Michigan State and Notre Dame entered their late-season 1966 game with unbeaten records. Notre Dame was ranked No.1, while Michigan State was No.2.

The game ended in controversy as Notre Dame coach Ara Paraseghian elected to run out the clock and settle for a 10-10 tie rather than go for the win in the closing minutes. The teams shared the national championship.

“We didn’t want a tie,” Raye said. “We were playing for the national championship. We were undefeated going into that game, so when we tied the game, we were like, ‘Wow. It’s over.’”

The Big Ten had a no-repeat rule, which meant that Michigan State could not return to the Rose Bowl after playing in Pasadena the previous year.

“So from that standpoint, it was disappointing,” Raye said. “But some years later, it gained in significance because of the controversy that surrounded that. It has grown in magnitude since that time, so now it’s great that it’s on ESPN Classic and it’s the ‘Game of the Century.’”

The Los Angeles Rams selected Raye in the 16th round of the 1968 draft, but he was immediately switched from quarterback to defensive back. That is just how things were done back then, Raye said.

“The quarterback at the time was Roman Gabriel and he was an All-Pro,” Raye said. “But I was as good as the backup guys.”

After a knee injury ended his career, Raye said he was set to attend law school at Michigan State when his former coach, Duffy Daugherty, offered him a coaching job at his alma mater.

“I needed the money and he asked me if I’d come help the football team ... and one thing led to another,” Raye said.

After taking a job for one year at Wyoming, Raye’s travels took him to the NFL, where he has remained.

Raye has served as an assistant with the 49ers, Lions, Falcons, Rams, Buccaneers, Falcons (again), Patriots, Rams (again), Chiefs, Redskins, Jets, Raiders and Jets (again). Now, he’s back with the 49ers for what might be the biggest challenge of his career.

For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com