Mac graduated from Colbert County High School in Leighton where he was an outstanding three sport athlete in basketball, baseball and football for the Tribe. While he was a valuable member of the hardwood and diamond squads for the Indians, it was on the football field that Mac excelled. Playing fullback and quarter back during his high school career he was selected to the All-Area Football team in both 1955 and 1956 season. He was part of one of the most memorable Colbert County football games in 1956 between the Indians from the East end of the county coached by 

C.T. Manley and their rival from the West end coached by Bud Mills of Cherokee. Colbert County won the game 20-6 with Mac scoring two touchdowns and passing for another. The game is most known for the collision that took place on a punt return between Mac and Cherokee's Colbert County Sports Hall of Fame running back Jack Cochran. Following his high school career Mac was singed to a football scholarship by the University of Alabama.