There Penn State was, just trudging along on its way to another "We don't care about your BCS style points" type of victory. On a cold and windy day in Iowa City, the Nittany Lions bullied their way to a 23-14 lead after three quarters by doing the things they had done all year.PSU wasn't turning the ball over. The defense was looking stout. Everything was under control.
And then it all fell apart.
Iowa chipped within 23-21 on 44-yard touchdown drive. Then, with four minutes left and Penn State in the middle of a game-clinching drive (aided by an Iowa roughing the punter penalty), the Nittany Lions were called for a holding penalty and Darryl Clark followed that up by tossing an interception.
Still, the defense had a chance to save the game and salvage Penn State's perfect season. Instead, Iowa put together a 16-play drive that culminated with a short field goal.
Game over and, with it, Penn State's title dreams.
A moment to congratulate Iowa. Shonn Greene may not be a bona fide Heisman contender, but he had a spectacular game. Twenty-eight carries for 117 yards and two touchdowns - including the one that pulled Iowa within two in the fourth, and several important runs in the winning drive.
Despite quarterback Ricky Stanzi's limitations, the Hawkeyes still managed to put a nine-point rally together - and do so through the air. Give credit to somewhat-maligned coach Kirk Ferentz for that.
In the second half, Stanzi found some success by getting outside the pocket - especially by working off play-action to Greene, who Penn State had to respect due to his continuing success.
But for as great of a comeback win this is for the now-bowl-eligible Hawkeyes, it's a million times as disappointing for Penn State.
This one will hurt for a very long time.
Penn State was four minutes - plus one break in the BCS - away from a shot at the national title. Somehow, it all came crashing down. Everyone whines and cries about the BCS, but the top of the college football landscape usually shakes itself out exactly like this.
To go 12-0 in the regular season requires you to be nearly perfect for months. Penn State had been just about flawless for nine games, plus three quarters on Saturday. The Lions then turned in arugably one of their worst quarters of the year, complete with several mental breakdowns (the holding penalty, late interception and a 15-yard penalty on Iowa's final drive).
Because of those few glitches, Iowa won the game - and Penn State lost a shot at something incredible.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Penn State lost a shot at humiliating themselves and their overrated conference in the national title game against the Big 12 or SEC champs. If anything, this is a blessing in disguise.
I'd still put Penn State up against any - Big 12 or SEC Teams - and quess what, they would WIN!! SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been a Penn State fan for over 40 years. Yes the Big 12 and SEC have some real talent and deserve to take there shots at a Big 10 team.
With that said and done except for a couple of schools in those conferences, tell me how many of their football players actually graduate from the schools with degrees ? It's supposed to be college, pro sports has made them the minor leagues. If the NCAA would do their job half the players in those two conferences would not even be in school, let alone playing football on scholarships.
Just my 2 cents worth. BTW WE ARE and ALWAYS WILL BE PENN STATE.
As a Penn State fan this is a very painful morning. Of course the know-it-alls across the country are saying "I told you so", and really can you blame them? We were 6-13 on 3rd down conversions while Iowa went 7-10. This is the most telling statistic of the whole game. And ABC should have voted Stanzi the most outstanding player for Iowa, NOT Greene. It was Stanzi who was told all week that he could'nt deliver but all he did was convert one 3rd down conversion after another and thats what broke Penn State's back. What's most unfortunate is that even if Penn State would have won this game people would still be saying "see, they barely beat an unranked Iowa". They are in a no-win situation except for one last chance. If they can beat their next 2 opponents, Indiana & Michigan State, they will win the Big-10 title and go to the Rose Bowl to likely play USC. Of course the talking heads who have been criticizing PSU all year will gleefully say "they are going to get killed by USC" and the oddsmakers will make them at least a 10-point underdog. They'll say "Penn State's offense will never score against the USC defense and Sanchez will throw all over their defense" etc. etc. But here will lie their last chance to make a real statement. Beat USC in their backyard and all of these bad feelings from the loss to Iowa will quickly disappear. For now they have today to feel bad for themselves but tomorrow they need to get back to work. Come on guys, all true State fans believe in you!
Amen
Last year it was Morellis' falt,yesterday the QB takes blame for interception. Well Moorelli is a NFL qb . Who made the poor call on a down and in at the hash in 2 coverage with deep drop in the seam by the linebacker, A interception with 3 minuites to go and in field goal range???In jr. high they teach patterns to the side line in good weather conditions. I think you get the point.