Exactly thirty-four years later, Chucky Mullins’ enduring spirit continues to set an example for Rebels who have come after him

OXFORD, Miss. — Saturday night, Ole Miss fans celebrated a 33-7 homecoming win over Vanderbilt at Vaught-Hemingway. Exactly 34 years ago, Rebels’ fans won a 24-16 game over Vanderbilt, but that game is remembered more for what Ole Miss lost than what it won as defensive back Chucky Mullins was tragically injured in the game. 

Thirty-four years ago today, Chucky Mullins was injured in the Rebels’ game against Vanderbilt. On this and every day, we remember Chucky, his life and his wonderful spirit. He will forever embody the “Never Quit” attitude for us all. God bless Chucky. #38 #NeverQuit ❤️💙#ItsTime pic.twitter.com/nDbogl2AOB

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) October 28, 2023

Oct. 28, 1989, Chucky was on the field when Commodores’ fullback Brad Gaines ran a curl route over the middle near the Rebs’ goal line. As the ball arrived to Gaines, Chucky delivered a vicious hit. The ball was jarred loose for an incompletion. Gaines hit the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium turf as did Chucky.

Only one would get up.

Minutes later, Gaines was shaking off the hit on the Vanderbilt sideline and asked why there was a delay in play. He was told the player who had hit him was badly injured. After the game, he asked a reporter how Mullins was doing. He was told Chucky was paralyzed and would likely never walk again.

Chucky had shattered four cervical vertebrae and had no feeling below his neck. But Chucky never ever lost hope. He had the Ole Miss Spirit.

Later, a tearful Gaines visited Chucky in his Memphis hospital. Gaines expected rejection. Instead, he saw and felt the Ole Miss Spirit. Chucky simply told Gaines, “It’s not your fault.” And the two forged a friendship that was never shattered.

On the morning of May 6, 1991, Chucky succumbed to a pulmonary embolism and passed away. Reportedly, Chucky had a football in one hand and a Bible in the other. What was in his heart was the Ole Miss Spirit.

Days later, Chucky’s funeral was held in the Tad Smith Coliseum as it was the only building in Oxford capable of holding the crowd who wanted to honor the fallen young man.

Then-coach Billy Brewer loaded his team on a bus and headed for the service. On the way, he noticed a solitary young man sitting on a bench on campus. He immediately recognized Brad Gaines. Brewer asked the driver to stop the bus and got off. He briefly spoke to Gaines and invited him onto the bus.

Brewer told his players, “Y’all know who this man is…today he is an Ole Miss Rebel.”

That simple gesture may have helped Gaines heal some of the guilt and pain he felt since that fateful play that day. Perhaps, the acceptance gave him a bit of the Ole Miss Spirit.

These days, when the Ole Miss team takes the field, each player touches a bust of Chucky that is midway from the tunnel to the field. Below the bust is a simple inscription of Chucky’s mantra. “Never Quit.”

In the spring of 1990, the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity at Ole Miss initiated the Chucky Mullins Courage Award to be given each spring to the defensive player who most embodies Chucky’s spirit. The Ole Miss Spirit.

The player is given the option of wearing Chucky’s number 38 jersey or wearing a patch. This season, Cedric Johnson earned the honor and opted to wear the patch.

Last season, KD Hill was honored and it meant so much to him because when he first arrived on the Oxford campus, it was a goal of his. He was informed of the award on the practice field and immediately found a cell phone to call his mother in Eufaula, Ala. Through his tears on the call, he just told his mother he had done it. Hill wore the number 38 jersey.

Hill had the Ole Miss Spirit then and still has it now.

Over the summer, Hill was in a horrific car accident and lost his right leg below the knee. But Hill has the Ole Miss Spirit. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he embraced the Chucky mantra, “Never Quit.”

NEVER. QUIT.

🎙️ KD Hill #BeatVandy pic.twitter.com/60GqSI8UO1

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 28, 2023

Hill has posted videos on social media of his amazing recovery, doing all kinds of activities including jumping rope on one leg. This year, he will again host a Thanksgiving lunch for Oxford Housing in honor of Chucky.

Happy Sunday! Below is the flyer for the 2nd Annual Chucky Mullins Thanksgiving dinner! The location is TBA and I have the Venmo and cash app below for people that would like to donate! pic.twitter.com/jHDHVl1OGk

— Ka’Darian Hill (@Grindkd_55) October 8, 2023

That toughness and spirit is not reserved for former players.

During the bye week, Ole Miss receiver Jordan Watkins suffered a broken hand in practice. To repair the damage, he had to have two metal plates inserted into the broken bones. Less than two weeks later, with metal in his hand, he was fielding punts against Auburn because his team needed him in a hostile Jordan-Hare. Tonight, he caught three passes for 44 yards against Vanderbilt. Tight end Caden Prieskorn’s father passed away recently after a lengthy battle with cancer. Caden, just returning from foot surgery in fall camp, didn’t miss a game and continues to contribute as a key offensive player and a leader. Walk-on quarterback Braden Waterman has been battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma since he was 17 and saw it return this July — for a second time.  He underwent chemo, but never failed to be a source of inspiration for his teammates with his positive attitude and perseverance. 

It seems so many Ole Miss players have hearts of gold and strength of steel. Watkins, Waterman, Prieskorn, Hill, to name a few — and especially and always — Chucky.

They are the Ole Miss Spirit. God bless Chucky Mullins, now and forever. 

Steve Barnes

Steve Barnes joins The Rebel Walk staff as a senior writer and brings a trifecta of journalistic experience. As a writer, he has covered college sports for Rivals.com, Football.com and SaturdayDownSouth.com as well as served as a beat writer for various traditional newspapers.

He has been a broadcaster for arena football and several national tournament events for the National Junior College Athletic Association as well as hosting various shows on radio.

A former sports information director at Albany (Ga.) State University and an assistant at Troy and West Florida, he has helped host many NCAA conference, regional and national events, including serving five years on the media committee of the NCAA Division II World Series.

Barnes, a native of Pensacola, Fla., attended Ole Miss in 1983-84, where his first journalism teacher was David Kellum. The duo has come a long way since that time.

He will bring a proven journalistic track record, along with a knack for finding the out-of-the-ordinary story angles to The Rebel Walk.

Barnes continues to reside in Pensacola a mere ten minutes from the beach because he does have taste and a brain.