NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Marcus Mariota will never forget his Hawaiian upbringing, Polynesian culture or Oregon college experience that helped him get to his current NFL platform. He used the Titans Week 8 bye week to immerse himself back into those avenues and provide hope for those that are trying to follow in his footsteps.
It started with Mariota and his Motiv8 foundation sponsoring 1,000 kids to watch Hawaii play San Diego State in Honolulu last Saturday.
"We're just trying to bring a little bit of joy and allow them to experience something that they wouldn't be able to do. I thought it was a really cool event," Mariota said with a smile.
A couple of the Hawaii coaches spent time with the 1,000 kids there from Special Olympics Hawaii, Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii, After-School All-Stars Hawaii program and local high schools. Mariota went to school at Saint Louis High about 20 minutes from Hawaii's Aloha Stadium.
Mariota said he wasn't able to experience anything like that growing up so it was exactly the type of event he'd love for kids in Hawaii to experience on his behalf.
"I just try to do my best to represent where I come from. It's a special place, it holds a special place in my heart," Mariota said. "Every single day, every single decision I make, I try to keep them, the culture of Hawaii, where I'm from, in mind. Whenever I get a chance to go back home it is nice. It's nice to spend time with family and friends."
A BIG mahalo to Motiv8, Marcus Mariota's Foundation, who generously gave tickets, dinners & shirts to 150 of our very own athletes! pic.twitter.com/00xY4hVQcc
— Special Olympics HI (@SOHawaii) October 29, 2017
1,000 kids make way into Aloha Stadium courtesy of Titans & QB Marcus Mariota's Motiv8 Foundation for tonight's UH game. #HawaiiFB @Titans pic.twitter.com/zpgrO1OU4U
— Ferd Lewis (@FerdLewis) October 29, 2017
Mariota had a multi-purpose bye week splitting time between rehabbing his hamstring injury in Nashville and making a trip to Eugene, Oregon, to celebrate his younger brother Matt's birthday. Matt is a tight end at Oregon. Marcus, who had his 24th birthday on Monday, was also honored at the Ducks game Saturday. The crowd went crazy.
"It's still pretty surreal," Mariota said. "Just being able to spend time with him and just hang out and be kind of normal for a few days was nice."
Homecoming King. #MahaloMarcus pic.twitter.com/KxxOYfra5g
— GoDucks (@GoDucks) October 29, 2017
Normal is relative in Marcus Mariota's world because he's maybe even more of a superstar in Eugene than he is in Nashville. Marcus Mariota even used Oregon facilities, which is named the Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Facility, to continue his rehab to ensure he'd be 100 percent once the Tennessee Titans returned from the bye week.
Mariota says it's "surreal" to see his name on that building and to be back at Oregon where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2014.
"Walking through there, it's pretty special, everything that the university has done for me and my family," Mariota said. "It's nice to go back there and pay tribute. It's a special place, and I'm really thankful for the university and what they've done."