One of the greatest traditions in college football is the Chucky Mullins Courage Award given to an Ole Miss defensive player before every season the last 34 years.
This season the award, sponsored by Phi Beta Sigma, goes to senior defensive end Cedric Johnson who will wear a No. 38 patch on his jersey in honor of the late Chucky Mullins. A standout and blossoming football player, Mullins was tragically paralyzed making a tackle in the 1989 homecoming game and later returned to Ole Miss to finish his degree though ultimately passed away in 1991.
A bust of Mullins is located at the tunnel entrance in the south endzone of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium where Ole Miss runs onto the field each home game.