| FTBL Former Bama Recruits in Car Accident

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http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/172204.html

Since it's slow, figured I would post this bit of news. Both Jermaine McKenzie and Robert Marve,University of Miami Freshman, were in a car accident. Happy to hear that the crash wasn't fatal.

University of Miami freshman quarterback Robert Marve injured his left (nonthrowing) hand early Monday morning when a car driven by Hurricanes freshman receiver Jermaine McKenzie flipped over on Interstate 75 just north of Naples.

McKenzie was not injured, according to his father, John, and was back in Miami on Monday afternoon. UM sophomore linebacker Colin McCarthy, who was the only other person in the vehicle, left the hospital in Naples on Monday and did not appear to be injured, according to Robert Weiner, who was Marve's head coach at Tampa Plant High.

Marve, who was in the back seat sleeping when the accident happened, sustained lacerations on both his left hand and wrist and disfigurement of his left ring finger, according to Weiner, who was with Marve in the emergency room of Naples Community Hospital on Monday.

Weiner said Marve was set to have surgery on the hand later Monday afternoon but that doctors were uncertain if he had ligament or tendon damage. Marve suffered no injuries to his throwing hand or any other injuries, aside from stiffness in his body, the coach said.

''They want to cleanse his hand and make sure it's not infected,'' Weiner said. ``That's more important than checking out a fracture. He's feeling pretty good. He's a trooper.''

Weiner said Marve likely won't play football ''for at least a month'' but an exact timetable won't be known until doctors determine whether there's ligament damage. UM begins practice Aug. 4 and plays its regular-season opener Sept. 1 against Marshall.

McCarthy could not be reached for comment, but Weiner said McCarthy ``didn't seem to have any injuries and was moving fine and talking fine. He was shaken up.''

A UM spokesman said the school was gathering information and had no comment as of mid-afternoon.

The three players were returning to Miami late Sunday night after a weekend in Central Florida, where they have family. Marve and McCarthy picked up McKenzie in Bradenton, and were alternating driving responsibilities, Weiner said.

The accident occurred ''a couple minutes after midnight'' Monday morning, according to a Fort Myers-based dispatcher with the Florida Highway Patrol.

According to the dispatcher, the vehicle flipped after colliding with a guard rail. But Weiner said it was his understanding that there was no collision with the guard rail. Weiner, who received an account of events from Marve, said the car went off the side of the road, and McKenzie tried to turn back to the right to compensate, causing the car to flip.

The dispatcher, who declined to give his name, said no arrests were made, and there was nothing documented to suggest alcohol was involved. Weiner said Marve had no theories as to why the accident happened. Asked whether McKenzie might have fallen asleep, McKenzie's father, John, declined comment. John McKenzie declined to make any comment beyond saying his son is fine.

''Anyone who gets in a car accident like that is in shock,'' Weiner said. ``The first thing you're thankful for is everybody is still alive.''

Marve, the only scholarship quarterback in UM's recruiting class, was rated the nation's No. 8 quarterback by rivals.com and was named Florida's Mr. Football in 2006. During the past few months, he has impressed his new UM teammates and coaches with his maturity, arm strength and willingness to spend considerable time in the film room.

Though UM offensive coordinator Patrick Nix said in April that Marve would be given a chance to win the starting job, that was considered unlikely -- even before the car accident -- because of his lack of experience compared with Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman.

McKenzie, rated the nation's 16th-best receiver by rivals.com in this year's recruiting class, has emerged as one of UM's standout freshmen during summer workouts and is expected to compete for immediate playing time. McKenzie attended Bradenton Academy and has been friends with Marve since both initially committed to Alabama before Mike Shula was fired.

McCarthy, who attended Clearwater High, appeared in nine games last season, mostly on special teams and as a backup linebacker. He was impressive during spring practice and is expected to challenge for a starting job.
 
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