NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Every Sunday morning, fans of Marcus Mariota gather at his old high school in Hawaii to watch the Titans quarterback play.
This Sunday, many of them will see him play in person at Nissan Stadium.
A group of nearly 150 Mariota fans with ties to Saint Louis School are traveling to Nashville for Sunday's game vs. the Oakland Raiders. A big group is flying out of Honolulu, while some are coming from different states on the mainland.
Mariota, in his rookie season with the Titans, attended Saint Louis School, and guided the team to a state championship during his senior season. He went on to win a Heisman Trophy at Oregon.
"We're coming because we love Marcus,'' said Faye Muranaka, director of communications for the all-boys school. "People gather here to watch every Titans game that's aired. It's super early in Hawaii, but people have been going there at 7 in the morning to watch the games because they're such fans of Marcus.
"It's going to be great (to be at Sunday's game)…Everyone is so proud of Marcus. He's doing great. Who would have thought you'd have all these Tennessee fans in Hawaii? You see a lot of his jerseys, especially on campus here. People here have become Oregon and Tennessee Titans fans."
Selected second overall by the Titans, Mariota is off to a fast start during his rookie season, despite the team's 2-8 record. In eight games, Mariota has thrown for 2,026 yards and 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
Not long after the draft, Saint Louis School Director of Development/Chief Marketing Officer Alvin Katahara began organizing the trip to Nashville.
The group traveling to Nashville will be comprised of alumni, faculty, administration, friends and families of Saint Louis School. In addition to the game, the group will get a guided tour of Nissan Stadium on Saturday, and they'll also hold a separate event on Saturday evening in Nashville.
Prior to Sunday's game, the group will also hold a "St. Louis School Titans Game Day Tailgate" at Nissan Stadium. Mariota's parents, who regularly attend the games, are expected to take part in the festivities.
"It's a whirlwind trip," said Katahara. "But well worth it. The camaraderie and Brotherhood among our Saint Louis family is second to none. We support Marcus and admire what he represents for our school."
Mariota graduated from Saint Louis School in 2011. As a senior at the school, Mariota threw for 2,597 yards and 32 touchdowns, vs. only five interceptions. The Crusaders went 11-1 while winning the state title.
Mariota watched the NFL Draft from the same Saint Louis Alumni Clubhouse where fans watch his games on Sundays. When he won the Heisman Trophy, a huge group gathered at the facility.
"We have followed his success from Saint Louis School to the University of Oregon to the Heisman Trophy ceremony, and now as a huge NFL playmaker," Lulu Lulu, Mariota's former teacher at Saint Louis and part of the traveling group, said of Mariota. "We want him to know how much he means to all of us at Saint Louis and the entire state of Hawaii."
