Hank Flick Officially Retires From Mississippi State

Long-time Mississippi State PA announcer, and Communications professor, Dr. Hank Flick has officially retired from his teaching capacity at the University today.

Many remember Hank Flick for his famous introductions at the Hump before basketball games. If you talk to any Mississippi State fans who watched basketball, or football for that matter, before the mid-2000s will remember Flick’s unique voice booming over the speakers.

Phrases like “To the Hump…FORRRR HOOPS!” and “First Down, Bulldogs” bellowed throughout the campus in that recognizable voice for years. Flick quickly became an icon of Mississippi State sports, and when you even heard a small bit of commentary over the PA system, you could tell that Hank was at the helm. When the microphone was taken from Hank Flick, many fans, including myself, cried foul.

But for years, some of Mississippi State’s greatest athletic moments were captured by those there under the commentary of Hank Flick. Although these moments will live on forever, the ability for more events to be called by Flick is a thorn in the side of fans. We here at Maroon and White Nation have even campaigned for Hank Flick to return to the microphone.

The Curse of Hank Flick

The “Curse of Hank Flick” has long been blamed for the myriad of disappointing years in the Mississippi State Men’s basketball program. Although, this year may be the chance for the curse to be taken away. Ben Howland has arguably the most talented squad of Bulldogs in the past decade.

So with this, we here at Maroon and White Nation would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Hank Flick for his contribution to not only Mississippi State Athletics, but also to the educational success of the University. Forty-five years teaching future leaders of the country is something that very few get the chance to accomplish, but Hank was able to do this. With all of that said, let’s get Dr. Hank Flick back on the microphone for at least one more year.