MUScoop
MUScoop => The Superbar => Topic started by: Goose on February 23, 2020, 07:40:46 AM
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One of the first guys to play for MU under Al passed away this weekend. He was a teammate of my brother in law and a wonderful representative of MU for his entire life. Prayers to his family.
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RIP
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As a fluke, I once met Tom’s son while living in Indianapolis. When he realized I went to MU and knew his dad’s name, you could tell how proud he was of his dad’s accomplishments at MU.
Condolences to his family.
(Thread should be in the Al, not Superbar)
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nice entry in al's wit wisdom and warriors facebook page-note some of the comments and who they were from-
Al McGuire's Wit, Wisdom, and Warriors
Yesterday at 7:24 PM ·
It's come to our attention that Warrior legend Tom Flynn, one of Al's first stars, passed away yesterday, February 21, 2020, at the age of 75.
Flynn earned All-Conference honors for three straight seasons while starring at Milwaukee's Messmer High School, and was a 1st team All-State selection in both basketball and football during his senior year, when he averaged 22.0 points and 17.0 rebounds per game for the Bishops.
In fact, more than 50 years after graduating, Flynn is still Messmer's all-time leading scorer.
Flynn received a four-year scholarship to Marquette from Coach Ed Hickey, and promptly led the Warrior freshman team in scoring at 18.1 points per game while pulling down 9.5 rebounds per contest.
As a sophomore on the '63-'64 squad that went 5-21 under Hickey, Flynn led the Warriors in both scoring (17.3 ppg) and rebounding (10.2 pg).
That year Flynn also tied a Marquette record when he drilled 16 field goals in the final game of the season, a 98-95 shootout over Xavier.
(Flynn shared the record with fellow greats George Thompson, Terry Rand, and Mike Moran, who did it twice, until Markus Howard converted 17 field goals on January 2, 2018.)
After Hickey's firing in 1964, Al took over the program during Flynn's junior year and made quite a first impression on his new players, including Flynn.
"I remember right off the bat thinking that this is one of those guys where when you sit in a room with him," recalled Flynn, "you are automatically attracted to him. He was just charismatic, but at the same time you always wondered what the heck he was thinking.”
"I think Flynn is a potential All-American," boasted Al of his new 6'6", 220 lb star. “He has every move in the book offensively, has great desire, but needs a little coaching on defense."
Despite Al's praise of Flynn's scoring prowess, Flynn had to somewhat adapt his offensive game to suit the style of his new coach.
"Flynn had to change his style of play," explained Al part way through the season. “Under Hickey, the coach wanted him to go outside of the key and take his shots. I need him under the boards."
Despite being moved inside and seeing his perimeter shots curtailed, Flynn again led the Warriors in scoring with 16.5 points per game and improved his rebounding total to 10.5 per contest, just behind Paul Carbins' team-leading 11.7.
Despite Flynn's strong play, Marquette stumbled through an 8-18 season, but it would be the last losing season Marquette would ever suffer under Al.
As a senior during the '65-'66 season, Flynn notched 15.5 points per contest as sharpshooting junior Bob Wolf blossomed into the team's leading scorer at 22.0 points per game.
Flynn also averaged 9.0 rebounds per contest as Carbins again led the squad with 11.1 per game while Marquette improved to 14-12, standing on the cusp of great things.
Flynn would later recall how Al liked to stroll out before every game to take in the opposing coach, looking him up and down to see if he could gain even the smallest edge.
“They would stand out there and chat, just like a bartender and his customer,” Flynn smiled. “And Al was always the bartender.”
Flynn is still the only player in Marquette history to be selected as team MVP during each of of his three years on varsity and proudly served as Al's captain during both his junior and senior seasons.
"I learned what being a captain was all about from Tom Flynn," said fellow Warrior legend and good friend George Thompson. “A better guy you couldn’t find on or off the court."
Flynn graduated from Marquette in 1966 as the Warriors' third all-time leading rebounder and sixth all-time leading scorer, and after nearly 50 years, he still ranks sixth and 28th, respectively, despite playing only three years on varsity.
After graduation, Flynn earned a tryout with the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, but was cut during July training camp.
The Milwaukee Sentinel reported, “Flynn didn’t play a minute of college football at Marquette,” but noted that he “was an All-Catholic Conference football player at Milwaukee Messmer High School.”
Flynn was inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
"I always loved athletic competition and I was very fortunate to be able to attend Marquette on a scholarship," said Flynn. “I grew up following Marquette basketball and I was very proud to be a part of it. I got to know some great people at Marquette and the competition was very good in basketball. Traveling with the team for games was a good experience and I loved the camaraderie with the other athletes."
After graduating from Marquette, Al offered Flynn a part-time assistant coaching position with the freshman squad, and Flynn couldn't turn him down.
"He and Al had a special bond," recalls Flynn's son, Michael. “After my dad graduated from Marquette, Al was afraid that my dad's eagerness to go serve in Vietnam would certainly land him in a dangerous assignment. So Al offered him an assistant coaching position and grad school scholarship. So my dad went to law school and helped Hank and Al coach the freshman team. My dad's first year of coaching, they had a freshman walk-on named Rick Majerus. And you know the rest of that story."
"Rick went to Marquette High School, but he could not make the basketball team," remembered Flynn. “We liked him. He did exactly as you told him. You couldn’t deny him. He had such heart that neither of us could keep him off the team. He won his way into [Al’s and Hank’s] hearts."
Upon his graduation from Marquette Law School, Flynn was accepted into the FBI as a Special Agent, working in that capacity for 32 years while serving in Portland, San Francisco, New York City and Indianapolis, where he lived in retirement.
"I did have an enjoyable career 'fighting crime' to include helping convict some corrupt politicians, bank robbers, identity thieves, etcetera," said Flynn. “I also managed to arrest quite a few fugitives from the law, including several murderers. I met and worked with many incredible people in the FBI and consider myself fortunate for the experience."
Rest In Peace, Mr. Flynn.
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Jack Carter
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Jack Carter R.I.P. MR. FLYNN💙🏀💛
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Greg English
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Greg English RIP Tom Flynn. A Warrior great.
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Jon Berta
Jon Berta The Pummeler !!! An outstanding person !!!
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· Reply · 16h
Mike Curran
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Mike Curran Oh God, Tommy. I didn't know you were that ill. He was the best, Pummeler you will be missed. A true friend,
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Michael Seramur
Michael Seramur RIP Tom Flynn!
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Thomas Hicks
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Thomas Hicks 🙏🏾 R.I.P.
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· Reply · 22h
Bill Brownlee
Bill Brownlee RIP TOM FLYNN
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Mary Quirk-Thompson
Mary Quirk-Thompson Very sorry to learn of the death of Tom Flynn.
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Bob Piano
Bob Piano RIP, Tom. A great player, but a greater person.
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Phillip Egan
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Phillip Egan Condolences to the Flynn family
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Brian Mulligan
Brian Mulligan A life well lived. RIP
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Walter J. Torres
Walter J. Torres 😎👍🏼🏀..!! RIP 🙏🏼
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John Malone
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John Malone I remember reading in this forum that Tom helped Al recruit in New York City, while serving there is a special agent for the FBI. I think he liked having Tom around especially since he was caring a gun at all times… LOL. Rest in peace Tom Flynn.
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Rudy Margiotti
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Rudy Margiotti A legend of MU passes but we will always remember you and your legacy, WARRIOR GREAT !!!
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Dennis Perrine
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Dennis Perrine A great Warrior. R.I.P. Tom.
Warriors!!!
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Richard W Saqui
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Richard W Saqui Thomas Pickard likes this !!!!
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· Reply · 10h
Judy Kacmarynski
Judy Kacmarynski So sad...RIP Tom Flynn. You will always be a great Warrior. ❤
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Gary Grzesk
Gary Grzesk Before I attended Marquette I went to many Marquette games. My freshman year he was an assistant of Hank Raymonds on freshman team. He would at times take over team when Hank was with the Varsity. Great guy fierce competitor. Last time I saw him was at Bob Neja induction to Wisconsin Hall Of Fame. True Warrior.
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Fred Gumina
Fred Gumina Great man and well loved by all.
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Edward M Tronolone
Edward M Tronolone So sorry to hear this. Rest In Peace Tom Flynn.
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Bob Siegel
Bob Siegel Tom was a great family man. He was a Warrior for his wife, children, and grandchildren ! He did not hesitate to let his views be known.
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Butch Lee
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Butch Lee RIP Tom, glad I got a chance to meet and talk with you.
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John Mulholland
John Mulholland One of those who were the foundation of MU’s McGuire era. RIP and thanks!
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Gary Brell
Gary Brell One of the first MU CATHOLIC LEAGUE all stars that got Al started.
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Jimmy Whire
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Jimmy Whire Prayers to the family...
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Tim Wilson
Tim Wilson God Bless🇺🇸
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Mark Gabrione
Mark Gabrione
🙏🙏🙏
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Robert Quinn
Robert Quinn
❤️
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Christine Livernash Mike Jackson
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Christine Livernash Mike Jackson Great man ! ❤️
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Tom Wolff
Tom Wolff Deepest sympathies to the Flynn family. What an incredible and interesting article. Sincere thanks.
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Jim Schlieve
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Jim Schlieve He was my first favorite MU player. I was 10. May he RIP.
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Bob Wolf
Bob Wolf A great friend and teammate!! We will miss him!
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Benny B
Tom's son knows a lot of MU ball history up close and personal.
rocket
Did you see comment by Goose Brell on the Al's page?