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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Players Receive Honors At Red-Blue Game
4/9/2002 | Football
April 9, 2002
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 2001 and 2002 Rebel squads here last Saturday during Red-Blue activities.
Athletes selected to receive the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award included running back Brandon Jacobs of Long Beach, Miss., quarterback Micheal Spurlock of Indianola, Miss., offensive lineman Tre' Stallings of Magnolia, Miss., and defensive back Bryant Thomas of Louisville, 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 four of the players were redshirted last season during their true freshman year at Ole Miss.
Offensive tackle Terrence Metcalf of Clarksdale, Miss., was honored with the 2001 Leadership Award from the Birmingham Alumni Club, while he also received the Clower-Walters Scholarship for the 2001 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.
Fullback Charles Stackhouse of West Memphis, Ark., received the Most Dedicated Player Award for the 2001 season from the Hinds County Chapter of the Ole Miss Alumni Association.
Tight end Mitch Skrmetta of Biloxi, Miss., received the John Howard Vaught Award of Excellence for the 2001 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.
Metcalf was also honored with the Colonel Earl "Red" Blaik Leadership Award from the All-America Football Foundation and the University of Mississippi received a scholarship in the name of Terrence Metcalf. 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.
The Jeff Hamm Memorial Award for the most improved offensive and defensive players from the 2002 spring football drills went to offensive guard Doug Buckles of Madison, Miss., and defensive back Chris Knight of Pearl, 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.
The J. Richard Price Courage and Compassion Award went to senior center Ben Claxton of Dublin, Ga. The award, which includes a scholarship to Ole Miss in the name of Claxton, 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).
Also recognized was linebacker Lanier Goethie of Baxley, Ga., who received the Chucky Mullins Courage Award last Friday night. Goethie is the 13th 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, Goethie will wear the late Mullins' No. 38 this fall.
Head Coach David Cutcliffe also announced that Claxton, Goethie, linebacker Eddie Strong of Batesville, Miss., and tight end Doug Zeigler of Wilmington, Ohio, have been elected to serve as permanent team captains for the 2002 season.
The only non-football award to be presented was the Eugenia Conner Memorial Award, which went to Tashondrea Moton of Prattville, Ala., a member of the Ole Miss women's basketball team. 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.
