Marc Mariani to be inducted into Grizzly Hall of Fame

Among the many great things former Havre High star Marc Mariani did during an incredible football career, he is arguably one of the greatest wide receivers and kick returners to ever play in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Now, Mariani will become the second Montana Grizzly ever from Havre to be inducted into the Grizzly Hall of Fame.

The University of Montana athletic department proudly announced the Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame presented by Wipfli incoming class of 2023 last Thursday, honoring the careers of four of UM's most successful student-athletes and coaches. Mariani, the great former Havre Blue Pony and NFL Pro Bowler was among them.

"All four of these individuals had remarkable careers at the University of Montana and left a significant legacy. As I visited with each of these inductees, they all expressed their gratitude for the opportunities provided them by Grizzly Athletics. Now it is our great opportunity to recognize their accomplishments," said director of athletics Kent Haslam.

Mariani, a former walk-on, finished his time at Montana as one of the most successful receivers and return men in school and Big Sky Conference history.

In a stellar Grizzly career, he set records for single-season receiving yards (1,479 in 2009), and career records in receiving yards (3,018), receiving touchdowns (29), yards per punt return (15.01), punt return TDs (3), kick return average (27.57) and all-purpose yards (5,441). He also tied a school and Big Sky record for the longest punt return in league history at 94 yards and returned a kickoff 98 yards against South Dakota State in 2009 that sparked one of the greatest comebacks in college football history.

He went on to become a two-time All-American pick by The Sports Network, as well as being named an All-American his senior year by the Associated Press and the Walter Camp Foundation. He was also a two-time first-team All-Big Sky pick, unanimously selected among the league's coaches following his senior season, and was named Big Sky Player of the Week five times in two years.

As a business marketing and management major, he was also a three-time Academic All-Big Sky selection. In 2009 he was the co-recipient of the team's Steve Carlson MVP Award, was a two-time recipient of the Terry Dillon Award for outstanding back or receiver, and was the co-special teams player of the year as a senior.

He was later selected by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft and went on to a six-year NFL career where he earned a place in the Pro Bowl. He set two Pro Bowl records in 2011 for number of returns and total return yards for a game. Records that still stand today. He was also a two-time AFC Special Teams Player of the Week and was named to The Sporting News All-Rookie Team and the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2010. He finished his NFL career with 5,041 return yards and three touchdowns to go along with 27 catches for 324 yards.

Mariani still lives in Nashville, where he works in real estate and makes regular radio appearances for the Titans, and has also spent time coaching high school football. He and his wife Carly have two children, Maverick, 4, and Romee, 2.

"It's honestly a dream come true and one of the greatest honors of my entire life," Mariani said. "Growing up as a Havre Blue Pony and dreaming of playing in Grizzly Stadium, going through all those years, and then getting the phone call that I was receiving this honor, it's just really hard for me to even have dreamt that big, and to put into words how crazy of a ride it's been.

"I'm just beyond excited and so honored. I love the University of Montana, and I love the Montana Grizzlies and everything we stand for, and to be recognized as one of the greats is really humbling and an extreme honor for me."

Mariani's HOF class also includes former Lady Griz soccer coach Betsy Duerksen, former track and field great Dean Erhard, and Lady Griz two-sport star Jeanne McNulty-King.