Ex-Miami QB hopes to visit for Red-White game
Citing Nebraska's football tradition as a selling point, the father of ex-Miami quarterback Robert Marve confirmed Thursday his son does have the Huskers on his short list as he ponders where he might transfer.
"Nebraska is great football country with great football tradition, and we're honored with the interest that they've put forward towards Robert," Eugene Marve said. "I've talked personally to the coaches there and am really impressed with the no-nonsense approach to football that they take there. That's why we're interested, it's Nebraska football."
Coming off a redshirt season at Miami in which he started 11 games and was suspended from two, Robert Marve is also considering Michigan, Purdue, Texas Tech, UCLA and South Florida, located in the family's hometown of Tampa.
Eugene Marve said his son has not visited Lincoln but is hopeful of coming for the spring game on April 18. The father said he talked with offensive coordinator Shawn Watson on Monday.
"We want a team that will appear to give Robert a fair shot at the quarterback position, meaning that we want the competition to be open and fair, not (against) like a three- or four-year starter ... because that's not a real open competition," Eugene Marve said.
"And Robert wants a program that's on the verge. He's not starting as a freshman anymore. We don't mind rebuilding anything, but he wants to be on a team that's on the verge of winning a conference championship or a player or two away. ... And after examining at all the factors, we see that Nebraska's right there."
Robert would have to sit out the 2009 season. He'd have two seasons remaining. Often labeled a pro-style quarterback, he threw for 1,293 yards, nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions while splitting time with true freshman Jacory Harris last year.
He was suspended for the team's opener and also the bowl game. The first suspension stemmed from an arrest for smashing a car window during his redshirt season. Eugene Marve said the second suspension was because his son missed some classes.
The suspensions are not the reason for the transfer, according to the father.
"What the public didn't see was the nonrelationship, nonrespect that had existed between Coach (Randy) Shannon and Robert," he said. "It had deteriorated where it was in Robert's best interest to transfer out."
The father said he believes Harris was UM's top choice and "the writing was on the wall that the competition wasn't there anymore."
As for the timetable, Eugene Marve guessed a decision would come by April or May.
"We're praying about it," he said. "We want to be where God wants to put us."
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