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John Glaser loved to get in a scrum and mix it up.
That was true on the basketball court as one of Marquette’s best all-time rebounders. It was also the case later in life as he found a voice as a prolific poster on one of the often-roisterous message boards related to MU hoops.
Glaser died earlier this week at 87, leaving behind a unique legacy.
Glaser first gained notice as one of Marquette University High School’s greatest athletes. He was an accomplished high jumper and pole vaulter on the track and field team, and he used that leaping ability for his role in basketball while tirelessly going after rebounds. Glaser helped lead MUHS to the 1954 state basketball championship for private schools under legendary coach Jim Harding.
Glaser then went to MU and competed for the basketball and track teams. He left MU as No. 2 on the all-time rebounding list, impressive for a guy who stood about 6-foot-3.
“His jumping abilities were unparalleled,” said Pat Foran, a chronicler of MUHS athletics history. “They didn’t keep this as a statistic back in the 1950s that much, particularly at the high school level, but he was an outstanding rebounder. Which he parlayed to his college career.”
Glaser got into coaching in the Chicago area, then came back as head coach at MUHS in 1961. In six seasons, he led the Hilltoppers to state championships in 1965 and ’67.
Glaser left coaching in 1967 for the financial sector.
“I could tell you, his players loved him,” Foran said. “The Jesuits like to talk about ‘men for others’ and he certainly exemplified service.
“He was talented. He was a very, very good student. I want to say he studied business when he was at Marquette U.”
Glaser voiced strong opinions on MarquetteHoops.com message board
John Dodds knew Glaser his whole life.
Dodds’ father, Malcolm, preceded Glaser as MUHS’ hoops coach. Malcolm Dodds and Harding, Glaser’s MUHS coach, were close friends. Harding later coached the Minnesota Pipers in the American Basketball Association.
“Because Jim Harding was like Uncle Jim to me and Jim Harding was a mentor to (Glaser), I saw (Glaser) all my life,” Dodds said. “So John Glaser was a household name in our house.”
John Dodds started a Marquette basketball-related message board in 1999. Glaser, always a passionate follower of athletics, was there as a poster at the start and followed the board through its several iterations.
Dodds’ message board is now hosted by 247Sports, and Glaser remained a constant voice on the site until recent months.
Glaser posted under the aliases “Gr8one” and “Murfeus,” though he was best known as “Murf.”
“I asked him like five different times (why he chose that name), and he gave me crazy answers,” Dodds said. “But it was some kind of inside joke to him.”
Glaser became a character known for outlandish opinions, including a rigid aversion to zone defenses and the belief that a good tape job can prevent any ankle or knee injuries.
“He loved throwing kerosene on the campfire,” Dodds said. “Marquette signed Travis Diener. And he said ‘I’ve seen Diener in AAU and he’s nothing more than a dime-a-dozen guard.’
“So the place, the board, just goes nuts. He was very stubborn and he loved inciting people. I’d say, John, I want insight, g-h-t , not incite, c-i-t-e.”
But Glaser also had long − and intimate − knowledge of MU’s basketball program.
“He really knew basketball because he coached and he played,” Dodds said. “So I’d say, ‘Hey, John, can you give me a story on Tex Winter when you were in high school and watched him when he was the youngest coach in Division 1 when he was at Marquette. He was 29 years old.
” ‘Tell me about Jack Nagle (Glaser’s coach at MU). Tell about (MU basketball legend) Don Kojis. And when you started looking from afar, tell me about (former MU coach) Eddie Hickey.’ “
Dodds said former MU coach Tom Crean recently asked about “Murf” from Dodds’ board because Glaser used to drive Crean crazy with his criticisms.
Then there was the time at the 90th anniversary party for Marquette basketball in 2007. Former players from every MU era sought out Glaser at a party, wanting to talk about his rebounding prowess but also his message-board persona.
“John’s wife, Jane, was there and some guys wanted to come over and say, John, we got to talk to you about what you’re saying on the board,” Dodds said. “And his wife goes, oh no, not that message board again.
“And he just had this really kind of evil grin, like, this is just what I wanted to do.”