UT's Marrow all about play-making

The 'Make Plays or Die' logo. The group, started by Desmond Marrow also promotes its efforts via social networking sites like Twitter. NOT BLADE PHOTO Enlarge

Desmond Marrow is a guy that lives by his own motto - make plays or die.

Those words serve as more than just motivation for the University of Toledo senior cornerback and a select group of other athletes across the country. They also form the moniker for a successful enterprise, of which Marrow is the co-founder and CEO with Iowa's Derrell Johnson-Koulianos.

This isn't a money-making venture for Marrow and his associates, but it is one driven by performance.

Marrow and Johnson-Koulianos created Make Plays or Die, Inc., as a sort of fraternity for college football players that excel at their craft. It has since expanded to other schools and sports, but gaining membership to this exclusive club is still stringent.

"It started out just the two of us," Marrow said. "We were always saying 'M.P.O.D.' - make plays or die - and then we started getting shirts made. I gave one to my cousin [Central Catholic graduate Mike Marrow] at Alabama and my friend [Brandon] Beachum at Penn State. Derrell and I also passed out a few of them at our schools too."

One of the inductees into M.P.O.D. at UT was Iowa transfer and junior strong safety Diauntae Morrow, who first heard about the playmakers' club from Johnson-Koulianos while both were with the Hawkeyes.

It was a natural fit then when Marrow approached his fellow "M&M" brother upon his joining the Rockets about officially joining M.P.O.D.

"It was pretty cool," Morrow said. "I had no idea how far he was going with this, but whatever he's trying to do, I'm all for it and backing up a teammate with whatever he wants to do."

Part of growing the organization has involved designing a slick new logo, featuring the letters 'M.P.O.D.' and an electrocardiogram showing a normal heartbeat next to the 'M' and then transitioning to a flatline under the 'D.'

The logo has been placed on T-shirts and hats, and the items are customizable to whatever sport the wearer plays.

"It's kind of a select group that can wear it," Marrow said. "Basically people that are out there making plays and helping their team, whether it's here or any place else around the nation. It's really caught on. It's a catchy saying."

Marrow has even created a Twitter account - www.twitter.com/MPODinc - to get the word out.

"People will see you wearing the shirt, and they'll be like, 'What is that?'" Marrow said. "And you'll tell them, and they'll be like, 'Oh, that's kind of sweet.'"

So far, the M&M brothers are living up to their organization's namesake two weeks into the Rockets' training camp.

Marrow is fully back from a knee injury that sidelined him last season and is listed as a starter at cornerback, while Morrow is competing with sophomore Jermaine Robinson for the No. 1 spot at strong safety.

"They're both doing a great job for us," UT coach Tim Beckman said. "To have Des back, that's been a great asset for us. He brings experience, he brings a competitiveness, he's physical. And Diauntae, I've known him for a long time because we looked at him at Ohio State when I was there. He's been a great addition for us."

VOLLEYBALL: The UT volleyball team will hold its first ever Blue-Gold match at Savage Arena at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Admission is free, and giveaways to the Rocket Shop will be provided throughout the match. UT students also have the opportunity to win $400 worth of new books for the upcoming fall semester.

"We're really trying to promote our program to our students and the community as a whole," UT coach Greg Smith said. "Fans will be able to come out and see what our team looks like and also have a chance to meet them after the match."

Contact Zach Silka at:

zsilka@theblade.com

or 419-724-6084.