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Tennessee news - MT cheers for Mariani

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Montana shows support for native son Mariani
By John Glennon • THE TENNESSEAN • October 17, 2010


... population of about 10,000 prides itself on its railroad heritage, its agricultural production and its high school's unique nickname — the Blue Ponies.

It is not what one would call a football factory, but don't tell that to former Blue Pony Marc Mariani, whose NFL success has put quite a charge into Havre (pronounced HAV-er).

Mariani has been a household name around town for a few years — the former walk-on at the University of Montana eventually became a team captain and an All-American — but the next chapter is looking even more exciting. Mariani, a seventh-round draft pick last April, not only made the roster, but also has already made an impact. He returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown against Denver, took one 73 yards against Dallas and has the sixth-best kick-return average of players with at least 10 returns.
Is it any surprise that his hometown, as well as much of the state of Montana, is sticking its chest out with pride? Mariani, after all, is one of just seven Treasure State natives who began the season on an NFL roster. "There is just ka-doodles of support for him around here,'' said Tammy Schmidt, owner of The Golden Spike, a popular Havre watering hole. "We have a star player and he's doing just fantastic. I'm hoping the Titans go all the way this season. If they do, this town will just be upside down.''

... in Missoula, University of Montana students are very familiar with Mariani, who ended his career as the most prolific receiver and all-purpose player in school history. "Marc's the kind of kid that brings his lunch pail, works hard and works long hours,'' Coach Robin Pflugrad said. "That's what the community and the campus saw in Marc, and that's why they're so proud of him. "Now when he makes SportsCenter because he has those great returns, everyone is saying, 'Hey, he's doing even better than I expected!' That's kind of been the whole mood around the town.''
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20101017/SPORTS01/10170381/2162/SPORTS01/Montana+cheering+for+rookie+Mariani++Titans
 
marc-mariani-titans.jpg



Marc Mariani, Titans' Unknown Rookie, Helping Revive Art of Kick Returns
10/15/2010 5:04 PM ET By Thomas George


... Players in NFL locker rooms and fans everywhere quietly notice ... "Wow, the Titans have one fast white dude returning kickoffs! Where the heck did he come from?'' Marc Mariani says to stop murmuring. He acknowledges that "white guy," "fast'' and "kickoff returns'' may be an uncommon blend in the league. But this Tennessee Titans rookie brings it. He is currently the most dynamic, aggressive, intriguing kickoff return specialist in the NFL. A fresh face, a remarkable spirit, a gotcha-grabbing football player.

"Without a doubt, I get the white-guy-runs-fast thing in the locker room, and I get it other places, and I guess it comes with the territory,'' Mariani said of those now-routine, playful exchanges. "Not only that, but a white guy that runs fast from Montana? We have fun with it. The way I look at it, if I keep doing it well, I'll give them more to talk about. And that's not a bad thing.'' Not for Mariani. Not for the Titans.

Swinging Field Position
One of the league's least emphasized statistical measures is average drive start. It figures that the more advanced point from which an offense starts drives, the better its chances to score. Turnover differential and kickoff/punt returns dramatically affect average drive starts.

NFL kickoff returns are sometimes an afterthought. Several teams simply grab what it considers a sure-handed, fast guy off its roster and toss him back there. But not the teams that excel at it. New England leads the league in average drive start (35.4-yard line). No surprise it also ranks sixth in turnover differential (plus-4) and second in kickoff return average (31.6). The Jets rank fourth in average drive start (31.1). They rank first in turnover differential and third in average kickoff returns (29.9).

The Titans rank third in average drive start (32.4). Last season, they ranked 25th (24.9). Call it a Mariani-effect -- he ranks fourth in NFL kickoff return yards with 537. Mariani is part of an upswing in kickoff return games around the league. Nine kicks have been returned for touchdowns thus far -- the last time that happened through the NFL's first five weeks was 60 years ago. There have already been scoring kickoff returns of 105, 103, 102 and 101 yards. When Mariani scored on 98-yard kickoff return two weeks ago against Denver, it was the Titans' first score on a kickoff return since 2001. His 73-yard return on last Sunday at Dallas came immediately after the Cowboys had tied the score at 27-27. The Cowboys, in frustration, grabbed his facemask at the end of the return, resulting in a 6-yard penalty that moved the ball to the Dallas 5. Mariani's big return set up the Titans' winning touchdown.
http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/15/marc-mariani-titans-unknown-rookie-helping-revive-art-of-kick/
 
:clap: :clap:

and the way the Titans won last night, here's to a superbowl ring for the Montana native! Seems Marc will continue to make an impact, expect at least one more return score this season.

I think 7 native Montanans on NFL rosters is pretty good considering less than 1 million in the entire state! (That's about 0.5% of NFL rosters, compared to just under 0.3% of the population)

Here's to ALL Montana boys in the league :clap:
 
...and he gained rock star status post game in w g s...
...swear if bon jovi himself would have showed up...
...mariani would have garnered more attention...
...a couple more big returns and these titan...
...fans are going to really have it figured...

... :cool: ...
 
Mariani. Carp. Biermann. Hilliard. The list goes on, and we old Griz fans are so proud of each and every one of them!!!
 
'68griz said:
Mariani. Carp. Biermann. Hilliard. The list goes on, and we old Griz fans are so proud of each and every one of them!!!

Perfectly said, I have found a new interest in watching NFL again just to see our guys play, It is totally awesome.
When Miami and Atlanta play each other there are five Griz players in that game!!!
It is so cool to watch these guys doing so well and to know that we were there to watch them come of age and become great football players and now making a great name for them selves and Montana Football. We have never heard Montana mentioned so much during the NFL season as we have this year, GREAT GOING GUYS.......... :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
 
Born and raised in Missoula for the first 24 years of my life I quickly learned that my Montana (Griz) pride is a huge neon sign I wear around everyday. With all of the NFl and Mariani success as of late my neon sign now requires enough power that would equate it to running NYC. These guys make me so proud and I'm thrilled that our NFL athletes are FROM Montana and fought for every ounce they have.

That is Montana!!
 
Great job Marc and all.

Who was it on the forum that used to bitch about our slow white guys?
 
I must say I will have to quickly disagree with Coach Phlu's last comment in the article, 'Hey, he's doing even better than I expected!' That's kind of been the whole mood around the town.''

Now, I know I cannot speak for the rest of the town...but IMO, this is EXACTLY what I "expected" from MM83!!! I knew he was gonna kick some a$$!!
 
cclarkblues said:
Great job Marc and all.

Who was it on the forum that used to bitch about our slow white guys?


Can't quite remember, but he's been mysteriously absent of late.

He spams it up off-season, then games are happening and he's crickets...wtf???
 
PburgsOffspring said:
I must say I will have to quickly disagree with Coach Phlu's last comment in the article, 'Hey, he's doing even better than I expected!' That's kind of been the whole mood around the town.''

Now, I know I cannot speak for the rest of the town...but IMO, this is EXACTLY what I "expected" from MM83!!! I knew he was gonna kick some a$$!!

I didn't care for that comment from Coach Pflu in the least!

When this football season ends for us, and our first time head football coach, what do you think people will say about his job performance?

What you WON'T hear from me is..."better than I expected!"
 
Grizo406 said:
PburgsOffspring said:
I must say I will have to quickly disagree with Coach Phlu's last comment in the article, 'Hey, he's doing even better than I expected!' That's kind of been the whole mood around the town.''

Now, I know I cannot speak for the rest of the town...but IMO, this is EXACTLY what I "expected" from MM83!!! I knew he was gonna kick some a$$!!

I didn't care for that comment from Coach Pflu in the least!

When this football season ends for us, and our first time head football coach, what do you think people will say about his job performance?

What you WON'T hear from me is..."better than I expected!"
:thumb:
 
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