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"I think the statement has been made. I think a lot of the fans saw how I play the game and why I play it the way I do." Sixth-year senior Robert Marve rehash the play-by-play, relive favorite plays, laugh and enjoy the company. Of course, the discussion was about Robert, too. Julie Marve talked about how happy she was to see him, well, happy. Eugene, a former linebacker in the NFL, raved about his son's tackle after the interception. But he, too, oozed pride. To see him finally be rewarded not only for his talent but Tom Campbell maybe more so being who he is — that resolved, gritty, team Marve was intent to limit his mistakes this season, finally finding balance between being himself and player — that was enough. still playing within Purdue's "system." He's thrown more than 200 passes with only three interceptions. Since he moved into the starting lineup permanently against Penn State, Marve's thrown seven They'd always known what Robert was capable of, on the touchdowns with only one pick. field. And now, finally, so do Purdue fans. "I think the statement has been made," Robert Marve said. can throw a dump-down pass for five yards but he can scramble a little bit more and throw a 50-yard pass, he's going to do it. He's not afraid to take chances. He knows "I don't feel like the bowl game decides that. I think a lot of the fans saw how I play he's a good player and has a strong arm, so he can zip it in. I have nothing against the game and why I play it the way I do. I have a lot of fun out there, and that's what TerBush, he's a good player as well, but I just feel like Marve has the attitude to want football is about. Football is a sport. I feel like a lot of people take it over the top. I like to compete. He has that aggressiveness. He just wants to go out there and play — to have fun with it, and I play with a lot of passion. I'm very happy how I ended up and how I'm playing now, down the stretch." j regardless that his knee is about to fall off. He's still going 110 percent for us. "I feel like he's just a competitor and he loves the game." Marve's able to have fun playing the game now, too, because he has finally grasped what's expected of him. He's gone from a guy who was ripped by Hope for not "staying in the system" to one who actually talks about, well, working within the system. But it's how he's adapted to the system that's shown his maturity. Marve seems as though he's worked especially well under Higgins, who started calling the plays for injured offensive coordinator Gary Nord in the Iowa game. The relationship is one based on unabashed truth, calling out each other for not making the right play or the right call. Marve respects how Higgins allows him to play his own game — his high school coach Robert Weiner has called Marve the ultimate "draw-it-up-in-the-dirt" player — while still following the game plan. "I think you just have to mold it," Marve said. "You're playing in clay a little bit and you can build a whole bunch of different things. You kind of have to build what they want, but you can do it with your creativity. So that's what I had to learn — using my creativity, how to work within the system and then how to talk to the coaches for them to understand where it's not drawing in the dirt, it's still within what we do but it can work different ways." Higgins and Marve have found that balance, and that's led to some impressive games. Perhaps no more than against Indiana. When Purdue absolutely needed a victory, for its season, for its coach, for its sanity, Marve was a big reason it delivered. And after his career-best performance — that also included an onfire third quarter of 4-for-5 for 131 yards and a TD — Marve spent the rest of the day with family. They celebrated twice, even, a group of 15 initially hitting up Wings, Etc., in West Lafayette and then grabbing dinner later in the night to GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 3 • 25