Ole Miss great Chris Mitchell in need of help

 

Chris “Creek” Mitchell was the first recipient of the Chucky Mullins Courage Award and with that came the honor of being the first player to wear the coveted No. 38 jersey bestowed on the winner each year.

The award exemplifies hard work, character, a team-first approach to the game, leadership and, of course, courage.

Along with fellow co-captains LB Shawn Cobb, DT Kelvin Pritchett and C Dawson Pruett, Mitchell led the Rebels to a 9-3 record in that 1990 season as a heavy-hitting strong safety. The only blemishes on the Reb worksheet were losses to nationally ranked Auburn, Tennessee and Michigan in the Gator Bowl and Chris was a lynchpin, a catalyst in every victory.

Perhaps, however, his indelible mark on the Rebel program came in Little Rock, AR, on the last play of a hard-fought game against the Arkansas Razorbacks, a week after then No. 2 Auburn had defeated the Rebs 24-10 in Jackson.

Setting the stage, the Rebels led 21-17 but the Hogs were driving. With the ball lodged on the Ole Miss 5-yard line with 12 seconds to go in the game, Razorback QB Quentin Grovey, always a thorn in the Rebs’ side, pitched to 210-pound, speedy RB Ron Dickerson around the left end.

Dickerson was met by CB Chauncey Godwin around the 3 yard line and had his momentum slowed a bit by the 175-pound Godwin and by being brushed by Cobb, but he regained his feet and propelled himself toward the goalline, looking like he would score the winning TD.

Like a bullet, Mitchell zeroed in on Dickerson, who had launched himself for the promised land. Creek met him head on, stopping Dickerson cold and spinning him around while he fell harmlessly to the ground at the one yard line as the game clock ran out.

Mitchell and Dickerson did not get up immediately – both were dazed, but all around them was bedlam. Rebel players celebrating and Hog players and fans dejected and in disbelief.

3. . . 2. . . 1. . . and the game was over.

The play, then, now and forever known as “The Hit,” entered a place in Rebel lore as one of the greatest plays in Ole Miss history.

The Rebels went on a seven-game winning streak and capped off their regular season with an Egg Bowl victory over Mississippi State to earn a trip to the Gator Bowl.

Chris Mitchell made a lot of great plays in his career and to define him by “The Hit” may be selling him short, but it’s also quite fitting for him to have made a memory that will never be forgotten.

He was that type of player. Unforgettable.

Chris and Chucky were drawn together geographically and through the brotherhood of Ole Miss football with both being defensive backs for the Rebels.

They developed a tight bond driving back and forth from Ole Miss to their homes in North Alabama and after Chucky’s spinal injury during the homecoming game of 1989 against Vanderbilt, Chris stayed close to Mullins throughout the remainder of his life, which ended prematurely in May of 1991.

Both were high school standouts, but Chris’ legacy reached beyond football.

Mitchell was an outstanding three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track at the Powerhouse 2A Hazelwood High School in Town Creek, Alabama. He received 2A All-State football honors his senior year in 1985. On the gridiron, he helped the Golden Bears collect three region (1982,'83,'84) and two state championships (1982, '85) He was very instrumental in the well-known Triple Crown won by Hazelwood in 1985. He and his teammates were the Alabama State Champions in football, basketball and track.

Three decades later, in similar tragic fashion as Chucky, Chris has sustained a neck injury that – so far – has paralleled Chucky’s injury in scope and damage.

Chris is unable to move his limbs and has had difficulty breathing. He has finally been moved from intensive care and is starting to regain his breathing and some strength, but he has regained no use of his arms or legs at this juncture.

Obviously, the family asks that you include him in your prayers for healing and recovery as Chris faces a long journey of physical rehabilitation.

But as Rebels, we all know what else has to be done.

Ole Miss stepped up for former great Johnny Dixon in his battle against cancer and now we need to step up financially again for Chris Mitchell, who is facing an expensive, arduous ordeal in the coming weeks and months, if not longer.

Cards and letters of encouragement can be mailed to

Rocket City Rebel Club
Attn: Chris Mitchell
P.O. Box 4161
Huntsville, AL 35815

Club members will ensure the correspondence is delivered to Chris and his family.

You can also keep up with current news about Chris and his rehab on Facebook. The page is listed under

Chris Creek Mitchell.

Thank you.

SOURCE: Rounsaville, Chuck. "Ole Miss great Chris Mitchell in need of help." OMSpirit - 247Sports.com, 17 April 2020, https://247sports.com/college/ole-miss/Article/Ole-Miss-great-Chris-Mitchell-in-need-of-help-146153968/