Senior defensive end Austrian Robinson won the 2019 Chucky Mullins Courage Award and will wear the number 38 for the 2019 season.
Robinson, a New York native, is the 29th recipient of the award. It was announced a lunch ceremony in the Manning Center on Saturday, presented by the M-Club.
“It means everything to me,” Robinson said. “Knowing everything that Chucky had going on, to be able to wear the number. It did. I’m not from Mississippi, so I didn’t think I was going to get the award. But it’s an honor. It’s a real honor.”
The award honors the late Mullins, who was paralyzed in the 1989 Homecoming game against Vanderbilt after making a tackle. Mullins passed away May 6, 1991.
“It’s probably a little bit outside the box from the outside looking in,” Luke said. “But you heard the reaction of the team. He’s got a blue-collar mentality that everybody respects with his work ethic and the way that he leads. He’s very well-respected. Maybe not flashy for people on the outside looking in, but he exemplifies the courage that I think represents what this award is about.”
Shortly after receiving the award, Robinson thought of Mike Hilton, who won the award when Robinson was a freshman and gave him a better sense of just how significant the honor is.
“Just seeing how hard he played every game, every practice. How he carried himself on and off the field. I know the 38 means something. Game day, knowing everybody’s going to be watching now makes a difference. But just play, keep going.”
photo credit: Ole Miss Athletics
