FOUNTAIN — By the time Colorado concluded its spring practices, Chris Marve’s promotion and his return to the sideline already were in the books.
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Still, this week marked a small milestone for the Buffaloes’ new defensive coordinator.
After reporting to Fountain-Fort Carson High School on Sunday, CU kicked off the fourth preseason under head coach Deion Sanders on Monday. Tuesday marked the first media session of the preseason, with Marve taking center stage alongside two of the newcomers hoping to transform the Buffs’ defense, linebacker Gideon Lampron and defensive back Cree Thomas.
Following a three-year run as the defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech, Marve didn’t fill an official football role last season for the first time since he originally donned pads as a youngster. He spent his time studying and visiting other teams’ practice sessions, and when asked Tuesday just how that experience changed him as a coach, Marve had plenty to share.
In short, Marve found room to grow during his brief hiatus off the field.
“I could write a book. I plan to, actually,” Marve said. “In a nutshell, if I could encapsulate it, a lot of things that I fundamentally believe as a football coach were reinforced. And some things that are innovative and cutting edge, I had access to that you typically don’t when you work at an institution and you have a logo on your chest. You may be friends with these colleagues who are peers in your profession, but because you’re at a particular institution, they can’t let you behind the walls.
“I had access to pretty much everywhere I wanted to go. I got to really be in the rooms for some innovative coaching and teaching and leading. But also, I was able to really reinforce some things that I fundamentally believe.”
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Hired as CU’s linebackers coach early in the offseason, Marve was promoted to defensive coordinator in late February after the departure of Robert Livingston (Marve also remains the linebackers coach).
While the Buffs were equally disappointing on offense during last year’s 3-9 campaign, there arguably is more pressure on Marve and his defense to get CU’s fortunes turned around. With a year of collegiate experience under his belt and array of talent at the skill positions, quarterback Julian Lewis and the Buffs should be able to up points. It will be up to Marve and his unit to keep the Buffs out of back-and-forth shootouts.
The defensive personnel has endured an even more dramatic turnover than their offensive counterparts, as only eight defensive players have returned from last year’s team. Only three of those — defensive backs Ben Finneseth, RJ Johnson and Makari Vickers — made starts last year.
It’s a time-honored football tradition for teams to indulge in off-field team bonding exercises, and the Buffs’ week in the Colorado Springs area is scheduled to include a movie night and a tour of the Air Force Academy. While such endeavors always are a welcome break from the demanding monotony of training camp, they also serve as valuable bonding moments in an era of college football in which rosters are dismantled and reconstructed every offseason.
“I do believe this engagement and this time of the year, as it relates to our team and our players and any program that does this, I do think it leaves more of an indelible mark,” Marve said. “Just because of … the distractions and things that go on outside of the program. I think it is more unique that way, and I’m glad we’re doing it.”
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