Mariota's Morning At Magic Kingdom
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
ORLANDO, Fla. — What will be a loooooooong day for Marcus Mariota kicked off Thursday with an early morning shoot for ESPN over at the Magic Kingdom.
A group met around 7 a.m. and piled into a van for the drive to the park, the start of a day that will end with this evening's Home Depot College Football Awards show (ESPN, 4 p.m. PT).
This morning's shoot was for a spot to air during the broadcast, featuring a competition of sorts between players and two ESPN personalities. Mariota would be throwing against, coincidentally enough, former Florida State quarterback Danny Kanell, who watched Mariota warm up for the first segment near the Space Mountain ride.
The park was open already, but only to a select few guests. The lack of a line for the roller coaster was a big tease. As Mariota noted: "Space Mountain is right there."
For the ESPN segment, Kanell was throwing with Rece Davis, while Mariota was paired with West Virginia's Kevin White.
I'm embarrassed to say, I'm not familiar with White. Seeing him Wednesday, I assumed he was a defensive end or something. Nope, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound beast is up for the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver.
As Kanell explained to Mariota, the first throw they'd be attempting was for distance, over the elevated tram in front of Space Mountain.
Kanell and Davis tried it a couple of times, connecting once. Mariota's throw to White was right on the money.
Then, the shoot moved over to the iconic castle — Sleeping Beauty's? Cinderella's? — where the four "competitors" got a group photo.
At this point the park was starting to fill up a bit. As folks walked by, Mariota was getting recognized.
"Go Ducks!" one park visitor called out. "Good luck with the Heisman," another shouted.
The most fun and interesting part of the morning was watching and hearing the differing reactions from parents and kids.
"Is that Mariota?" one adult asked, before stopping to shoot some photos. "There's your Heisman winner right there," a father told his children.
Another kid's reaction: "Hi, Goofy!" He was much more interested in the referee ESPN had recruited for the shoot.
(Insert jokes about Pac-12 refs here.)
The segment in front of the castle was a trick-shot competition.
Following that, the group walked over to a different corner of the park to recreate a play from Oregon's 2014 season (watch the show to find out).
By that time, the park was getting pretty busy and a decent crowd gathered to watch. There was one guy in an Oregon hat and sweatshirt; he was a park visitor named Jon Smith, of Denver, his wife attended Oregon and he just so happened to stumble upon Marcus Mariota at the Magic Kingdom.
"Her brother is a season-ticket holder and huge Mariota fan," Smith said. "She's going to text him: Hey, guess who we saw?!?!"
Smith has been at Walt Disney World all week. He said he's heard "lots of 'Go Ducks'" and also some "beat Florida State," including from park employees.
Also in the crowd watching at this point was a guy in an Alabama hat and jacket. "Y'all beat Florida State good, now," he said.
He said of Mariota's Heisman chances, "he deserves it. It's not even close." Then he seemed to remember Bama receiver Amari Cooper also is a finalist. "Well, Cooper's close. But Marcus deserves it."
Once ESPN had that shot, the group headed back toward the castle for one final set of photos. Marcus donned some mouse ears to finish off his morning at the Magic Kingdom.
Photos by Andy McNamara and Rob Moseley
