I was fortunate enough to follow a few genuine coaching legends in my lifetime. A few such as Woody Hayes, Bobby Knight, and Billy Martin, were mavericks who in their own style became as big as the game itself. Another legend in my own back yard that I enjoyed following was Marquette basketball coach Al McGuire-who passed away this week.
College hoops was a different animal in the 1970's. There was no three point shot, and no shot clock. Every possession in every game seemed to be vital. There was no cable TV, and no networks carried regular season games. A syndicated network known as TVS did a conference game of the week as well as Notre Dame games (including those epic ND-UCLA battles w/ Dick Enberg at the mike).
Today Marquette is reduced to the status of a glorified "mid-major". But in the day, the McGwire led Warriors (MU was stupid for changing to the lame "Golden Eagles") was a powerhouse. MU did not even reside in a conference, they were known as a "major independent" and had to rely on an at-large birth to get into the 32 team NCAA tournament.
So every game meant a lot, and I watched just about all of them on the tube. Every barn the Warriors invaded, whether it be DePaul, Loyola, Detroit, etc. the crowd was at a fever pitch, trying to will their team to an upset, most times Marquette managed to escape with the win.
Most memorable were McGuire's battles with Ray Meyer's DePaul teams as well as with Dick Vitale's Detroit Titans. The McGuire/Vitale show itself was worth the price of admission, which coach was going to need a straightjacket first???
Only a couple of jauggernauts kept the Warriors from taking it all before 1977. The David Thompson led N.C. State team beat MU in the '74 title game -- with the help of McGuire getting T'd up twice. Also MU had the misfortune of losing in the '75 regionals to Indiana - college hoops last undefeated team.
McGuire shockingly announced his retirement (effective at the end of the season early in '76-'77) The Warriors ended up losing seven games and were on the bubble for even getting invited to the '77 tourney. But once in, destiny was on MU's side. An opening round victory over Cincinnati, avenging an early-season loss helped set the tone. The Warriors go on to win in come from behind fashion in the second round after McGuire gets T'd up. That was followed by a surprisingly easy victory in the regional final.
At the Final Four, the Warriors would win their semi-final game in dramatic buzzer-beating fashion over an upstart UNC-Charlotte team. That set the scene for the final against North Carolina. After blowing an early lead, MU found itself having to defend UNC's vaunted "four corners" offense. The Warrior defense remained patient, eventually getting a key turnover and took over the game from there, winning 67-59.
It seemed to be a given that McGuire, then only 48, would coach again, whether it be college or the NBA. But he never did, being satisfied in his second career as a TV analyst. No doubt it was the right move, as Al McGuire achieved what few others can claim, to truly leave on top.