Al McGuire and Bo Ellis
Both Al McGuire and Bo Ellis left their Marq at Marquette. How did they leave their Marq one might ask? The answer is simple. They did something different. They did things that others had never thought of. How they started their careers was a turning point to making history.
The picture above is of Maurice (Bo) Ellis’s first design of the team’s jerseys in 1976–1977. This jersey featured the loose “Untucked” shirt, a new look to the sport of Basketball, and was something no team had ever worn (Danny Pudi, 2014). This first jersey design was the start to Bo Ellis’s fashion design career. Luckily Al McGuire was willing to give Ellis a chance at designing the jerseys, which ended up being the start to Marquette’s brand of crazy jersey attire fan saw at their games.
Not only was Bo Ellis a fashion designer, “he was the number two scorer and second highest rebounder in Marquette History,” according to the 1977 issue of Hilltop. Not only did the Marquette basketball fans believe in Bo Ellis’s abilities but so did his coach Al McGuire who said, “As Bo goes so we go” (Hilltop, 1977).
Al McGuire played a large factor in Ellis’s career. McGuire gave Bo the freedom to be creative and innovated. He was a man of confidence and knew what he wanted. Al McGuire once said, “A team should be an extension of a coach’s personality. My teams are arrogant and obnoxious.” This quote was a reflection of how free and one of a kind Al McGuire truly was. He was not afraid to dress differently from other coaches, get out on the court and yell at his players, or take a break when he needed one and ride his motorcycle.
Al McGuire and Bo Ellis had the drive and passion it took to be different and leave their Marq at Marquette and in History. The Marquette community should be reminded of their innovated one of a kind personalities and leave their Marq at Marquette as well.
