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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Players Receive Honors At Red-Blue Game
3/31/2001 | Football
March 31, 2001
OXFORD, Miss. - ,The Ole Miss Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, along with various football support groups, honored several members of the 2000 and 2001 Rebel squads here Saturday during Red-Blue activities.
Athletes selected to receive the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award included defensive tackle Daniel Booth of Amory, Miss., linebacker Johnny Ducking of Greenville, Miss., tight end Bo Hartsfield of Birmingham, Ala., kicker Jonathan Nichols of Greenwood, Miss., punter Cody Ridgeway of Jackson, Tenn., and linebacker Rob Robertson of Centreville, Miss.
The Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes incoming freshmen athletes who compiled outstanding records both in the classroom and on the athletic field during their high school careers. All six of the players were redshirted last season during their true freshman year at Ole Miss.
Defensive end Shane Elam of Covington, Tenn., received the Most Dedicated Player Award for the 2000 season from the Hinds County Chapter of the Ole Miss Alumni Association.
Running back Deuce McAllister received the John Howard Vaught Award of Excellence for the 2000 campaign, an award which recognizes a senior athlete who exemplifies the qualities of dedication, scholastic ability, morale, and performance. The award honors Vaught, whose Ole Miss teams won 190 games over 25 seasons as the Rebels captured six Southeastern Conference titles and a share of three national championships.
McAllister also received the Colonel Earl "Red" Blaik Leadership Award from the All-America Football Foundation. Blaik, one of the most successful coaches in college football history, led three of his West Point teams to national championships, and 24 of his former assistants became head coaches.
Quarterback Romaro Miller of Shannon, Miss., was honored with the 2000 Leadership Award from the Birmingham Alumni Club, while defensive end Derrick Burgess of Riverdale, Md., received the Clower-Walters Scholarship for the 2000 season. The Clower-Walters Scholarship was established in 1974 by the late humorist Jerry Clower to honor the late Carl Walters, a longtime Mississippi sportswriter who covered Ole Miss football.
The Jeff Hamm Memorial Award for the most improved offensive and defensive players from the 2001 spring football drills went to junior running back Toward Sanford of Batesville, Miss., and sophomore defensive back Von Hutchins of Natchez, Miss. The award honors the late Jeff Hamm, who served 40 years with the University of Mississippi in various capacities, including the final 20 years as Business Manager of Athletics.
Also recognized was senior linebacker Kevin Thomas of Courtland, Miss., who received the Chucky Mullins Courage Award Friday night. Thomas is the 12th winner of the prestigious award which honors the memory of Mullins, who was paralyzed after making a tackle against Vanderbilt during the 1989 Homecoming game, and then passed away on May 6, 1991. As a special part of the award, Thomas will wear the late Mullins' No. 38 this fall.
The J. Richard Price Courage and Compassion Award went to senior offensive tackle Terrence Metcalf of Clarksdale, Miss., and senior defensive tackle Anthony Sims of Memphis, Tenn. The award, which includes a scholarship to Ole Miss in the names of Metcalf and Sims, honors Richard Price, who was a three-year starter and an offensive and defensive standout on three of the greatest Rebel teams (1958-59-60).
It was also announced that Metcalf and senior defensive back Syniker Taylor of Gulfport, Miss., have been elected to serve as permanent team captains for the 2001 season. Thomas, Sims, and senior fullback Charles Stackhouse will serve as tri-captains.
The only non-football award to be presented was the Eugenia Conner Memorial Award, which went to Brandy Mack of Akron, Ohio, a member of the Ole Miss track squad, and Jamie Cummings of Jackson, Miss., a member of the Rebel softball squad. The award honors the late Eugenia Conner, who was one of the greatest female basketball players in Ole Miss history. It recognizes senior female student- athletes who exemplify a true Lady Rebel with character and leadership, both on and off the field.
