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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Players Receive Honors At Red-Blue Game
4/17/2004 | Football
April 17, 2004
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 2003 and 2004 Rebel squads here Saturday during Red-Blue activities.
Athletes selected to receive the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award included defensive lineman Viciente DeLoach of Columbus, Miss.; offensive lineman Darryl Harris of Clarksdale, Miss.; quarterback Robert Lane of Monroe, La.; defensive back Trumaine McBride of Clarksdale, Miss.; and linebacker Patrick Willis of Bruceton, Tenn.
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. DeLoach, Harris, and Lane were redshirted last season during their true freshman year at Ole Miss, while McBride and Willis earned letters in their true freshman season.
Quarterback Eli Manning of New Orleans, La., was honored with the 2003 Leadership Award from the Birmingham Alumni Club and also received the Clower-Walters Scholarship for the 2003 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.
Manning also was 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 Eli Manning. 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.
Defensive end Charlie Anderson of Jackson, Miss., received the Most Dedicated Player Award for the 2003 season from the Hinds County Chapter of the Ole Miss Alumni Association.
Defensive lineman Jesse Mitchell of Moss Point, Miss., received the John Howard Vaught Award of Excellence for the 2003 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.
The Jeff Hamm Memorial Award for the most improved offensive and defensive players from the 2004 spring football drills went to quarterback Micheal Spurlock of Indianola, Miss., and defensive lineman Michael Bozeman of Hawkinsville, Ga. 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 offensive lineman Marcus Johnson of Coffeeville, Miss. The award, which includes a scholarship to Ole Miss in the name of Marcus Johnson, 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 defensive back Eric Oliver of Jasper, Ala., who received the Chucky Mullins Courage Award last Friday night. Oliver is the 15th 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, Oliver will wear the late Mullins' No. 38 this fall.
Head Coach David Cutcliffe also announced that offensive guard Doug Buckles of Madison, Miss.; wide receiver Kerry Johnson of Oxford, Miss.; offensive guard Marcus Johnson of Coffeeville, Miss.; defensive back Eric Oliver of Jasper, Ala.; and linebacker Rob Robertson of Centreville, Miss., have been elected to serve as permanent team captains for the 2004 season.
Senior members of the 2003 team were also presented with their Southeastern Conference Western Division and SBC Cotton Bowl championship rings. Rings were also presented to SBC Cotton Bowl Chairman Fin Ewing III and committee member Larry Cantrell.
Senior soccer player Amy Sample of Crestwood, Ky., and senior women's basketball player Tywanna Inmon of West Memphis, Ark., received the Eugenia Conner Memorial Award, which honors the memory of the late Eugenia Conner, a four-time All-SEC center on the Lady Rebel basketball team from 1981 to 1985. The award is presented each year to a junior or senior female student-athlete that exemplifies a true Lady Rebel with character and leadership, both on and off the court.
