Purdue quarterback hot and cold in debut

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Purdue quarterback Robert Marve drops back to pass in the first half of Saturday's season opener at Notre Dame. Marve showed promise during the first start of his career. JUSTIN CRIPE | THE GOSHEN NEWS

September 6, 2010

A STAFF REPORT Associated Press Mon Sep 06, 2010, 10:30 AM EDT

SOUTH BEND — At times during his Purdue debut, Robert Marve flashed the electrifying talent that has Boilermakers fans excited and believing a turnaround is near.

At other times, he simply looked like a guy who hadn’t taken a snap in a college game in nearly two years.

Marve got mixed results in his first game since transferring from Miami and sitting out a year because of NCAA rules. He struggled in the first half, but rallied the Boilermakers late in a 23-12 loss at Notre Dame.

Marve completed 31 of 42 passes for 220 yards and two interceptions, and he ran for a touchdown. He was perhaps too excited to get back onto the field in front of 80,795 at Notre Dame Stadium.

“This is what college football is all about,” he said. “It’s fun. It reminds me of the days when I used to play for the other school and the atmosphere.”

Marve completed 18 of 24 passes for 134 yards in the second half and got the Boilermakers back into the game with a 23-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

“You saw how he came out in the second half,” Purdue receiver Keith Smith, who had 12 catches for 80 yards, said. “He was a completely different guy. You saw a guy on national TV grow up. Just expect him to be a lot better next Saturday.”

Marve missed an early opportunity to give Purdue momentum. On a third-and-6 from the Notre Dame 34, he forced a pass into coverage that was intercepted by Darrin Walls.

Purdue’s only points of the first half came with some help from Marve’s backup. Rob Henry ran three times for 16 yards on a drive that netted a field goal.

“Robert Marve was hot and cold some today,” Purdue coach Danny Hope said. “Sometimes, he was really, really good. And there were some other times we felt like if we kept him out there that he would figure it out and it would be good for his development.”

Notre Dame led 13-3 at the break, but Purdue got the ball to start the second half. On the first play of the third quarter, Marve’s receivers were covered, so he improvised. He reversed his field, but stumbled, and Kapron Lewis-Moore dropped him for a 14-yard loss. Purdue eventually punted, and Notre Dame scored on the ensuing possession to take a 20-3 lead.

Marve nearly made another mistake on Purdue’s next possession. He was sacked by Ian Williams, and it appeared that he fumbled and Lewis-Moore scored for Notre Dame on the recovery. The play was reviewed, Marve was called down and the play was overturned.

On its next possession, Purdue took over at its 6 and drove to the Notre Dame 5 for a fourth-and-1. Marve’s pass was tipped, and Williams intercepted it at the Notre Dame 3. It was a 15-play, 89-yard drive that took 6:40 and produced nothing on the scoreboard.

“That second interception, we had no look,” Marve said. “I wasn’t going to chuck it into the stands and not give us a chance because I didn’t want to throw a pick.”

Marve’s biggest play of the day came from his legs. On a fourth-and-1 from the Notre Dame 23, he kept the ball and went untouched around end and into the end zone to cut Notre Dame’s lead to 20-12.

“It was the read I had to make,” he said. “We had a little bit of trouble on the short yardage on the quick run. I felt if I put myself in a situation of keeping it and get outside one on one with a linebacker, I’d make something happen.”

Marve hopes his teammates gained respect for him.

“I think I played well, I played strong,” he said. “I don’t know what my stats were or anything like that, but I think I proved to the guys that I’m a hard worker and I’m going to go after it.”

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Purdue quarterback hot and cold in debut

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