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Maguire University is a fictitious college invented in 1963 by a group of Chicago high school basketball coaches for the sole purpose of receiving free tickets to the Final Four basketball games, which the NCAA allotted university coaches.
History
The idea was hatched by coach Len Tyrrell at Maguire's Pub in Forest Park, Illinois.
The phone number and address that "Maguire University" listed in the NCAA's registry belonged to Maguire's Pub, and when out-of-state coaches asked to book games, bar staff were trained to respond that the team's schedule was already full.
Maguire University's hoax continued until 1973, when the Chicago Tribune published an article about the scheme.
The coaches continued to attend the Final Four, purchasing the tickets with their own money, even after Maguire University was busted. The annual tradition has continued for more than six decades and Maguire University has merch, class rings, a hall of fame, and rolling online applications. The team's motto, "We Play Hurt", is a reference to the hangovers accrued by Maguire's "students".
Kelly's Pub, on Webster Street in Chicago, has served as the college's "campus" since Maguire's Pub closed in 1988.
See also
References
- ^ Jauss, Bill (February 4, 1973). "This 'college' bars all games". Chicago Tribune. p. 67. Retrieved March 29, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Schonbrun, Zach (2018-03-30). "The University Is Fake. The Laughs Are Real". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- Walker, Kevin (1999-03-25). "Maguire U. has jolly-good time". The Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2006-03-29.
- "World Class Facilities". maguireuniversity.com.
Further reading
- Gregory, Ted (March 28, 2018). "Final Four might be rare for Ramblers, but Jollymen of phony Maguire U have been there dozens of times". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
- Mathie, Frank (March 28, 2006). "Fake Chicago university scored Final Four tickets". ABC7 Chicago. Archived from the original on March 31, 2006. Retrieved March 29, 2006 – via Wayback Machine.