The journey: Mariani starts first training camp

Marc Mariani has called Montana home for the last 23 years. But over the last two years, Mariani has spent a lot of time in the state of Tennessee, first, playing in two FCS title games with the Montana Grizzlies, then with workouts for the Tennessee Titans.

Now, he'll try to make Nashville his new home.

Mariani, a seventh-round draft pick of the Titans back in April, is about to embark on a brand new, and most harrowing journey — his first NFL training camp. And in order to be able to take up residence permanently in the Music City, he'll have to make the Titan's 53- man roster. That journey begins on Saturday when the Titans hold their first practice of training camp at Baptist Sports Park in Nashville.

"I'm really excited, and anxious to get going," Mariani said on Tuesday as he traveled to Nashville. "I know this is going to be very tough, unlike anything I've done in my football career. My motto has been that it's extremely hard to get to the NFL, but it's even harder to stay there. So I'm going in there with the mind-set that I have to work my hardest every day, I have to prove myself every day, and I'm going in there to try and earn a job. And I'm really excited that I have that opportunity." Of course, Mariani earned the opportunity to have a chance to play on Sundays through hard work, determination and perseverance. His story of being a non-preferred walk-on at UM, then becoming the Grizzly career leader in receiving and all-purpose yardage is well documented, and almost legendary throughout the Treasure State.

Now Mariani has to do the same thing, start all over again, and he enters Titan's training camp as a rookie wide receiver, and one of nine wideouts trying to earn a coveted roster spot.

And while it may look like Mariani is a long shot, being from an FCS school, he's confident in his abilities and is ready to take on yet another challenge.

"I've learned a lot already," he said.

"I've already essentially spent seven weeks learning to play receiver in the NFL, and it's gone well. So I feel good about that. But I also know it's only going to get more difficult as training camp goes along. It's going to be a huge challenge, and I just have to go in there with mind-set and the intention of getting better every day." Mariani has already spent much of his summer in Nashville. Since he was drafted in April, he attended a rookie mini-camp back in May, then spent seven weeks with the team during OTA's (Organized Team Activities). He says in that time frame, a lot was thrown at he and the other Titan's rookies, but, from what he's done and learned during that stretch, he has confidence heading into training camp, which runs through Aug. 26.

"The first part of the summer and training camps was a lot of introductory stuff, a lot of weights and conditioning too," Mariani said. "But the biggest thing I've had to do this summer is get the playbook down. The Tennessee offense is nothing like anything I've ever been in before so I had to learn it from scratch.

"This summer, the focus was on learning the playbook and doing my job right every day," he added. "We spent a lot of time learning the details of playing your position and it was a huge help because while playing receiver in the NFL is somewhat similar to college, there's also a ton of things that are different.

So I've been working on perfecting those things day-to-day. And I think the payoff will show in training camp.

With all the things I've learned, now I can just go in there and play fast and not have to think so much." Mariani has also learned about life in the NFL, and what to expect as training camp approaches. He attended the mandatory NFL Rookie Symposium in Sand Diego recently and said the time spent there was beneficial in many different ways. Some of the guest speakers included former NFL wide receivers Chris Carter and Irving Fryer, as well as linebacker Teddi Bruschi, and current NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. The symposium is designed to give rookies a crash course in NFL life, with things like pitfalls, financial matters and life after football as topics.

"It was really good," Mariani said.

"We got to hear a lot of different perspectives from some great players and the commissioner and it was really advantageous to get to do something like that. I also got to meet a lot of different guys like myself, guys who were playing on Saturdays just last year, so it was a really good situation for me and I got a lot out of it." Along with learning the Titan's offense, working hard on playing receiver and attending the symposium, Mariani has kept his eye on the prize all summer long. He says even in his downtime, he's continued to hit the weights hard, as well as getting in, and staying in the best shape of his life.

But now, for NFL players all over the league, summer is over and training camp is here, and for rookies like Mariani the challenge of earning his roster spot, earning his job for the next year is right in front of him. But like every challenge that's come before the former Havre Blue Pony three-sport star, Mariani won't shy away. He'll work his hardest and do whatever it takes to meet that challenge head on. And he'll do it with the enthusiasm and no-nonsense work ethic he's become famous for over the years.

"I'm really excited and a little nervous, but anxious to get going," Mariani said. "I have a lot of confidence in myself.

I've learned a lot this past eight weeks and that gives me a lot of confidence going into training camp. But I know it's going to get a lot harder, a lot is going to be thrown at us, so I have to come in with the mind-set that I have to work my absolute hardest every day and that's what I'm going to do.

"I'm excited for the opportunity the Titans have given me and I feel fortunate and blessed," he added. "Now I have to go in there and take advantage of that opportunity, work hard, do whatever they ask of me and do what it takes to earn a job." Note: Mariani fans can follow his progress as he attepmts to make the Titan's roster through the next month with the Havre Daily News.