Northern Michigan University announced Sunday that Steve Mariucci's No. 18 Wildcat football jersey willl be retired. The news was first revealed in a surprise video message from Mariucci's lifelong friend, Hall of Fame basketball coach and fellow NMU alum Tom Izzo, which aired on NFL Network's GameDay Morning on Sunday.
Mariucci's jersey will be officially raised to the rafters of the Superior Dome on Saturday, October 11, as a highlight of NMU's 50th Anniversary Celebration honoring the Wildcats' historic 1975 National Championship team. Further details regarding the celebration weekend (October 9-11) can be found here.
Mariucci, an Iron Mountain native, was a standout quarterback for Northern Michigan from 1974-77, left an indelible mark on the program and on college football. He earned Associated Press Third Team All-America honors in 1976 and followed with an Honorable Mention All-America nod in 1977.
As a redshirt sophomore in 1975, Mariucci orchestrated one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football history. After a winless 1974 campaign, he led the Wildcats to a National Championship title. That season, he passed for 1,624 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding 232 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. 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. His exceptional play secured him a third consecutive team MVP award, cementing his legacy as one of the program's all-time greats.
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 the Northern Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.
