Mariota hopes dream of playing in Pro Bowl in Hawaii comes true

Quarterback Marcus Mariota remembers standing in line for as long as two hours as an 8-year-old to secure coveted signatures from Pro Bowl heroes.

Which is part of why he patiently signed autographs, graciously posed for pictures and enthusiastically shook hands for all comers in what was supposed to be a rare private moment at Queen’s Surf Beach before Pro Bowl festivities Friday afternoon.

Less than 24 hours off a flight from the mainland, with no beach time to himself yet, Mariota refused no request until the number of fans began to grow to the point that someone eventually summoned security to establish a cordon.

“I used to wait right over there (at Kapiolani Park) at the NFL Experience with my dad,” Mariota said. “Looking back, it’s crazy — it has almost come full circle. Obviously, I would have loved to play in this (year’s) game. Hopefully, one day it will happen.”

His Tennessee Titans teammates will tell you they expect it to happen “soon,” but on the eve of Sunday’s 35th Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium, a bigger question is, Will the game still be here when it does?

“Marcus is going to be a premier player in this league, I have no doubt,” Titans tight end Delanie Walker, a Pro Bowl player this year, said. “I hope the game is still here when he does.”

Although the NFL and the Hawaii Tourism Authority have a contract for the 2016 and ’17 games, the NFL has until March 31 to opt out of having the game here next year.

In the interim it might weigh offers from Australia and elsewhere — or put the game in tandem with the Super Bowl in Houston.

“It would be a dream to play in the (Pro Bowl) game, and I have my fingers crossed it will still be here,” Mariota said. “It would mean so much to play back out there, again, at Aloha Stadium.”

For the moment, his appearance on the turf in Halawa on Sunday will be limited to standing alongside players from his alma mater, Saint Louis School, as part of the halftime ceremonies.

When it was suggested that he might use the opportunity to put in a good word with NFL officials and Commissioner Roger Goodell, Mariota said, “We’ll see. I mean, I don’t know if I have that much pull.”

An appearance by Mariota in the league’s annual all-star game “would be huge here,” Walker said. “Marcus is the man. I hear his commercials are running (on TV) all the time here.”

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Mariota said, “One year in particular we waited in line for a long time for Jerry Rice’s autograph. My dad (Toa) and I always kind of laugh about that. My dad has been a die-hard San Francisco fan, and I got Jerry Rice’s autograph on a (miniature) Oakland Raiders helmet and he was like totally mad for weeks about it.”

When he first began accompanying his father, Marcus participated in soccer and had yet to play organized football. “He just watched the games then. He was a fan,” Toa said.

But Marcus had found his life’s challenge: becoming an NFL quarterback.

He wrote about it in Margie Tupper’s fourth-grade class at Nuuanu Elementary School and, despite being advised of the long odds, was unwavering in the pursuit. “He carried that with him all these years,” Toa said.

Fourteen years later, following a Heisman trophy, an appearance in the inaugural College Football Playoff championship game and overall No. 2 selection in the 2015 NFL draft, Toa reflected on his son’s rookie year, which included passing for 19 touchdowns and 2,818 yards in 12 games.

“I never thought he would be having so much success,” Toa said. “But he’s been very passionate and very hardworking.”

If not for four games missed as the result of ligament injuries in each knee, Mariota might well have joined the other rookie quarterback, Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston, in the game.

To prepare for the 2016 season, Marcus said he is taking care of his knees and wants to be a solid 225 pounds, “which means being smart about what I eat and how I take care of my body.” He said, “Coming back home, I can’t have all the rice and loco mocos I want. I have to pay attention to what I’m eating.”

Mariota said, “I’ve been part of these festivities, and friends of mine, people I grew up with, we’ve been part of the Pro Bowl forever, and to be able to come out and be part of some of the events is truly special. Hopefully, one day I will be able to play in it.”