GAINESVILLE -- The University of Miami losing 26-3 here Saturday night to the fifth-ranked Florida Gators could qualify as fairly encouraging if you're a glass-half-full type. It indicated that if the Hurricanes haven't quite turned the corner -- from the nadir of last year's 5-7 season en route back to national prominence -- at least the corner is within sight.

The result indicated something else:

Miami is one great quarterback from having a chance to win a game like this. One great quarterback from being where it wants to be: banging again on the top 10 door, angling for a sixth national championship.

The Canes might have that great quarterback in second-year freshman Robert Marve. Or even in true freshman Jacory Harris.

We don't know yet. We couldn't see it Saturday.

The Gators, however, have that great quarterback in Tim Tebow.

Everybody knows it, and everybody saw it once again.

Tebow was held in check much of the game, looking very un-Heismanlike as Florida nursed a nervous 9-3 lead into the fourth quarter. But that was before Tebow directed 86- and 95-yard touchdown drives to re-enliven a stadium-record crowd of 90,833 and remind the young and improved Canes they are not yet ready to be prime-time players on the big stage they crave to again own.

LEADER NEEDED

A proven, veteran college quarterback in utter charge of his team.

That is the only pertinent difference between the highly ranked Gators and unranked UM right now. It isn't defense or team speed or anything else.

It is that Tebow is prepared to take over a game and win it, while Miami cannot yet trust anyone to do the same. Quite the opposite.

Miami sought to relieve as much pressure as possible from Marve, knowing a college debut at night in The Swamp was pressure enough. They told him all week, ''You don't have to be the guy to make the play,'' as Marve said. Right guard Joel Figeueroa said he told Marve directly: ``Don't try to be the guy to win the game.''

Afterward, coach Randy Shannon praised Marve for not making any mistakes.

Which is all fine, for now. But the big-dreaming Canes need to get to a place when the quarterback does try to make the play. Does try to win the game.

That is what quarterbacks do, and what Miami needs. Settling on one guy couldn't help but accelerate the process.

NO TRUE STARTER

Marve is the starter, but the term is loosely defined with Shannon. Harris played almost 11 minutes of the second quarter Saturday as Shannon fulfilled a pregame vow to use both.

Is that wise? Is that something you want to decide beforehand? You bench your starter based on performance, not just because.

Wouldn't it be counterproductive if Marve has the hot hand and suddenly he's on the bench to satisfy some preconceived plan that Harris will get in?

On Saturday, Marve had directed a 16-play field goal drive on Miami's third series for what would be The U's only points. He'd completed two third-down passes and converted a fourth down. The drive consumed almost nine minutes. You got the sense Marve was just getting comfortable.

Then he was out. Harris played the next two series. Was that the time for Harris to come in? Using two quarterbacks sounds like an experiment, or indecision.

UM is now 2-10 since 2005 against ranked opponents, but quarterback play can remedy so much so fast.

Miami, once ''Quarterback U,'' has had only one consistently great quarterback since Gino Torretta collected a national title and a Heisman Trophy in 1991-92. That was Ken Dorsey in 2000-02. Otherwise it has been a long wait.

Will Marve be the next great one? Let's let him find out with a full, fair shot, not with having to wonder when he'll be on the bench as his backup is shuffled in.

Join the discussion

Note: If this is your first time using our NEW commenting system, you will have to LOG OUT and then LOG BACK IN.

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.