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The University of Mississippi Athletics
A Never Quit Attitude
11/9/2004 | Football
Nov. 9, 2004
By Katy Lonergan
Assistant Athletics Media Relations Director
From the first day he arrived on the Ole Miss campus, Rebel senior Eric Oliver was ready for action. He made an immediate impact on both the practice field and game field as a freshman and has been making a name for himself ever since.
Oliver was named to the Coaches and Knoxville News Sentinel All-SEC Freshman Team after appearing in all 11 games his first season in the Red and Blue. Oliver was credited with 25 tackles and a fumble recovery during his first season, which included two starts at free safety.
Oliver was more than just tackles on the field for the Rebels as a freshman. He earned a reputation for making hard hits and changing the energy of the game with his presence.
As a sophomore, Oliver became a full-time starter at free safety, leading the team in tackles with 129. His best game of the season was in Ole Miss' win over sixth-ranked Florida. Oliver collected 14 tackles against the Gators, including a career-high 2.5 TFLs for seven yards in leading Ole Miss to the upset victory (xx-xx).
Oliver's junior year was even more impressive than his first two seasons. He again started all 13 games at free safety and led the team in tackles (104). He again terrorized the Gators in his best game of the season as he recorded eight tackles and notched his first career interception to seal the Rebels' win over the No. 24th-ranked Gators at "The Swamp."
Prior to his senior season, Oliver was named to numerous All-SEC preseason teams for his play in previous seasons. Throughout his years as a Rebel he has earned several awards for his play on the field, but the one that stands out most is the one he has earned for his actions off the field.
On April 16, 2004, Oliver was selected as the annual recipient of the Chucky Mullins Courage Award. The award, sponsored by Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, honors the late Chucky Mullins, who had his Ole Miss 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.
"I think Eric Oliver exemplifies courage on the field and has all the characteristics Chucky Mullins possessed, said Ole Miss head coach David Cutcliffe following the announcement. "He is a great representative of this prestigious award and an excellent choice to carry on the Chucky Mullins legacy at Ole Miss."
The Chucky Mullins Courage Award goes to a rising senior defensive player at Ole Miss. Each winner then wears Mullins' No. 38 during that senior season.
Oliver, who wore No. 26 during his first three years, will be in No. 38 Saturday evening, as he has throughout his senior season.
"I was really overwhelmed," Oliver said, on his selection for the prestigous award. "It's such a great honor to be chosen to represent Chucky Mullins and all those other players who wore his number down through the years."
Oliver joins 14 other former Ole Miss Rebels to receive the Chucky Mullins Courage Award. They include Chris Mitchell, Jeff Carter, Trea Southerland, Johnny Dixon, Alundis Brice, Michael Lowery, Derek Jones, Nate Wayne, Gary Thigpen, Ronnie Heard, Anthony Magee, Kevin Thomas, Lanier Goethie, and Jamil Northcutt.
"It feels great to have been selected to help carry on his legacy," Oliver said. "I am doing my best not to disappoint anybody and uphold Chucky's `never quit' attitude."
Oliver, who was also selected by his teammates as one of five permanent team captains for this season, has made the most of his first three years in Oxford and his senior year has been no different.
The always vocal field leader has helped lead Ole Miss to an upset win over No. 25 South Carolina as the Rebels are turning things around on the field.
Just three tackles shy of 300 for his career, Oliver hopes to close out the 2004 season by leading Ole Miss to its third-straight bowl game.
"We started out slow this season," said the Sociology major. "But we have really started to play closer to our potential the last few games. If we keep working hard, we can finish the year at a bowl game and keep the winning tradition at Ole Miss going."
Its that `never quit' attitude that has allowed Eric Oliver to etch his name in the Ole Miss history books, the same way his mentor Chucky Mullins did.
