Some more BTN Pain .... showing 2008 PSU @ Iowa

[michnittlion]

I forgot about the first drive of this game, where our offensive game plan was to pass the ball on the game's opening three plays. Those went nowhere, Iowa got a short field and a quick touchdown and led 7-0 before two minutes had passed.

Should have just established the damn run RIGHT AWAY. Shoot, on our next four possessions, we ran the ball and what do you know, got into the Iowa Red Zone on ALL four possessions. Unfortunately, we only got 3 field goals and 1 touchdown. But at least that was proof running the ball worked.

A game we should have won. But when you come out with an awful game plan and then let a team get an early touchdown, that allows them to hang around and hang around. And sure enough, Iowa was close enough come the 4th quarter that they were able to win it.

(there was also an awful 3-and-out possession early in the 4th quarter ...... where sure enough we were passing the ball, despite the fact that the run worked that day and the pass never worked. UGH)

 

[21Guns]

It took a perfect storm, AND not one, but TWO anti-PSU calls by the officials to beat Penn State on that day. The phantom holding on Ohrenberger on the final drive on a play that would have been a first down, and instead resulted in the third and long, followed by the ridiculous pass interference on Scirotto, in which the Iowa receiver literally jumped INTO Scirotto, on a pass that was uncatchable. It was one, of more than 10 games that were literally stolen from Penn State, since this University sold out 25 years ago and joined a midwestern plowboy conference it never belonged in, and wasn't wanted in.

 

[psulionbacker]

Horrible guys weekend experience - will never go back

 

[michnittlion]

It took a perfect storm, AND not one, but TWO anti-PSU calls by the officials to beat Penn State on that day. The phantom holding on Ohrenberger on the final drive on a play that would have been a first down, and instead resulted in the third and long, followed by the ridiculous pass interference on Scirotto, in which the Iowa receiver literally jumped INTO Scirotto, on a pass that was uncatchable. It was one, of more than 10 games that were literally stolen from Penn State, since this University sold out 25 years ago and joined a midwestern plowboy conference it never belonged in, and wasn't wanted in.

I'm sorry --- but I can't agree. Scirotto jumped into the Iowa WR, before the Iowa WR even left the ground. Look at the picture in this link!

http://blog.pennlive.com/bobflounders/2008/11/paterno_okay_with_pass_interfe.html

Yes, a college DB can make contact with the WR before the ball is in the air. That's not the issue here. The ball was undoubtedly "in the air."

Also, the ball would literally hit Scirotto in the facemask. Look at that picture again. Now how would that ball be uncatchable by the Iowa guy?

 

[pandaczar12]

The WR made contact with Scirotto who was playing the ball. It was a terrible call, and it cost PSU the game.

 

[michnittlion]

It took a perfect storm, AND not one, but TWO anti-PSU calls by the officials to beat Penn State on that day. The phantom holding on Ohrenberger on the final drive on a play that would have been a first down, and instead resulted in the third and long, followed by the ridiculous pass interference on Scirotto, in which the Iowa receiver literally jumped INTO Scirotto, on a pass that was uncatchable. It was one, of more than 10 games that were literally stolen from Penn State, since this University sold out 25 years ago and joined a midwestern plowboy conference it never belonged in, and wasn't wanted in.

One thing you didn't mention --- with 7:00 left in the game, we were leading 23-21 and had a 4th-down-and-8 from our own territory. We punted. One of the Iowa guys ran into the punter: the call could have gone either way, but Iowa was called for roughing (15 yards) versus running into the punter (5 yards). First down Penn State --- and the drive was kept alive (the drive where Ohrenberger eventually had the holding penalty).

Anyway --- if the refs wanted to "steal" the game with Penn State, why call roughing instead of running into the punter? We actually got into the Iowa Red Zone on that drive. If we had scored a touchdown after that roughing call, we're up 2 scores (30-21) and it's likely game over.

 

[scrivener]

at the end of the day whether bad calls went against, we had a 9 point lead in the 4th quarter in a game that we had to win to in all likelihood preserve an undefeated season and we blow it. In 2005 a game that we were better against Michigan, we had more talent just like the Iowa game and we lost. the bottom line is we were very good a couple of times in that last decade under Joe but we never were championship material that was easy to see. we played passive and tentative on the road, despite dominating in plays, time of possession and every category against a 5-4 Iowa team. that was a typical Penn State losss and still hurts to this day...I really hope that if we ever get the engine revving again that we become a dynamic road team because we were awful to watch in a lot of cases in the old days

 

[pandaczar12]

Against Iowa, it was simply a bad PI call at a bad time. It happens, the refs are human. The weather was a big factor that game too, I remember sure handed receivers dropping easy catches all game due to the cold.

2005 against Michigan is an entirely different animal. That game was plain and simple stolen from Penn State.
-Terrible spots that always benefited Michigan,
-Blatant holds not called against Michigan, especially on the last kickoff,
-The extra time added back at the request of Lloyd Carr,
-The OOB Toe-Heel catch that wasn't even reviewed, and has been reviewed and ruled OOB every time since in both the NFL and NCAA.

 

[scrivener]

I'm completely with you on the Michigan game with the bad calls ...
You could easily tell Lloyd just had it in with the officials it was a complete cluster bleep of epic proportions but at the same time psu was a better team, they finished the season with one loss...that was a game you have to win in order to complete your dreams...in 2008 was even worse, was a much more talented team for Penn State and they blew it I just wish that during the last decade we could have given joe a national title game appearance but we just never had the ability to close despite 1st rd talent all over the place

 

[michnittlion]

ok, so let's take a little tally here. This is the 3rd BTN "Classic" game where PSU suffers another embarrassing loss.

- Indiana
- Maryland
- Iowa

What's up with that? Is this some kind of sick "up yours" from BTN?

Well --- the "classic" victories tend to be over good teams. Let's look at Indiana --- they literally have a combined 1 victory against Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State in the 1989-2014 era. What else are they going to show, an IU victory over Ball State?

Maryland's only been in the B1G one year, and their win over us was good as it got last year. They beat Michigan too, but Michigan had an even worse record than us.

Iowa beat the #3 team in the country. That's definitely legit.

 

[joedirt47]

at the end of the day whether bad calls went against, we had a 9 point lead in the 4th quarter in a game that we had to win to in all likelihood preserve an undefeated season and we blow it. In 2005 a game that we were better against Michigan, we had more talent just like the Iowa game and we lost. the bottom line is we were very good a couple of times in that last decade under Joe but we never were championship material that was easy to see. we played passive and tentative on the road, despite dominating in plays, time of possession and every category against a 5-4 Iowa team. that was a typical Penn State losss and still hurts to this day...I really hope that if we ever get the engine revving again that we become a dynamic road team because we were awful to watch in a lot of cases in the old days

Disagreed. Disagree 100%. We would have beat Texas or USC in 2005. Texas BARELY beat Ohio State in 2005, and we crushed them. (Sure, it was only 7 points, but anyone who watched that game would know we could have given the Suckeyes another 30 minutes of game and they wouldn't have scored 7 points.) There's a reason Joe had 2005 put on the ring of honor.
2008 - we might not have beat Florida to win the national championship, but I know we do better in that game than Choklahoma did. Besides, who knows what would have happened? Who woulda thunk the Luckeyes would have won the playoffs last year? No one. So why not Penn State in 2008?
Bottom line is that the Big Ten was scared of us since the beginning. That's why they kept us down in 1994, and why they've used corrupt officials since then, destroying our 2005 and 2008 seasons, and who knows which other ones would have been contenders if they weren't stolen before our rankings really took off. If I were a gambler (which I'm not), I'd put the over/under on "championship material" that Joe had since joining the Big Ten at 5. In the last decade, alone, I'd say 3 championships were stolen from us.

 

[hawkssox1]

Look not trying to create an issue here but complaining about the refs or the weather(must have been different weather for the Iowa team)just does not cut it with me.BTW what is PSUs record the last 10 times they have played each other.

 

[hawkssox1]

It took a perfect storm, AND not one, but TWO anti-PSU calls by the officials to beat Penn State on that day. The phantom holding on Ohrenberger on the final drive on a play that would have been a first down, and instead resulted in the third and long, followed by the ridiculous pass interference on Scirotto, in which the Iowa receiver literally jumped INTO Scirotto, on a pass that was uncatchable. It was one, of more than 10 games that were literally stolen from Penn State, since this University sold out 25 years ago and joined a midwestern plowboy conference it never belonged in, and wasn't wanted in.

 

[michnittlion]

Ok, So Iowa hasn't beaten Michigan or Ohio State?

It would be interesting to see how many "Classic" games show those two on the losing side. By your measure, any victory against them would be a candidate for "Classic"

I'm not trying to be combative. I just think having PSU on the losing side of so many "classic" games is a bit of a sick joke, especially when the Co-rulers of the conference are not.

Times Iowa has defeated either U-M or Ohio State over the last 25 years (1990-2014):

Ohio State: 1991, 2004.
Michigan: 1990, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013.

Ohio State was ranked #13 (at the time of the game) in 1991, and #25 in 2004 (that game was a total blowout, 31-7 Hawkeyes).

Michigan was ranked #10 in 1990, #8 in 2002, #9 in 2003, unranked in 2009, #15 in 2010, #13 in 2011, and unranked in 2013.

I don't see any victories over as high-level a team as the defeat of #3 Penn State in 2008.

FWIW, Iowa did beat Michigan 12-10 in 1985 --- that was actually a #1 (Iowa) vs. #2 (Michigan) match-up. Iowa won on a last-second field goal. I've seen replays of this game on BTN before.

 

[hawkssox1]

It took a perfect storm, AND not one, but TWO anti-PSU calls by the officials to beat Penn State on that day. The phantom holding on Ohrenberger on the final drive on a play that would have been a first down, and instead resulted in the third and long, followed by the ridiculous pass interference on Scirotto, in which the Iowa receiver literally jumped INTO Scirotto, on a pass that was uncatchable. It was one, of more than 10 games that were literally stolen from Penn State, since this University sold out 25 years ago and joined a midwestern plowboy conference it never belonged in, and wasn't wanted in.

Seems like a team from that "plowboy conference"won the last National Championship!!

 

[pandaczar12]

Look not trying to create an issue here but complaining about the refs or the weather(must have been different weather for the Iowa team)just does not cut it with me.BTW what is PSUs record the last 10 times they have played each other.

Actually PSU didn't have heaters on the sideline, Iowa did. I bet you wish you knew that before making your post!

PSU leads the series 13-12. It is only that close because of a few lucky wins for Iowa in recent history.

 

[kgilbert78]

Actually PSU didn't have heaters on the sideline, Iowa did. I bet you wish you knew that before making your post!

PSU leads the series 13-12. It is only that close because of a few lucky wins for Iowa in recent history.

We got beat by Iowa in the late 70s when I was in school and once by Chuck Long later. Iowa's been a tough opponent for us through the years--for whatever reason. It can't all be luck. Sometimes the other guy just plays better.

 

[pandaczar12]

We got beat by Iowa in the late 70s when I was in school and once by Chuck Long later. Iowa's been a tough opponent for us through the years--for whatever reason. It can't all be luck. Sometimes the other guy just plays better.

It's a good thing I never said all their wins were luck. There were 2-3 recent games that PSU should have won.

 

[kgilbert78]

It's a good thing I never said all their wins were luck. There were 2-3 recent games that PSU should have won.

There have been quite a few PSU wins through the years that we probably should have lost too. We didn't--and that's why some of those are our classics. To a large extent, I think teams make their own luck--most games.