Chucky Mullins banquet set

The 18th annual Chucky Mullins Courage Award Banquet will be held here Friday night, April 6, at 6 p.m. in the Indoor Practice Facility on the campus of the University of Mississippi. MLB Patrick Willis won it last year? Who will be the 2007 winner?

OXFORD, Miss. – The 18th annual Chucky Mullins Courage Award Banquet will be held here Friday night, April 6, at 6 p.m. in the Indoor Practice Facility on the campus of the University of Mississippi.

Established in the Spring of 1990 by the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity at Ole Miss, the Chucky Mullins Courage Award honors the late Chucky Mullins, who had his Rebel football career come to an end during the 1989 Homecoming game against Vanderbilt when he was paralyzed after making a tackle. After returning to his studies at Ole Miss, Mullins passed away on May 6, 1991.

The Chucky Mullins Courage Award goes to a rising senior defensive player at Ole Miss, and the recipient receives a framed Chucky Mullins jersey and a plaque to signify his selection.

Past recipients of the Chucky Mullins Courage Award include Chris Mitchell (1990), Jeff Carter (1991), Trea Southerland (1992), Johnny Dixon (1993), Alundis Brice (1994), Michael Lowery (1995), Derek Jones (1996), Nate Wayne (1997), Gary Thigpen (1998), Ronnie Heard (1999), Anthony Magee (2000), Kevin Thomas (2001), Lanier Goethie (2002), Jamil Northcutt (2003), Eric Oliver (2004), Kelvin Robinson (2005) and Patrick Willis (2006).

The 2007 Chucky Mullins Courage Award winner will be announced during the April 6 banquet, which is sponsored by Phi Kappa Psi and Phi Beta Sigma fraternities. This year’s winner will be recognized during pregame ceremonies of the annual Red-Blue “Grove Bowl” spring football game, which takes place Saturday, April 7. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field.

This year’s featured speaker at the banquet will be former Ole Miss linebacker Shawn Cobb, who was Mullins’ teammate at Ole Miss. Cobb earned four letters (1987-90) at Ole Miss and was team captain his senior year in 1990.

Tickets for the 2007 Chucky Mullins Courage Award Banquet, which cost $20 each, may be reserved by calling [phone]. Tickets are also available in room 233 of the Lyceum or by contacting any member of Phi Beta Sigma or Phi Kappa Psi on the University of Mississippi campus. The public is invited to attend.

Chucky Mullins Courage Award Banquet Committee members include Pam Barefield, Tyler Donahue, Princeton Echols, Tyrus McCarty, Jeff Roberson, Zach Rowalt, J. Stern, Jared Turner, Thomas D. Wallace, Chyna Ward, Jerrick Ward and Jason Wieloch.