George Ferguson Column: No doubt, Marc is headed for the Griz Hall of Fame

Earlier this week, the University of Montana announced that former Grizzly wide receiver Matt Wells will be inducted into the Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame this fall.

It’s an incredible honor for Wells and one that’s truly deserved.

It just so happens that I was a student at UM during Wells’ career with the Grizzlies, one that included Montana’s first Division 1-AA national championship back in 1995 — Wells’ senior year.

And I have to say, I was a huge Matt Wells fan. As a student in Washington-Grizzly Stadium, nothing was better than watching the Griz during those glory years, which included getting to watch the legendary Dave Dickenson throwing plenty of passes to Wells. That was one dynamic and prolific duo, and if you are a Griz fan, and you remember those days, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

My favorite memory of Wells came on a hot sunny homecoming day in that magical season of 1995. It was the first game to be played in the newly expanded Wash-Griz, it was homecoming in what would end up being the greatest season in Grizzly football history, and to top it all off, the hated Boise State Broncos were in town.

On that day, BSU was ranked No. 2 in the country, in what would be their final year in the Big Sky Conference. Montana was ranked fifth and was coming off a trip to Boise the year before in which the Broncos beat up on the Griz, and handed Dickenson a pretty severe ankle injury.

Yes, it was time for payback, and the Griz wasted little time, as Dickenson hit Wells across the middle just minutes into the game, and Wells did the rest, racing 82 yards for an opening score in a game that would never be close. Yes, Wells, Dickenson and the Griz took BSU apart that day, and the two bitter rivals haven’t played since.

With all that Boise State has gone on to become, I still love and relish the fact that the Griz blew the Broncos out in the last game ever played between the two, and Wells was a huge part of that day and a huge part of helping the UM football program become what it is now, a giant of the FCS.

So congrats Matt, the honor of being inducted into the HOF is a great one, and you deserve it.

But when I saw the announcement Monday, it also got me thinking, thinking ahead to the day when I get the press release that our own Marc Mariani is going into the Hall of Fame — because in my humble opinion, it should be a no-brainer.

It will be a long time from now, considering Wells is going in a full 23 years after his playing days are over. Yes, they don’t take the sports HOF lightly at that level. But there’s no doubt, Marc should be the second Havre resident to have that honor one day, as Mike Tilleman is already in the Grizzly HOF.

And the numbers speak for themselves.

Mariani is all over the Grizzly receiving and special teams record-books.

When his playing days ended in 2009, Mariani was the all-time leader at Montana, which was once a much more pass happy program than it was in Marc’s yards, in total receiving yards with 3,018. He was surpassed by Jamaal Jones by a mere three years, which leaves him second all-time on a very distinguished list, and in front of both Wells, and another Griz receiving legend, Joe Douglass, who are now both in the UM HOF. Marc is also first in career touchdown receptions with 29 and fifth in receptions with 164.

In 2008 and 2009 he also put together two of the greatest seasons a Griz’ receiver ever has. His 1,479 yards in 2009 is still the most ever in a single season, and his 1,308 yards in 2008 is third all time. His 80 receptions in 2009 is second all time, and his 15 TDs in 2008 is second all-time, while his 13 in 2009 is fourth. Single games, he’s there, too. His four touchdowns in a game in 2008 is still first all time, while his 12 catches in a game that same year is fourth.

Oh, and Marc was also one of the greatest kick returners in school history. His 33 total touchdowns is fifth all time in Missoula, while he holds the record for the longest punt return for a score at 94 yards, and is fourth with an 82-yarder and sixth with a 74-yarder as well. His 98-yard kickoff return for a score in the South Dakota State miracle playoff game in 2009 is the third-longest kick return in Grizzly history, while his 2,265 all-purpose yards in 2008 and his 2,185 in 2009 are first and second in the record books, respectively, which of course, makes him first all-time in career all-purpose yards, while he’s also first in career punt returns for a touchdown.

Yes, Marc did it all while he was at the UM. His teams won four Big Sky championships, played in two FCS title games, and his accolades include twice being named an FCS First-Team All-American, three times First-Team All Big Sky between WR and return man, a four-time Academic All-American, and the list goes on.

Oh yeah, and he had an outstanding career in the NFL that included a trip to the Pro Bowl, too.

Yes, simply put, Marc is one of the greatest Grizzlies to ever suit up, and he’ll be in the Grizzly Hall of Fame someday. If he isn’t somehow, than I’m going to have some serious things to say about my alma mater when that time comes.

But go back and read everything I just wrote, and it should leave little doubt about whether or not Marc Mariani becomes the first Havre Blue Pony football player to be inducted into the Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame.

That day will come. And, just like it is for Matt Wells, it will be well deserved.