I was walking to my class yesterday at noon when I got a notification from my ScoreMobile app … “Marcus Mariota declares for NFL draft.” Now, I wasn’t naive enough to think that Mariota was sticking around for another year, but I had this underlying hope that he wouldn’t leave. As a sports reporter I would have been somewhat upset if Mariota chose to stay.
That said, throughout the season in the time I’ve been writing and reporting for FishDuck I have done occasional updates on Mariota as far as his accomplishments and statistics went for that point in the season. In an article on USA Today, some of Mariota’s accomplishments throughout his career and his last season as a Duck were recognized. So, for the final time, here is a compilation of his accolades:
Marcus Mariota in his last game as an Oregon Duck.
- Won the Heisman and officially validated that he is the best quarterback in the nation.
- Named AP Player of the year.
- Won the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards.
- Was named the Pac-12 offensive player of the year.
- Set a conference record for most touchdowns in a single season with 58 (42 via pass, 15 on the run and a touchdown catch).
- Set a Pac-12 season record for touchdown passes thrown in a single-season.
- Set the conferences career touchdown record with 136.
- In every single he played in his career at Oregon he started he threw at least one touchdown pass per game (41 games).
- He is one of only four players in FBS history to have thrown for more than 10,000 yards and run for more than 2,000 in his career.
Reporters spoke to Head Coach Mark Helfrich about Mariota and his response was, “It’s been an honor to watch Marcus develop over the last four years, and I’m excited to see what his future holds. He’s given this program everything we could have asked, and he’ll be the standard by which others are judged. Mahalo.”
Helfrich also said after the National Championship game, “I think you could argue that this was the best, if not certainly one of the top two or three greatest seasons in college football history. And then you add in the person and the legacy that he [will pass on] from that standpoint, and there has never been one greater. None.”
Marcus Mariota in the Stanford game earlier in the season.
As sad as it may be, it’s time to let our young man take the next big step in his life and career. But if one thing’s for sure, Mariota will be greatly missed. I would even dare say that he will be one of those beloved, adored and talented players in college football history. Now, I am a Broncos fan until I die, but wherever Mariota ends up in the NFL, I’ll be rooting for him. Once a Mariota fan, always a Mariota fan. Mahalo, Marcus.
Top Photo by Gary Breedlove
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McKalie Bellew just moved to Oregon from Arizona. She is a sophomore at Lane Community College and moved here to pursue her dream of studying Sports Journalism and Broadcasting at the University of Oregon. Her passion for sports is admirable and her determination and hunger for success in the sports field is fascinating; if you ever have the chance to talk to McKalie face-to-face about sports, you’ll know how much she loves these games just by the way her eyes light up during the conversation. When unable to attend Ducks home games you can find her in front of a television on the edge of her seat, cheering her crazed-fan-head off. McKalie appreciates your feedback and constructive-criticism to help her become a better writer and reporter.