Cooley teacher, coach gets surprise at the movies

Matt Whetstone | Cadillac News Michael ÒMacÓ McLaurin and his wife, Lisa McLaurin, prepare to see ÒWe are MarshallÓ with friends and students from Cooley Alternative School. The McLaurins are graduates of Marshall and the film brought back memories of their past.

CADILLAC — His students and athletes call Michael McLaurin by his nickname, “Mac.”

So when an opportunity came about to show some appreciation for his favorite teacher and coach, Bryan Turnbull did it because he wanted to surprise him and not because he is a fan of the Thundering Herd.

Wednesday McLaurin’s friends, students and athletes came together to watch “We Are Marshall” as a way to show their appreciation for him at the Cadillac 5 Cinema.

McLaurin said the surprise was unexpected but welcome.

“I moved here in 1993 and most of my friends went to Marshall so we had an affinity for it,” McLaurin said. “For my other friends to see it and say it’s a good movie, it’s really special.”

The movie is about the plane crash in 1970 that killed 75 Marshall players and coaches.

Ever since Burnbull first met the Cooley High School teacher, the 18-year-old said he has heard about Marshall University.

Whether it was the stories he told, the license plate on his car or simply McLaurin’s green hooded Marshall sweatshirt, Bryan could tell he was a big supporter of the university. When the movie “We are Marshall” came out he heard even more.

“I read a few books that Mac brought in and when the movie came out, we heard about that,” Bryan said.

“He always is wearing a Marshall hoodie and shirts. He has a picture of his kids all wearing Marshall shirts on his desk.”

McLaurin’s wife, Lisa, met him at Marshall University where she earned her master’s degree. She said her husband grew up in the town of Huntington, W.Va. and he grew up a fan of Marshall Football.

“His family moved there right after the plane crash and he grew up going to the stadium. He grew up when they were rebuilding the team after the plane crash,” she said. “Students know he is a big Marshall fan and he was part of the community that supported them.”

Before watching the movie for a second time, McLaurin reflected on visits to watch the team play shortly after the crash.

As a child, he wasn’t aware of the tragedy at the time but he remembers having great seats and he recalls the poor product on the field.

Like any loyal fan, he stuck with the Thundering Herd and saw the players, and the community, progress over time.

The movie does more than just tell a story about the plane crash — McLaurin said it brings back fond memories of his childhood and boosts his passion for the program.

rcharmoli@cadillacnews.com | 775-NEWS (6397)