The University of Mississippi Athletics
Football Players, Staff Visit Medical Center Clients
2/25/2010 | Athletics
OXFORD, Miss. - Members of the Ole Miss football team recently teamed up with the North Mississippi Regional Center (NMRC) and the Oxford Park Commission, in support of the Challenger Basketball League, which offers youths and adults with physical and developmental disabilities the opportunity to compete and enjoy the fun of team sports.
The NMRC, located in Oxford, provides services to individuals with intellectual and related developmental disabilities. The program featured teams comprised of NMRC clients that competed in the weekly basketball games every Wednesday from January 13 through February 17 at the Oxford Activity Center.
Rebel football players Jerrell Powe, Rishaw Johnson, Nathan Stanley and Raymond Cotton along with staff members Mike Beaumont, Danny Nutt, Branden Wenzel and Chyna Ward-Poley were all involved with the Challenger Basketball Program.
"It was a great feeling to be a part of it," said Stanley, a rising sophomore quarterback. "Every day is a gift, and I realize I'm blessed. Getting involved in something like that makes you thankful for what you have. I'm glad I was able to spend some time with those guys."
Two NMRC clients, Pat Chapman and Ben Mangum, have regularly attended Ole Miss football practices, and Rebel head coach Houston Nutt and the rest of the team have welcomed them into the Ole Miss family.
To show their appreciation for Chapman and Mangum's constant support, the Ole Miss players and staff members attended some of the NMRC team's games to cheer them on. The Rebel participants also got involved in the team's warm-ups before the game, helping with shooting and rebounding.
"You don't know how much it means for them to have Ole Miss cheering them on," said Dustin Crum, coordinator of the Challenger Basketball league. "A lot of the clients live and breathe Ole Miss sports, and it just means the world to them to see Ole Miss athletes supporting them."
In recognition of their support efforts, Crum recently honored Danny Nutt and Beaumont with a plaque as a token of appreciation. NMRC also presented its Outstanding Community Service Award to Ward-Poley, who has given years of devotion and support to the organization and its clients.
Ole Miss' work with the NMRC will continue, as the Challenge Baseball League is set to kick off later this spring.