Mariucci proved his mettle as a sophomore and, with ample support from the hard-working players that surrounded him, helped to clinch a playoff berth, national title and 13-1 record following a winless season the previous year. When the team was honored during halftime of Saturday’s football game, a symbolic number 18 jersey with Mariucci’s name was raised to the rafters of the Superior Dome.

The ceremony capped off reunion events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Wildcats’ NCAA Division II Championship.

“There are some mixed emotions that come with this honor,” Mariucci said. “I kind of hate to be singled out, yet I’m incredibly thrilled and proud that this jersey will be on permanent display to represent every ounce of energy this entire team expended to accomplish something that’s never been done by any other team at any level: go from winless to champion. This is a special group of guys. We developed a strong bond that season and it’s continued over all these years.”

Ironically, if Mariucci had his way, he would have given up the sport shortly before training camp ended his freshman year. Frustrated and lacking confidence, he called his parents to inform them he didn’t like football anymore, wasn’t good enough to play at the college level and wanted to return home.

Steve and Gayle Mariucci, with his symbolic jersey suspended from the Superior Dome rafters in the background.

When his dad arrived on campus, Steve was outside with his bag packed and ready to go. But instead of whisking him away, his dad parked the car, talked with Steve for a while and then said, “Let’s go find the coaches.” After the Thursday meeting with assistant coach Al “Muff” Sandona, a former All-American player and NMU Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Steve’s dad urged him to “give it one more day” before making the return trip to Iron Mountain.

“Training camp broke on Friday, students started arriving that weekend to check in for the semester and my buddy (Tom) Izzo came up,” Mariucci recalled. “We moved into our dorm in Gries Hall, which housed half the football team. Things changed a little bit. It was like starting over again and I calmed down. I called my dad, but this time it was to tell him I decided to stick it out and see where it goes.

“I’m so grateful my parents weren’t soft and didn’t cave in and take me home, trying to be my friends. They injected their knowledge and life experience to help me realize you don’t quit when you’re exhausted or emotional; that’s the time to fight. This team learned that lesson after going 0-10. Most guys quit, but those who didn’t learned somewhere along the line from their parents or their coach that you can’t give up just because it’s hard. You suck it up, get through it, and things will turn out okay.”

Mariucci earned a bachelor’s degree from NMU in 1977 and a master’s in 1983. His original goal was to become a high school teacher and coach, modeling the career of his dad. Instead, he catapulted directly to football’s collegiate and professional coaching ranks, starting as an assistant with the Wildcats.

After several collegiate stops and stints with the NFL’s Rams and the Packers, Mariucci began his pro head coaching career in San Francisco. Under his leadership, the 49ers recorded 17 consecutive regular-season home wins — still a record — before shifting to the Detroit Lions. He successfully parlayed his sideline experience into the role of NFL Network analyst.

Izzo, his longtime friend and Michigan State University basketball head coach, surprised Mariucci by attending the 50th anniversary dinner at the Northern Center Friday night. Despite his own demonstrated talent on the field, Izzo relieved concerns Wildcat basketball head coach Glenn Brown had about potential injury by focusing on the court. He embarked on a coaching career after college and earned an NCAA National Championship with the Spartans in 2000.

“We all want to be liked. Sometimes we want to be loved. But when I die, I want to be respected,” Izzo said at the dinner. “And I don’t respect anybody any more than I do Steve, to the point where I named my son after him. I am honored to be here tonight for not only him, but for all of you from that team who made my college days so incredibly important. There aren’t a lot of memories that last a lifetime. This will be one. Football’s been in my blood my whole life. Whenever I get interviewed, I always say I like it more than basketball. There is no greater sport of camaraderie. These guys had such amazing chemistry and were so close, I was always jealous. Steve, you’ve done a lot for Northern Michigan. You’ve done a lot for me. What you’ve done as a human being is more important than what you did as a player.”

Former sportscaster Vern Lundquist, who provided play-by-play coverage of the 1975 Division II championship game on national television, recorded a video message played during the dinner recognizing Mariucci for having his jersey retired and reflecting on the team’s “improbable” achievement.

Former Wildcat Bob Tuma, who served as emcee for the dinner, was the quarterback whose injured elbow resulted in Mariucci’s first snaps in a game. Tuma returned to action briefly when Mariucci was injured, but was otherwise content calling signals from the sideline the remainder of the run toward the title.

“There is a saying that applies to any coach from any sport at a higher level: You put the people in the lineup who give you the best chance to win, right? You hear it all the time,” Tuma said. “And Steve gave us a better chance to win than me. Do I feel bad about it? No, he was really a pretty good quarterback and set some records. I was a senior and Steve was a sophomore. He was quicker than me and could fake better than me. When he started to throw the ball really well, that put me on the sideline just about permanently. He deserved the opportunity to start and made the most of it.”

During the memorable 1975 season, Mariucci passed for 1,624 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding 232 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. According to NMU Sports Information, his leadership powered an offense that shattered program records for total offense (3,874 yards) and passing yards (1,792), earning him team MVP honors.

In 1976, Mariucci elevated his game even further, throwing for 2,304 yards and 14 touchdowns. He finished the year ranked fifth nationally in total offense, while the Wildcats boasted the No. 1 scoring offense in the nation at 43.0 points per game. For the second straight year, he was recognized as team MVP.

Mariucci capped his career in 1977 with 1,608 passing yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior, leading the nation in total offense at 222.5 yards per game. He secured a third consecutive team MVP award, cementing his legacy as one of the program’s all-time greats. Other honors included Associated Press Third Team All-America honors in 1976, followed with an Honorable Mention All-America nod in 1977.

Nearly half a century later, Mariucci’s storybook career still resonates in Northern Michigan’s record books. He remains the Wildcats’ all-time leader in career total offense (7,523 yards) and touchdown passes (47).

Mariucci was inducted into both the NMU and U.P. Sports Hall of Fames. He also received an NMU Distinguished Alumni Award in 2020.