Daniel Horton Column: Enjoying the Mariani phenomenon too

Marc Mariani. For years now, simply mentioning that name has sparked all kinds of conversation and emotion in Havre.

And for good reason too, because in a small town like Havre, with roughly 9,600 people, having a kid grow up and reach the National Foo

Marc Mariani of the NFL's Tennessee Titans, and former Havre High and University of Montana football standout, welcomes fans and thanks fans for showing up the autograph signing on Monday at the Holliday Village Mall in Havre. Mariani returned home to Havre and signed autographs and took photographs with fans from 1p.m. to 5 p.m.

tball League is a rarity.

I have been fortunate enough to be a part of the Mariani phenomenon for almost four years now.

Spending the majority of my life in the state of Washington, I grew up a Washington Huskies fan. To put that into context, the University of Washington fans despise Washington State University fans like the Grizzly fans despise the Bobcat fans (and vise versa) in Montana.

But to get back on track, I quickly found myself following the Griz because the emergence of No. 80, a local Havre High graduate who was turning heads on a national level for his solid hands and explosive return capabilities.

To see that kind of talent come from such a small town isn't unheard of, but it is fun to watch.

Port Angeles, Wash., where I spent most of my life isn't a small town compared to Havre, but it is a small town compared to the cities and bigger towns in Washington. The closest thing that I can remember to having a big time star making it in the big times, was Marvin Williams, current player for the Atlanta Hawks NBA franchise. Williams played for a rival school a couple hours away, but seeing him in our home gym at least once a season was a big deal.

But Montana is different, and Mariani is different in how he has handled his success, and that is refreshing to see. I can't say that Williams never returned home to see local fans, but I can't imagine he had the kind of friendly, tight knit welcoming that I saw for Mariani last year at the Holliday Village Mall in Havre. I had never met Mariani, but I never thought in a million years he would spend hours, on top of hours signing autographs the way he did. But after getting to talk with him this year before his autograph session, I can see exactly why he did such thing.

Mariani had support form friends, family and teachers and seemingly the entire town, and still does.

Driving through Havre I see flags from several NFL franchises waiving on front porches, and even more window decals on the cars. But his success in college turned a lot of people into Grizzly fans, and his newfound success in the NFL has turned a lot of people into Tennessee Titans fans.

I guess I wouldn't call myself a Titans fan, but I am as close as you can get, I am a Mariani fan. I can't turn my back on the Green Bay Packers (my all time favorite NFL team), but I will admit that I tune into the Tennessee game each weekend if it is aired, in the hopes of seeing another great punt or kick return by No. 83. I am also guilty of bragging to friends and family that I have met Marc, and that he is from the town I now work in. I also have a couple of copies of the Mariani special addition paper that was printed by the Havre Daily News when he was drafted stashed away for safe keeping.

It has been fun being a part of the Mariani experience, and it has been just as fun witnessing how he has emerged as an NFL star, and how small town Havre has continued to support him. He hasn't forgotten where he comes from, and after talking to him, he never will. And as long as he keeps coming back, I would assume local fans will continue to line up and greet him with open arms.

It's a special relationship between Marc and his hometown of Havre and it's one I'm very glad I'm a aprt of now.