From Miami bling to double ACLs, Purdue's Marve has seen it all

Believe it or not, Robert Marve is a fifth-year senior. If you think you've been hearing that name for eight or 10 years, it's only because it feels like it.

You've heard the name Robert Marve attached to just about every issue a college football player could have.

As a Florida prep, he broke Tim Tebow's state passing records. His father, Eugene, played linebacker in the NFL for 12 seasons.

He committed to Miami (Fla.) and that didn't work out. In two seasons, he was suspended twice -- once after an arrest and also for academics. His name was attached to the controversy surrounding jailed Miami booster Nevin Shapiro (accused of operation a billion-dollar Ponzi scheme) and impermissible benefits.

He transferred to Purdue in 2009 and immediately suffered a torn ACL. In 2010, another torn ACL. This season, there was a controversial tweet with Marve questioning a statement from Purdue coach Danny Hope about playing within the system.

Finally, when the Boilermakers absolutely had to have it, Marve came through on the football field in Purdue's 26-23 overtime defeat last week at Ross-Ade Stadium, where the Boilers (5-5, 3-3 Big Ten) will try to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2007 with a victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes (6-4, 3-3).

"I don't want to say it's the best moment for me; it's the best moment for my family," Marve told the Indianapolis Star. "You blow out a knee twice, it starts making you question things. You lean back on your faith and on your family. I'm just happy for everyone who loves me, all those nights when they talked to me late at night.

". . . There were some rough days. . . . The dream's not dead until you say it's dead."

After throwing an interception that took away Purdue's chance at potential game-winning field goal, Marve made three plays that might get the Boilers to a bowl and help Hope keep his job.

On a third-and-4 at the Buckeyes 19, he scrambled and muscled his way to a first down. On third-and-12 at the 15, he rolled right and lofted a gorgeous pass to Gary Bush down to the 1. Then, Marve ran left and sneaked in for the winning points.

"I'm really happy for him," Hope said. "Very few players have put in more and got less. Today was his day. I'm happy for our football team, happy for all of Boilermaker Nation and happy for Robert Marve."

Caleb TerBush started and had a nice game, completing 15 of 24 for 140 yards, but the charge was definitely passed to Marve late. Purdue punched ahead with Marve even after the interception.

"That's the best my knee has felt in a long time, I felt like the old me," Marve said. "After the pick, I told myself, 'Don't throw something you don't see.' "

You don't beat Ohio State with a single effort. The Boilers are coming alive across the board this month and are playing like a team that would be perfectly happy with any bowl bid, even if it means Christmas in Detroit for the Little Caesar's Bowl.

The Boilers have a star in defensive tackle Kawann Short, who earned his second Big Ten defensive player of the week with three sacks (he's second in the conference with 6.5 sacks). The 6-foot-3, 310-pound junior also had four solo tackles in overtime.

"He's one heck of a football player and he's still getting better," Hope said. "He's still not close to what he can be. This time next year, we'll be talking about him as one of the best players in the nation at his position. He's only going to get better."

It didn't stop with Short.

Sophomore defensive tackle Bruce Gaston also earned a Big Ten honor with co-special teams player of the week. He blocked a potential game-winning PAT kick with 55 seconds left in the game to force overtime.

"It's significant because we know any given Saturday we can come out and compete," Short said.

And now the Boilers are one victory from a bonus Saturday in December or January.

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