There’s something special about hometown sports. It’s not just the final score or the Friday night lights. It’s the stories behind the people wearing the jerseys, coaching from the sidelines, or supporting teams behind the scenes.
At Tullahoma Schools, longtime educators and coaches Mick Shuran and Cody McMurtry have found a way to bring those stories to life in a way that feels less like television and more like sitting around talking sports with old friends.
Before you ever understand the full story behind the “Mick and Mac Show,” you can hear it in the laughter, the quick back-and-forth jokes, and the natural chemistry between the hosts. The two longtime friends play off each other so naturally that many community members assume they’ve been doing this for years.
The truth is, they never planned any of it.
At first, neither of them expected much aside from calling a few games. They certainly did not expect to spend the next year building a show that is now a familiar Wednesday night staple for many Tullahoma families.
“We were nervous,” Shuran admitted. “We had no TV experience. We were just trying to figure out how to make it happen.”
Now, after 35 live episodes on local TV broadcasts, YouTube, LightTube, and social media, the duo has become a recognizable voice for local athletics, student stories, and community pride across Tullahoma.
But what makes the show special is friendship, authenticity, and lots of love for the place they call home.
The two friends have known each other since they were teenagers playing basketball together in Tullahoma, “back in the 1900s,” as they jokingly tell viewers. Their friendship continued through coaching careers, education, raising families, and investing in the same community where they grew up.
That history shows every time they’re on camera.
“Someone told us once that we play off each other really well,” McMurtry said. “And I think that’s true because we’ve been friends for so long. We just joke around and have a good time.”
The pair agrees that the day the show stops being fun is the day they walk away. Fortunately, that day seems nowhere in sight.
Over the past year, Shuran and McMurtry have welcomed coaches, athletes, assistant coaches, recreation leaders, bowlers, golfers, archers, and even fifth grade basketball players.
Their goal was to intentionally create a platform for students and teams that might otherwise go unnoticed.
“One of the biggest compliments we got all year,” McMurtry said, “was people saying, ‘I didn’t know our golf team was that good,’ or ‘I didn’t even know we had archery.’”
For two educators, those moments mean the world.
Some of the show’s most memorable moments have come from students who weren’t necessarily star athletes but had remarkable stories of their own.
One guest who left a lasting impression on the hosts was Logan “Birdman” Brewer, a student manager for the basketball team.
“He came in and was so intelligent and thoughtful,” Shuran said. “I was blown away.”
Another fan favorite was Andrew “Hatty” Hatfield, whose football-season “Hatty Report” segments evolved from brief appearances into confident on-air features. Over time, viewers watched him grow more comfortable in front of the camera and build his own following.
His parents later shared how much the experience helped him socially and boosted his confidence.
“That’s the cool part for us as educators,” McMurtry said. “The TV part is neat, but hearing that somebody felt seen or gained confidence because of the show — that’s what matters.”
Their heart for students and the community is evident in nearly every episode. While sports provide the foundation, the conversations often explore family, relationships, mentorship, and the people who make Tullahoma what it is.
One question surfaced so often that regular viewers likely came to expect it: “What brought you back to Tullahoma?”
Ironically, both Shuran and McMurtry once believed they would never return to themselves.
Like many young adults, they left town for college and career opportunities. McMurtry taught in South Carolina before returning to Middle Tennessee.
Shuran also envisioned a future elsewhere before returning to Tullahoma to raise a family.
Now, both see something they didn’t fully appreciate when they were younger.
“There’s some kind of magic here,” Shuran said.
That “magic” is a recurring theme on the show. Former student-athletes return to coach. Graduates come back to teach. Families grew roots for generations. Time and again, guests describe finding their way back home.
“It takes a village,” he added.
Middle school students gather courtside to watch broadcasts. Grandparents tune in each week from home. One caller even phoned in from Georgia simply because he missed Tullahoma and enjoyed hearing the same voices from the community he once called home.
For Shuran and McMurtry, those moments never get old.
Neither man claims to be building a media empire. But beneath the humor is something meaningful — two friends using their personalities, their platform, and their love for their hometown to celebrate the people around them. GN
