There will be no quarterback controversy for Purdue heading into Saturday’s game against Notre Dame.
During his radio show Monday night, Purdue coach Danny Hope announced that Caleb TerBush would return as the starter against the Irish.
Hope spent a large portion of his Tuesday teleconference discussing the reasons for his decision.
“He did a great job in camp and won the job hands down, and all three quarterbacks did very well. But he separated himself from the others,” Hope said of TerBush. “It would be to our best advantage, I believe, to start Caleb this weekend because I feel like a smooth start in the beginning of the game at South Bend could be very important to our football team.
“We’re geared, from an offensive and a defensive and special teams standpoint, to be able to catch up if we get behind, but that certainly isn’t our first choice on how to start the game. So my gut feeling is that we go in and start Caleb TerBush, and I think that’s in the best interests of our football team.”
TerBush served a one-game suspension in the season opener against Eastern Kentucky for a violation of team rules.
Robert Marve filled in nicely, passing for 295 yards and three touchdowns in the 48-6 victory over the Colonels. He completed 30 of 38 passes but had one interception and one fumble.
Rob Henry, Purdue’s third quarterback in the mix, went 7 of 9 for 77 yards. He had one touchdown, one interception and one fumble. He missed all last season with a knee injury.
All three have experience as a starting quarterback for the Boilermakers.
“We went into the game last week without Caleb TerBush, and I thought Robert Marve did a heck of a job,” Hope said. “We were fortunate to get Rob Henry in the game early, and he had to knock a little bit of the rust off.”
TerBush started all 13 games for Purdue last season. Hope likes how the senior “manages the game.” He had just six interceptions last year, and none in the final four games.
“He makes very smart decisions with the football,” Hope said. “You throw a lot of passes, and you don’t throw a pick in (the last) 4 1/2 games, I think that speaks for itself.
“But I think he also has great composure about him. Not comparing him to anyone else, but just comparing him to quarterbacks in general, I think he manages the game and has better composure about him than most of the quarterbacks that I’ve been around. So he has a lot of redeeming qualities. He’s also very tall (6-foot-5) so he can see over the top of the offensive line. I think that helps him avoid a few negative plays.”
Hope said the Boilermakers will use all three quarterbacks Saturday.
“We’d have played all three (against Eastern Kentucky) if we’d have had all three available,” he said. “Certainly plan on it, and that’s part of the master plan.”
