Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin doesn’t even need to return to his high school for a reunion. They come to him.
During the Bucs’ season opener against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Martin was pleasantly surprised to see a familiar face in referee Peter Morelli. As it turns outs, Morelli is the principal of St. Mary’s High School in Stockton, Calif., — the school Martin attended — and he also happens to be an NFL ref who was assigned the Bucs-Panthers game.
Martin made a point to go over and greet Morelli with a big hug before kickoff, so we’re just guessing the running back didn’t spend too much time in the principal’s office during his high school days.