Marcus Mariota: Heisman tour continues this week
By P. L. Colter
For the first time in league history, the NFL opened it’s season by pitting college football’s last two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks against each other…when Jameis Winston‘s Bucs hosted Marcus Mariota‘s Titans last Sunday.
And as we all know, Mariota wasn’t done with the whole history making thing when the game started. He got the better of Winston, and due to being interconference opponents, they won’t face each other again for a few years.
Unless of course they meet….
Ok…I digress.
While the game is now in the books, don’t look for the comparisons to end. And I’m not talking about Winston.
In fact, Mariota’s 2015 Heisman tour is just getting started…and the competition gets tougher at each stop.
This week the tour stops in Cleveland, where Mariota will face 2012 Heisman winner Johnny Manziel. The Texas A&M folk hero came off the bench and finished the game last week for the Browns. He will start this week in place of injured starter Josh McCown. Just the name Cleveland should give Titans fans nightmares after last season.
On November 8th, Mariota takes his Heisman tour to the Big Easy…to take on 2009 winner Mark Ingram and his New Orleans Saints. Ingram is the team’s starting back, and totalled over 120 yards from scrimmage last week. He also had eight receptions. The Saints are looking to return to playoff form this season.
The following week the tour returns home, where 2010 winner Cam Newton…and his Carolina Panthers come to Nashville. If the Titans are playing at least .500 football at that time, then the build up for this late season interconference showdown could be massive. The Panthers are reigning NFC South champions, and off to a 1-0 start.
And finally, on November 29, Mariota’s 2015 Heisman tour ends when Hall of Fame to be…1997 winner Charles Woodson brings his Oakland Raiders to Nissan Stadium. After suffering a shoulder injury last Sunday, we do not know for sure if Woodson will even dress for the game. If not, then their Heisman House commercial together will serve as a symbolic passing of the torch, as Mariota looks to achieve similar success in his professional career.
By the way, if you haven’t seen that Heisman House commercial with Mariota and Woodson, YouTube it. Good stuff.
Next: Tennessee Titans Power Rankings around the league Week 1