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For Marve, Endless Possibilities

Tribune photo by JOEY JOHNSTON

Former Plant star Robert Marve is virtually assured of starting for Miami at quarterback as a redshirt freshman.

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 13, 2008

For Tampa's Robert Marve, a redshirt freshman quarterback at the University of Miami, the possibilities are tantalizing.

Unless things change drastically, Marve figures to be Miami's starter this fall.

On Aug. 28, when UM opens against Charleston Southern at Dolphin Stadium, new home of the Hurricanes, his debut would occur on the same field where his unbeaten Plant Panthers captured the Class 4A state title in 2006.

Nine days later, Marve could be leading UM into Gainesville for a prime-time date against the Florida Gators.

"To have those type of opportunities before me, I feel really lucky," he said.

Most days, Marve readily admits, he feels lucky just to be alive.

One year ago this week, Marve and two UM teammates began their late-night jaunt to Coral Gables following a weekend visit to the Tampa Bay area.

Marve slumbered in the back. Linebacker Colin McCarthy of Clearwater relaxed in the passenger seat. Wide receiver Kareem McKenzie of St. Petersburg, driving Marve's 2007 Dodge Charger, drifted to sleep.

It was just past midnight when the car, traveling south on Interstate 75 near Naples, veered left, entered the grass median and struck a guard rail, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report. McKenzie, startled, awoke and steered right, but he lost control. The car traveled across both southbound lanes, entered the grass shoulder, then flipped six times before hitting a tree.

"The immediate reaction was, 'Did somebody hit the car?' " Marve said. "I had no idea what was happening. It all kind of went black. But it flashed through my mind. 'This is it. I'm not going to be alive.' "

Somehow, everyone survived.

But Marve's season ended before it began.

The Redshirt Season

His left wrist was broken. There was a deep cut on his non-throwing left hand, which caused nerve damage, running between his ring finger and pinkie, extending to his palm. Doctors later told Marve, had the cut been positioned a quarter-inch differently, his pinkie could have been lost.

McKenzie broke bones in his neck and needed four months of rehabilitation. McCarthy, although scraped and bruised, was not injured seriously.

Marve's suitcase was later found outside the vehicle, bent in half. His gold Plant football helmet, also making the trip as a reminder of past glory, was splintered.

"I went back to the car to see about finding some of our stuff," McCarthy said. "When I saw the car, it kind of took my breath away.

"I was like, 'We were in that car. How did we get out? How did we make it?' Everybody thinks different things at moments like that, but I'm pretty sure God must have had something planned for us."

Despite Marve's frustration at sitting out UM's 5-7 season, when Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman struggled mightily, he now calls it a "blessing in disguise."

While healing through two surgeries and rehabilitation, he made it back by midseason as scout-team quarterback. He attended daily meetings, learned the offense and studied film.

And now?

"I had the highest of expectations - I mean, it was like we could do no wrong my senior season at Plant - but that accident has humbled me," said Marve, who has beefed up from 180 to 205 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame. "Everything was taken away from me. I think there was a reason for it.

"It could've been my throwing hand. It could've been one of my arteries or something. But I was spared and now I'm allowed to continue. Am I different? No doubt. Now I'm going to appreciate every day, every snap. I'm going to work my butt off."

Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon, entering his second season as UM's leader, has promised nothing to Marve. The quarterback competitors also are freshmen - Jacory Harris of Class 6A state champion Miami Northwestern and Cannon Smith of Hargrave Military Academy - who enrolled early to participate in spring football.

Shannon describes the race as "wide open" and said he might not name a starter until just before the opening game. It's also worth remembering that last season Shannon picked Freeman as the opening-game starter over Wright, the perceived front-runner.

"No matter who the quarterback is, facts are facts, he'll be taking his first snap in college football," said Hurricanes radio analyst Don Bailey, a former UM player under Coach Howard Schnellenberger. "And if that guy is Robert Marve, what are the expectations? Well, the fans will expect him to eventually win a national championship. That's the landscape for quarterbacks at Miami.

"Hurricane quarterbacks do not get a pass. No way. But at the same time, when you look at Robert Marve, his background, his athletic ability, where is the limit? Is the sky high enough? This guy sure looks like the real deal."

Scrambling Into The Fire

Marve realizes, though, that he must make a significant leap from his days of scrambling into big plays on the high school fields of Hillsborough County.

"I'm not trying to run in circles out there if that's not what they want me to do," Marve said. "I'm not trying to freestyle. You can't do those things in college football.

"It's a process. You're not in high school any more. You've got to adjust to the speed of the game. That's why spring ball almost seemed like a whole year for me. I got my feet back under me, got knocked around a bit, felt like a football player again. I think I'm ready to go."

One year later, Marve said he has learned a lot about himself. Obviously, he has learned about the frailty of life. And he learned to treasure his family.

"There were times when I couldn't even eat by myself, and my family had to help me with that," he said. "I got a lot of time with them, good bonding time. I thought I knew already, but now I really know what's most important."

At UM, teammates will discover Marve's important qualities. Escapability. Mobility. Surprising arm strength. Leadership.

"Robert Marve is a stronger guy now - mentally and physically," McCarthy said. "The guys have responded to him. He's going to take us places."

"Now I'm in the fire," Marve said. "Once you're in the fire, it's time to roll."

During his visit to a Hurricane Club function at Raymond James Stadium in May, Marve was reminded that Tampa is hosting the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 6. It might be a long shot for the youthful Hurricanes, but Marve wore a confident smile.

"That would almost be too perfect," Marve said. "That's what we're shooting for."

The possibilities - well before the first snap - remain tantalizing.

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353 or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.

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