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No Victory, But Marve Builds Confidence

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 7, 2008

Updated: 09/07/2008 12:57 am

GAINESVILLE - Moral victory? Not for Robert Marve, the University of Miami's freshman quarterback.

"We came here to win," Marve said late Saturday night. "And we didn't win. But we fought. I'm proud of that."

The Florida Gators pulled away in the end, deflating the game Hurricanes 26-3 with a 17-point fourth quarter. But that wasn't the story. Not really.

After all, this was the Swamp. This was the head-banging atmosphere that has caused dozens of opposing quarterbacks to crumble.

The moment's magnitude barely registered for Marve. At times, he looked like he was back at Plant High's Dad's Stadium, rolling around the end, throwing on the run, sparking his team, having fun.

"He showed a lot of composure, a lot of character," UM coach Randy Shannon said.

"Athletic guy, tough as nails," was the assessment of Gators coach Urban Meyer.

It was so much more than anyone could have reasonably expected, particularly for Marve's first college start, after 21 months of inactivity, before a Florida Field record crowd of 90,833 fans.

The past has passed.

No right-thinking football analyst thought UM would pull the upset. But the Hurricanes needed to discover what they had. Here it is - a nice future with Marve.

Just Another Game

Last week, Marve was asked to imagine Saturday night's potential scene.

"It's going to be loud, noisy and fun - all at the same time," Marve said. "But you're playing a game, something you've been doing since you were little. I've just got to go play."

Play, he did.

Marve completed 10 of 18 passes for 69 yards, leading UM to its only score, a 50-yard field goal. He generally stayed away from trouble, except for back-to-back sacks late in the game.

The Hurricanes mostly utilized safe patterns and high-percentage plays for Marve. He executed them well and, most importantly, avoided the crushing mistake. When things broke down, he took off and made yardage on his own.

"It looked like Robert had been doing this for a few years," Hurricanes guard Jason Fox said.

He kept UM in the game, which turned on a blocked punt the Gators turned into a safety before halftime, then UF's 86-yard scoring drive that culminated in Percy Harvin's 2-yard touchdown run on third-and-goal early in the fourth quarter.

"My goal is simple," said Marve, who lost last season while recovering from a serious auto accident, then was suspended from UM's opener against Charleston Southern on Aug. 28. "Just get the ball in the hands of our playmakers. Let them do the work. Just keep things together and show some leadership. I think that's the way to get it done."

Texas A&M Is Next

Just before game time, broadcaster Gino Torretta, who won the Heisman Trophy for UM in 1992, shrugged his shoulders when asked about Marve.

"One of the biggest things you learn from high school to college is you don't win games by yourself," Torretta said. "This Miami team has players, but they are young. Is Robert Marve going to have something to fall back on or do they all have to grow up together?"

Probably the latter.

UM has dazzling talent - and a defense with real potential. Some people thought the Hurricanes had the nation's No. 1-ranked recruiting class. But there's a pronounced learning curve.

"We've got something to build on, competing against a top-five team," Shannon said. "But when we get opportunities, we've got to finish."

Shannon said Marve will be the season-long starter, but freshman Jacory Harris should play in each game, seeking to build depth at the position. Sure enough, just when Marve was in his first-half rhythm, Harris entered to work two sets of plays.

It gave Marve a chance to visit with UM offensive coordinator Patrick Nix, who has left the booth for the sideline, giving his young players some eye-to-eye coaching. Marve undoubtedly learned a lot.

UM is where it should be at 1-1. Another noisy din awaits Sept. 20 at Texas A&M, but that stands as a very winnable game. The Hurricanes then come home with ACC home games against North Carolina and Florida State, perhaps positioning themselves as real contenders in the league's Coastal Division.

For starters, Marve didn't get a victory. But he built confidence.

"You come out of this with positives and that says a lot about Robert's ability to lead this team now and perhaps four years down the line," Torretta said.

A glimmer of hope? For UM - and Marve - that passes for a successful night.

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