Ottinger siblings recall NFL Play 60 camp with Mariani

Carson and Kayla Ottinger were a couple of the few kids that traveled ninety miles west to Havre in order to participate in an NFL Play 60 Camp hosted by Chicago Bears wide receiver and former Havre High standout Marc Mariani.

Not only did they go to camp but Kayla received an autographed Bears baseball cap with the signatures of Mariani and Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who was not at the camp.

"My mom found it on Facebook," Carson said.

But simply going to camp wasn't in the question. Their mother Katie made sure they took care of one of their main chores this summer.

"If you get your 4-H pig book finished we will go to NFL Play 60 in Havre," Katie said.

Carson has been a Marc Mariani fan since his father Eric told him he was from Havre. Though Carson is a fan of Mariani, he is a Denver Broncos fan. Mariani spoke about beating Denver in the first game of the NFL preseason on Thursday, August 11.

"He said that they would defeat them the first game," Carson said. "He told everybody."

It was Carson and Kayla's first time meeting Mariani.

"He was tall," Kayla said.

"He was very good with the kids," Katie said. "I think he was a little bit of a perfectionist."

Weather for the camp started off perfect and right after the campers and parents enjoyed a taco lunch, it rained.

"When the rain started, you could see this look of terror on his face," Katie said. "All of sudden when the activities started, thunder went CRACK! But he kept on going. He saw the look in the kids eyes and they were still playing, so he said let's go!."

Carson didn't know what to do when the rain started, but soon he started playing again.

"I just ran where the other kids ran," Carson said.

Kayla being younger was a little afraid.

"We ran to the car," Kayla said.

They participated in several drills including red light–green light. Though that game doesn't sound really intense, playing in the rain muddy field was a sight to be seen.

"It was wet and I fell," Carson admitted.

Kayla won her hat with a bit of luck.

"My name got drawn," Kayla said.

Kayla also took a photo with the Bears receiver that made it on Mariani's Facebook page.

Playing catch with Mariani was Kayla and Carson's favorite part of camp, though both didn't catch any of his throws.

"I missed it," Kayla said pointing to where the ball hit her on the shoulder.

Carson said the ball was too wet.