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2012 PURDUE FOOTBALL PLA YER FEA TURE: THE QUAR TERBACKS No Debate: TerBush Coaches' Choice To Start Fans pleading for backup Marve SClardie@GoldandBlack.com BY STACY CLARDIE week, left knee firmly secured in a brace, the crowd came alive at Ross-Ade Stadium. "We couldn't even hear him talk in the huddle because people were screaming and yelling, When Robert Marve trotted on the field during the third quarter last cause Marve wasn't Caleb TerBush. "The No. 2 quarterback is always the could play for Purdue again. Another part, though, likely was be- serve as simply kudos to Marve, who opt- ed not to have surgery on a three-time-in- jured anterior cruciate ligament just so he " running back Akeem Shavers said. Part of that rousing welcome had to 10. Here's the list of the top 10 most efficient (PE) quarter- backs in the Big Ten as of last week. We also list another measure of efficiency, YPA (yards per pass attempt) and the QBs ranking in that category. Rank Name, SCHOOL 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. THE MODELS OF EFFICIENCY Denard Robinson, MICH Rob Henry, PUR Trevor Sieman, NU Cameron Coffman, IND Caleb TerBush, PUR Taylor Martinez, NEB Reilly O'Toole, ILL Braxton Miller, OSU Max Shortell, MINN Matt McGloin, PSU 161.3 158.9 145.0 140.2 134.6 133.7 130.3 128.9 127.7 126.2 ed 64 percent of his passes for 641 yards (160.2 per game average). He has thrown eight touchdowns and five interceptions, two of which have been returned for touch- downs and another that came on a Hail Mary. In three games, favorite, right?" Coach Danny Hope asked this week. Still, fans seem to be clamoring for a change of pace at quarterback for the Boil- ermakers. In four games, TerBush has complet- PE YPA (Rank) 8.72 (1) 7.04 (5) 7.85 (4) 8.00 (3) 6.78 (6) 6.26 (9) 6.06 (10) 8.20 (2) 6.58 (8) 6.73 (7) Marve has completed 72 percent for 457 yards (152.3) and has four touchdowns and two in- terceptions. Marve's big-play potential, among other things, has fans excited. And TerBush has heard the chatter. "You can't really get caught up in all of that," he said Tuesday. "I've al- ways had the mind set just go to work every day to get bet- ter. That's what I've tried to do and fortunately I've been able to keep play- ing. So I'm just going to keep doing what I can to make myself a better player and a student of the game and take it from there. that TerBush has the support of his coaches. The only people who really matter. Hope and offensive coordinator/quar- It helps " Caleb TerBush (pictured) knows some fans are clamoring to see more of Robert Marve. But he says all he can do is continue to work to get better and perform when called upon. Tom Campbell terbacks coach Gary Nord have praised TerBush since he seized the starting job last season — after Marve returned slowly from his second ACL surgery and Rob Hen- ry was out with his own knee injury. During this training camp, Hope said Ter- Bush separated himself from the other quar- terbacks with his performance in practices. started — TerBush was suspended for a violation of team rules while Marve started and delivered a career-best per- formance against FCS program Eastern Kentucky — the coaches never wavered on their stance. Coaches often cite TerBush's "quarter- back stats," the ones they use to grade that Even with a hiccup once the season position that don't include drops, throw- aways or tipped balls. GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • volume 23, express 6 • 18