MacIntyre graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, Florida in 1957 and played quarterback on the school football team. He then was quarterback at the University of Miami for the 1958 season. MacIntyre sat out the 1957 season due to a broken wrist and served as a backup to All-America quarterback Fran Curci in 1958 and 1959 and to Eddie Johns in 1960. For the 1960 season, MacIntyre also was the holder for field goals. In Miami's final game of 1960, against Air Force, MacIntyre successfully threw a touchdown pass as part of a fake field goal. This play contributed to Miami's 23-14 victory and earned MacIntyre the nickname "The Finger". After graduating from Miami, MacIntyre became an assistant football coach at Terry Parker High School in Jacksonville in 1961 and 1963 and s