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Character Finally Wins Heisman Trophy in Oregon’s Marcus Mariota

By Jerry Levi

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All he wants to do is win. You can tell it in his mannerisms and the way that Oregon’s Marcus Mariota conducts himself. Shy but focused, he was like James Dean in a tuxedo. Completely understated and slightly uncomfortable. If you told the junior quarterback it was okay to put his helmet on for his speech, he probably would have taken you up on that. Saturday night, Hawaii’s Favorite Son took home the most coveted prize in all of sports, and brought back something that the Heisman has been missing for a few years: Character.

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Not to take anything away from runner-ups Melvin Gordon and Amare Cooper, cause they would have been fine Heisman winners in their own right, but the award took a leap back from the precipice that it held for a few years. The Heisman Trophy was in danger of just being the award synonymous with bad behavior; Cam Newton, Johnny Manziel, and Jameis Winston were 3 out of the last 4 winners.

You won’t find Marcus Mariota at 2am the night before a game, stumbling into his residence, or being suspended numerous times for pending criminal offenses. You won’t find Toa Mariota (Marcus’ father) asking schools for money for his son to play there. Mariota’s only blemish? A speeding ticket. Being brought up the right way in Hawaii, one could tell the impact that his parent’s had on the young man. In Mariota’s accepting speech, it was all business until he got to thanking his mom and dad, the aforementioned Toa Mariota and Alana Deppe-Mariota…

"“Finally, Mom, Dad, Matt and the rest of my family, thank you. Thank you for sacrificing and providing me and Matt every opportunity we could have. Words can’t express how much you guys mean to me. I’m truly grateful to have you guys in my life. Mom and Dad, thank you for your love and for sharing that with me and Matt. We are truly grateful. Fa’afetai tele lava [thank you very much]. God bless, and go Ducks.”"

So for a moment let’s forget the stats that brought him here. Forget the fact that Oregon plays Florida State and Jameis Winston in the first National Semifinal. Put down your Mariota Draft Stock projections and enjoy the moment. Enjoy the fact that the rest of America just got its character and integrity back in its favorite award.

It feels comfortable to say Mariota amongst the likes of Johnny Rodgers, Earl Campbell, Marcus Allen, Doak Walker, and Doug Flutie. If there’s any justice, Marcus Mariota will come back to New York City only as part of a visiting team. Yes, in just a short span of time, we’ve become protective of him. Stay away Jets, Browns, and the like. Mariota should be the first quarterback taken in the 1st round and hopefully our hopes and dreams go with him that he breaks The Heisman Curse that has befallen many before him. He’s already broken one trend, why not another?

So Fa’afetai tele lava (thank you very much) Toa and Alana Mariota…you brought up a great young man. One deserving not only of the Heisman Trophy, but of continued success on and off the field.

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