Gerald Glass remembers Kent Hull

I am forever amazed by the relationships among our Mississippi Sports Hall of Famers and the influences they have had on one another.
These relationships and influences know no boundaries, most certainly not school loyalties or even the sports they played.
Former Delta State and Ole Miss basketball star Gerald Glass was at the museum this morning, taping his interview for his upcoming induction ceremony. We covered any number of subjects, including, of course, that famous game when he scored 53 points and Chris Jackson scored 55 and Ole Miss won 113-112 in overtime.
We also talked about Glass growing up in Greenwood and, as a child, being introduced to basketball by the Greenwood High team.
“I was the most avid Greenwood fan you could imagine,” Glass said. “I went to every game I could and cheered like crazy. Man, I loved those guys.”
So — wouldn’t you know it? — one of Glass’s favorite Greenwood players was future Mississippi State and NFL football great, the late Kent Hull (inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2003).
“A lot of people don’t know how good a basketball player Kent Hull was,” Glass said. “He played in the post, was a great rebounder and he had some really good moves around the bucket. He knew how to use his body. I think he could have played college basketball.”
Kent Hull’s father, Charles, had been a basketball standout at State. Kent once told this writer that he was recruited just as much for basketball as he was for football.
You know the rest of the story. Kent chose to play football and became a four-year starter at State and later played in four Super Bowls for the Buffalo Bills. Sports Illustrated once ranked Kent Hull as the sixth best center in NFL history.
“He was a great guy, I can tell you that much,” Glass said of Hull. “I ran into him several times after he had retired from football. He was a gentleman, always had something encouraging to say.”
Glass’s childhood hero was Julius “Dr. J” Erving, but he also had a place in his heart for Bailey Howell, a most prominent member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
“I remember going to a basketball camp at Delta State when I was kid and there was long, tall Bailey Howell,” Glass said. “It’s hard for me to believe I am going to be in the same Hall of Fame as Bailey Howell and Kent Hull.”