Mike Organ

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

Alana and Toa Mariota had no one to blame but themselves for having to do some serious manual labor in the sun while on their vacation in Nashville Friday.

They're the ones who instilled a sense of compassion in their son, Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, and taught him the importance of helping others who might not be as fortunate as he has been.

Marcus Mariota had committed to help build a Habitat for Humanity home in the Ewing Park area and since his parents were in town he didn't think twice about asking them to come along and lend a hand.

"It's kind of the way we raised both of them (Marcus and his younger brother Matt) — just to always be humble, always be respectful, always do for others what you would want them to do to for you," Alana Mariota said after taking a break from sweeping sawdust from the house's concrete foundation.

"Marcus handles it well considering he is in the spotlight. He handles it better than most people would, probably better than I would. But that's just who he is, very gracious. His grandfather is a contractor so we've been around construction our whole life. So this is fun."

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The project not only was fun, but rewarding for Marcus Mariota and four other Heisman Trophy winners — Tim Brown (1987 Notre Dame), Mark Ingram (2009 Alabama), George Rogers (1980 South Carolina) and Billy Sims (1978 Oklahoma) — who joined in on the build for new homeowners Mohammed Berema, his wife, Khadija Aldom, and their seven children.

"I just like being a part of the community and this is a great way to get involved," said Marcus Mariota, whose girlfriend Kiyomi Cook also helped with the build. "We have some free time in the offseason and this is a good way to spend it. I got to meet the family when we started working and it's all about giving them a roof over their heads and I'm happy to be part of that."

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Rogers, who was the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1981 and a two-time Pro Bowler, has worked with Habitat for Humanity for five years.

He said the payoff comes from providing help for a family in need immediately and in the long run.

"It's a lot of fun to see a family go into a house and realize that you're helping a generation of people," Rogers said. "And then they will probably help other families in the same way because they were helped."

Aldom said that would be the case with her family.

"We are so happy and so excited and we want others to feel the same way," she said. "My kids are so looking forward to this. It will change our lives. It already has."

The Heisman Trophy winners are a close-knit group. Not only do they get together in New York each year when a new winner is named, but they are involved in several events throughout the year.

Sims, who became only the sixth junior to win the Heisman Trophy and finished as the runner-up his senior year, said the Habitat for Humanity projects are his favorites.

"To see people come from nothing and finally they've got something, they really appreciate it and it goes a long way with them," Sims said. "We've all been fortunate to get to do things that we always dreamed about getting to do as kids. To give back to society and help others realize their dreams is the most important thing for myself."

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 and on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.