Story by Adam Redfern, contributing writer
Ric Flair will always be a stylin’, profilin’, limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin’ n’ dealin’ son of a gun – but Murray State Head Coach Matt McMahon is certainly giving him a run for his money.
Over his three seasons of coaching at Murray State, McMahon has been known to let out wrestling superstar Ric Flair’s renowned “Woo!” from time to time. Whether it’s at the conclusion of the Racers’ OVC championship win over Belmont or on Jim Rome’s radio show, McMahon hasn’t been shy about voicing his fanaticism with wrestling.
Shortly after Murray State claimed the OVC title, fans and the players of Racer Nation stormed the court to celebrate. One player stood out amongst the rest. It was junior forward Shaq Buchanan, who was hoisting a WWE championship belt with Ric Flair on it in the air.
His affinity for wrestling is well-known amongst Racer fans and especially his players, such as senior forward Terrell Miller.
“He’s a big wrestling fan,” Miller said. “He had a championship belt at the arena. I said ‘Man, who does that?’ They said it was Matt’s, I was like ‘Wow.’”
Miller, having played two years under McMahon, is accustomed to McMahon’s passion for wrestling. However, for newcomers like freshman guard Ja Morant and junior guard Shaq Buchanan, it was a playful surprise how he integrates wrestling in the in-game huddles.
“He’s always doing the Ric Flair “Woo” all the time and he does the chest slap,” Morant said. “Some of our players play around with him and then he’d do the RKO or something like that. It’s just fun.”
McMahon has always been a fan of wrestling dating back to his childhood. During McMahon’s playing career at Appalachian State, he and his team loved discussing wrestling during their downtime. McMahon enjoys doing the same with his players now.
“I’ve always been a fan of wrestling,” McMahon said. “I remember watching it in the backroom of my grandmother’s house, and she didn’t understand it was real. It’s real.”
Out of the many wrestlers McMahon has witnessed over his lifetime, one rises above the rest. That man, of course, is, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair.
“[Ric Flair] is just the greatest,” McMahon said. “He’s one of the best speakers to ever pick up a microphone. He is just the best.”
The Racers head to San Diego with the championship belt in hopes they can advance past West Virginia University in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday, March 16th.