Hawkeye heartbreak
Spartan Stadium goes from hysteria to horror in 2-minute turn
By Matt Bishop (Last updated: 10/25/09 11:20pm)Mark Dantonio stood on the sidelines with a blank, almost bewildered look on his face. Several players lay on the field in the midst of a large Hawkeyes celebration. A frenzied Spartan Stadium crowd, at a fever pitch prior, was eerily silent.
In the span of a few seconds, the MSU football team went from being on the brink of one of the program’s biggest wins of the decade to a stunned disappointment after Iowa scored a seven-yard touchdown with no time left to beat MSU 15-13 on Saturday.
“It was a little surreal for me,” Dantonio said. “I was stunned.”
The Spartans mounted a comeback of their own 1:37 earlier as sophomore quarterback Kirk Cousins found senior receiver Blair White for a 30-yard touchdown, capping MSU’s own improbable drive, which featured a risky hook-and-lateral play on third-and-18 that set up the go-ahead touchdown.
But Iowa, which to that point had amassed just 206 yards of total offense, drove 70 yards for the winning touchdown, running four plays in the final 15 seconds.
“We played our hearts out on both sides of the ball and for that to happen is heartbreaking,” junior tight end Charlie Gantt said.
Said Dantonio about Iowa running four plays in 15 seconds, “It’s amazing, isn’t it?”
The loss marked the third time this season the Spartans have lost in the final minute.
“Iowa’s a great team and we stuck with them the whole time,” junior linebacker Eric Gordon said. “We’re right up there in the country, we just need to finish these games. It’s not a difference in talent or anything, we need to finish.”
Iowa took a 9-6 lead on an 11-play drive that spanned 6:39 in the middle of the fourth quarter. The Hawkeyes got two breaks on the drive. The first came when junior cornerback Jeremy Ware was assessed a late personal foul for his big hit on Iowa receiver Colin Sandeman that knocked Sandeman out.
“The phantom flag, or whatever you want to call it,” senior defensive end Trevor Anderson said. “From a football player’s standpoint, I don’t think it is a personal foul. Even talking to two other refs, they didn’t know why he called it.”
Junior cornerback Chris L. Rucker said no one saw where the flag came from.
“We were all celebrating,” he said. “We were all happy we made the stop and next thing you know a flag came out of nowhere and it changed things.”
Sandeman walked off the field under his own power and Dantonio visibly was upset with the call on the sidelines.
Dantonio said he got an explanation from the officiating staff but when asked if he would share what he was told he simply responded, “Not really.”
“I think I’ll leave that up to all you people,” he said to the media after the game. “You people can document it, you can research it, you can look at it slow motion and you can question that yourself.”
Later in the drive, junior safety Marcus Hyde appeared to force Iowa running back Brandon Wegher to fumble on third-and-goal, but the play was whistled down and not reviewed. Iowa kicked the go-ahead field goal on the next play.
Despite the tough breaks and the loss, Dantonio said he was happy with the way the team handled itself.
“We played hard and we played tough,” Dantonio said. “We played tough with toughness. … And I’ve always said this, when our guys play hard and they come to play and they prepare to play and they play to make plays, then I can handle whatever happens and that’s what we did tonight. So, I’ll handle it and our football team will, too. It’s when we’re not prepared that upsets you, but I think we played.”
On the goal line
The Spartans defense forced Iowa into two short field goals with two fourth quarter goal line stands. The first came early in the quarter when MSU stopped the Hawkeyes three times, including a one-yard loss on third down, forcing Iowa to kick a 20-yard field goal to tie the game at six. The second came on Iowa’s next drive, when the Hawkeyes reached the three-yard line and MSU was aided by a holding penalty that set Iowa back. The Hawkeyes settled for a second 20-yard field goal to take a 9-6 lead.
“That was big, especially going against their offensive line,” Anderson said. “They have to be averaging at least over 305 (pounds). Everyone keeps saying we’re small, can’t stop the run, but somehow we’ve been finding a way to do it all year long, especially on the goal line, find a way to buck up. As our coaches say, ‘Just drop your nuts and it’s time to go ahead and do what you got to do.’”
But on the other side, MSU’s offense was denied on the goal line for the third straight game. Against Illinois, sophomore running back Glenn Winston fumbled. Against Northwestern, sophomore quarterback Kirk Cousins was denied on a quarterback sneak on fourth down. And Saturday, a pass and two runs were denied by Iowa. MSU kicked a field goal this week.
“We have to watch film, correct our mistakes and get better,” Gantt said. “It’s a mindset.”
One for the record books
Senior kicker Brett Swenson broke MSU’s all-time field goals record with his 34-yard boot in the first quarter, passing Dave Rayner’s mark of 62. Later, Swenson became MSU’s all-time leading scorer with his extra point in the fourth quarter. His 335 points surpassed Rayner’s mark of 334.
“It’s a great accomplishment,” Swenson said. “I wish the feeling could be a little better at the outcome, but it’s definitely a great accomplishment through the career so far with what I’ve done.”
Originally Published: 10/25/09 8:44pm
mumu
10/25/09 11:26pmPREVENT FREAKING DEFENSE…..maybe its just the curse of being the same old spartans or maybe the coaches are too stupid to learn their lesson after blowing previous games….i feel sorry for the players, they are playing their hearts out and the idiot coaches keep blowing games
Shut your yap
10/26/09 12:33amYou obviously do not know anything about football, so quit with the blame game. Iowa was ranked sixth in the nation and You rank 1st in body odor.
Coach Dantonio is the Man, and when Our team grows up a bit, we’ll be in the national championship.
Go Green!
Tom
10/26/09 4:04amAnyone who didn’t see the cheap shot that Ware put on Sandeman as a penalty needs to take off the green shaded glasses. That play was a direct helmet to helmet shot that was totally uncalled for. All Ware had to do was lower his helmet and make a solid waist to knee tackle! Instead he led with his helmet going high to Sandeman’s head. The rule was put in to stop unnecessary cheap shots that can severely injure players. That was definetely an undisciplined cheap head shot that should have gotten him the flag or even thrown out of the game!
Tim
10/26/09 8:04amTom:
Let’s assume that you are correct: that Ware laid a vicious hit on the Iowa player in order to inflict the greatest amount of pain. Let’s assume that Ware is a thug and was really trying to hurt the poor Iowa kid. Why , then, didn’t the flag come out as soon as the hit was made? Why the delay? Why the “confab” with the refs?” The falg should have been thrown right away, and not waiting until the result of the hit was broadcast all over the screen.
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tom sucks
10/26/09 8:07amhow many games have you watched tom? that was a clean random hit. to bad that he got hurt…but it happens. if you aren’t too cheap to pay for dvr service, go re-watch it. you’ll see.
GO GREEN!
really tim?
10/26/09 8:10amreallly??? a conspiracy theory?? you’re nuts…
one question…who caused 9-11???? i don’t think you’ll want to give your answer…beacuse you’d never be taken serious ever again…
What has Coach D done?
10/26/09 9:32amWhat exactly has coach D accomplished here at MSU anyway. I agree with Tony, bonehead playcalling has killed our chances and made games entirely closer than they should be down the stretch. We can’t beat the good teams, and we are still loosing to teams we are expected to beat…how is this progress? I hated JLS, and despised BWill, but Coach D hasn’t accomplished much more than either of them except recruited better, but the results are still the same! I’m not jumping off the bandwagon, I’ve never really been on it. Thank God basketball starts in 3 weeks…at least we always have that, thank you Tom Izzo!
Tim
10/26/09 10:59am9-11 was a terrorist “thing.”
JFK was shot by a lone, disinfranchised “loon.”
I’m just suggesting that there is more riding on these games than just the win/loss record. The Big Ten “ain’t what it used to be.” The league knows this, revenue is shrinking, prestige is falling, status has slipped. The Big Ten needs a contender to help ratings and the cash flow.
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96 Alum
10/26/09 11:06amRewinding that hit by Ware over and over and you’ll see he actually led with his forearms and exploded into the Iowa’s players shoulders as the main source of contact. It was a hard hit, but not directly helmet to helmet. The team fought so hard and elevated their game, too bad the calls got in the way. 4 plays in 15 seconds?
That IS baffling. I know the refs are only human and it is hard to catch everything with 22 guys moving around so fast, but it’s disappointing when some of those calls change the game.
ActionFigure
10/26/09 11:08amTOM – That was a FOOTBALL hit. Do you watch much football? At least watch that freakin play. He hit him with his shoulder pad. His facemask grazed the side of the receiver’s helmet, if anything. It was a clean, textbook, hit… the way the teach kids to hit so they don’t hurt themselves or others… usually. He knocked him the Ef out.
dhoov
10/26/09 11:17amI’m very proud to be a Spartan Fan. Our team play GREAT. We should not be ashamed by our loss. The team played hard and the coaches gave there all. Thank you for your hard work players and coaches.
B Dubz
10/26/09 12:35pmSpartan alum here—watched the game with a ton of other alums in Denver at Blake St. Tavern and the mood was exactly the same as at Spartan Stadium. One minute insanity after Blair White’s TD, then gripping drama, yelling at the B.S. ref (non-)calls, and then absolute silence after the IA touchdown.
Sparty played a great defensive game but left some out there, especially their goal line missed opportunity and being too soft. I agree with the previous poster—the only thing that “Prevent” defense does in prevent YOU from winning the game.
Good Game
10/26/09 3:41pmFirst off the hit by Ware was clean. The QB shouldn’t have made the pass.
2nd Coach D is an excellent coach. I love how everyone critizes the prevent D but every team does it. I am guessing the people that are being paid Millions to coach football all know something a little more than any of us fans.
While my heart sunk with the loss I am really proud of the football team. They played their hearts out there. You think you all feel bad, imagine how they must feel. Too give everything that you have and to just fall short. That is true pain.
MO-deb
10/26/09 4:53pmHere’s my take: The fact that the shot was close enough to be considered a head to head shot – made it to close! But the fact that Ware stood over him and taunted him while he lay on the ground clearly knocked out – made me very ashamed of my MO Team. A flag was indead warranted. FYI – missed calls happened both ways. Watch the last 10 seconds and how MO state was all over the Iowa receivers with no calls –
patrick
10/26/09 7:49pmIt was a hard fought, fantastic game between two tough big ten teams. MSU is very solid. However, it’s a little disappointing to see Dantonio and the MSU fans whining about the helmet-to-helmet call. It was the right call. The guy has a concussion. The booing was ridiculous. Perhaps you should discuss how you gave up 70 yards and a last second TD in 1:37 against a “mediocre” offense.
Karen Olmstead
10/26/09 11:05pmAs the previous writer reported, it was the taunting which was the problem. The actual call was NOT for the hit, but for the taunting. That was the unsportsmanlike behavior. Unfortunately the MSU coach is not honest enough to let people know that he was told that was the call.
Tom
10/27/09 1:42amNo matter what the green fogged glasses show to so many of you….I have watched and played allot of football! Look up the rule….. call a Ref, look at the play and tell me his helmet did not hit Sandemans helmet. The rules do not allow ANY helmet to helmet hits. If any of you had ever been hit outside of your flag games you would understand why! If it was the other way around and a Hawkeye had taken a cheap shot to a Spartans head, the crowd would have rioted. Bottom line, it wasn’t the late hit, the clock or the refs that beat MSU….it was a better Hawkeye Team!!
BillyBilly
10/27/09 3:19pmThe fumble was recovered by Iowa. The “phantom flag” was late but correct. And there was plenty of time for Iowa’s quick incompletions, the clock operator didn’t screw up.
Class coaches compliment the winning team, rather than whining about refs or clocks.
UIProfessionALL
10/27/09 3:29pmI think the worst thing about the Ware hit on Sandeman (too close to call whether legal or illegal) was Dantonio’s antics on the sideline. A kid was knocked out having a seizure on the ground and Dantonio is acting like a classless idiot. I know he’s a passionate guy…but what’s really more important? A flag…or a kid who could have brain damage?
I agree with the MSU folks on here though…I thought the Refs screwed that one up by not throwing the flag right away. I truly don’t think we’d be scrutinizing that hit if the flag had been thrown right away.
MSUfan62
10/27/09 3:40pmIm a MSU fan and i think that hit was against the rules , had that have been one of our guys, each and every one of us would have been calling for a flag..then he danced around on top of him . The fact is numb nuts coach had prevent defense on instead of a nickle with blitzing LBs to force thrown descisions..like going short instead of going medium range 10 to 15 yards down field like they did…You MSU fans who posted a clean hit or retards … im ashamed of our coach and some of the fans…this is supposed to be a class act organization…look at Tom Izzo he is a class act.
MSU12345
10/27/09 7:49pm1. It had to be helmet to helmet; how else does one get a concussion without being hit in the head?
2. The standing over the injured hawkeye was pathetic.
3. The celebration by Spartan players over the hit was “getto”.
4. Dantonios actions after the hit was absurb plus his inquiry after the game is being a cry-baby.
6. Heck of a game; smashmouth football; Iowa went home beat-up.
Hit
10/27/09 7:49pmThe hit was a close call, I certainly wouldn’t coach Ware to stop destroying people the way he did with that hit and the sack on Stanzi. You can’t reign a guy in for being nasty, but you must deal with it when the result is questionable if it is a penalty or not.
Bottom line, Sparty couldn’t keep the Hawkeyes out of the endzone when it mattered most. Much respect to both sides for one tough contest.
w
10/27/09 8:59pmIt was a very good game. I have thought until the post game that MSU fans were much like Iowa fans – knowledgeable of football and show class in representing what is good about college sports. Do not continue to pollute your national reputation by whining-it is unbecoming of an upper echelon Big 10 program.
Jay
10/30/09 10:22pmHey guys hate to say it even with the phantom fumble MSU could not win that game. It was helmet to helmet contact and if not for that than the celebration after the play. The refs were justified to call that and take the time to ensure the player is taken care of. Coach D has done a lot with not very much however I don’t see him taking this team to the next level and being a contender for the national title. Very good game and the better team won. In addition MSU needs to get control of it’s penalties and play 4 quarters of the football. 3 of 4 games it has come down to the final 5 minutes of the game. Not going to win the Big 10 or BCS game playing like that.