The Tennessee Titans last found themselves in the NFL Playoffs seven years ago, and since then, they've been dwelling in obscurity. As the Shutdown Corner puts it, outside of their fans, the only time people get to watch the Titans is when they make their dreaded appearance on "Thursday Night Football." But now that's about to change, and its brought about by the buzz surrounding former Oregon Ducks' quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Just this week, the Heisman Trophy winner was on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the caption "Flash of the Titans." As noted by the Shutdown Corner, the last time the Titans were on the cover of Sports Illustrated, it wasn't exactly flattering as Chris Johnson was used as the poster boy for the running back position's decline.

"No doubt there's been a definite jolt in enthusiasm in the fan base; everyone is so excited. The quarterback is always such a high-profile position on a football team, and to have someone the caliber of Marcus Mariota join the organization, it can't help but create that kind of energy," Titans chief revenue officer Stuart Spears told the Tennessean.

Around Nashville, billboards are up promoting and welcoming the college star. While there's no guarantee that the hype and his college pedigree will translate to professional success, Oregon coach Mark Helfrich believes his former ward landed on the right team.

"Marcus, he could fit anywhere because he is not going to be hitting the club scene late at night, I can tell you that. He is going to be working and doing things in the community and working on the job at hand. But as for the city itself, and how he'll fit, I think Nashville is a great city for him for a number of reasons," Helfrich was quoted in the Tennessean.

"I'm looking forward to it. It's an opportunity. It's a new challenge. It's going to be a lot of fun, and it's an experience I haven't had before, and that's what's really cool about this profession," Mariota said.