On Saturday night, Oregon football fans got their first chance to witness Marcus Mariota in a college football game. Announced as the starter just eight days prior, most fans were in the dark about just what Mariota would provide. The first glimpse of Mariota came last Spring when he dazzled a record crowd with a performance many had not expected.

When Darron Thomas, Oregon's career leader in touchdown passes, decided to forego his senior season to enter the NFL draft, many fans and analysts alike assumed that Bryan Bennett, a redshirt sophomore, would ascend to the starting role vacated by Thomas' departure. But the soft spoken kid from St. Louis High School in Honolulu would make his mark out of view of everyone.

Marcus Mariota entered the tunnel and ran onto the field as the starting quarterback for the University of Oregon football team in what he refers to as a "surreal experience. Just to see the fans and hear them going crazy it was like something I could only imagine; and it was really happening to me," Marcus told Duck Sports Authority after the game. Mariota admitted to being nervous. He attributed his ability to overcome the nerves to something his father once told him. "My dad always used to tell me when I was playing high school football that nerves are a good thing. It's just human nature."

Receiver Josh Huff noticed Mariota's demeanor after the game as well. When asked how Marcus was able to come out and play so well in his first start, Huff replied, "He's just calm. He never let's anything get to him. Why he was so calm, that's why the offense fed off of him."

He overcame those early jitters very quickly on Saturday, opening 12-13 for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns. An impressive start indeed, but Mariota took the start in stride, staying grounded and true to Coach Kelly's mantra to win the day.

"I can never become satisfied with what I did today," Mariota continued "I just have to continue to work with the offense. Everyone did a very good job today, but I just want to come back Monday ready to go back to work."

Oregon head football coach Chip Kelly was also pleased with how Mariota handled the pressure of his first college football game. Asked about Mariota's ability to manage the game, Coach Kelly replied that "we don't really use the word manage, you gotta go out and play." And play is exactly what Mariota did on Saturday. Coach Kelly continued, "I thought Marcus made a lot of really good plays. They blitzed him a lot early. He took a sack on the first drive, came back and made some really quick decisions."

Mariota admits that the sack is the one thing he would like to have back from Saturday nights game. "The guys up front did a good job recognizing it, I need to get the ball out quicker," Mariota confided.

"That's the one thing I love about him," Kelly said, "He's got a really good command of our offense."

This is pretty high praise to be heaped on to a redshirt freshman having just made his first start.

Mariota's command of the offense allowed him to spread the ball around to a lot of different receivers on Saturday. During his time in the game, which amounted to about a quarter and a half, Mariota completed passes to nine different receivers which fits into what Coach Kelly believes will help to define the 2012 season. "We are not just a one man show. It's important for us to be successful on the offensive side of the ball we have to spread the ball to different people." And that is what Mariota did Saturday evening.

By the time Mariota went to the bench and Bryan Bennett entered the game, the Ducks had built a 50-3 lead with still over seven minutes left in the first half. While Mariota would have loved to continue playing, he knows that Coach Kelly and Coach Helfrich have a plan that he can trust. "It's always up to the coaches," Mariota said Saturday night, "Whatever Coach Kelly felt at the time, I never doubt Coach Kelly and Coach Helfrich."

And here is guessing that the coaches will not doubt their decision. As Coach Kelly told us after the game, "To see how he performed today is what we hoped for; what we wished for, but you really don't know until you get him out there. That poise he has, I think people realize that's what he was picked as our quarterback."

Fans and pundits were certainly impressed with Mariota's performance. They were not the only ones, though, players were also buzzing about Mariota's performance Saturday. De'Anthony Thomas was asked if he was surprised at all by Mariota's performance, "Not really. He's been making plays all summer. It was nothing new." But as Mariota admitted, he will not rest on the laurels of this game instead returning to work Monday to get ready for Fresno State.

But on this warm late summer evening at Autzen Stadium, Marcus Mariota seems to have quieted all of those that doubted Kelly's decision to give Mariota the starting nod over the slightly more experienced Bryan Bennett. But, then again, finishing 18-22 passing with 200 yards and 3 touchdowns will help alleviate many fears.