Keeler: What-ifs hard to stomach after wrenching loss
Iowa City, Ia. — They are their own worst enemy. That’s what eats you up from the inside, nibble by nibble. Wisconsin 31, Iowa 30 was the latest example, a failure of special teams, a failure of clock management, a comedy — nay, tragedy — of self-inflicted wounds and what-ifs.
What if quarterback Ricky Stanzi gets a chance to spike the ball, as he seemed to be pleading to do, with 12 seconds left and first down at the Wisconsin 39-yard line?
“Coach was wanting to take a timeout,” Stanzi said Saturday after Iowa dipped to 5-2, 2-1 in Big Ten play. “We kind of had a plan going in and we kind of had a switch of ideas. If it works out, it’s not even a question, but when it doesn’t, you start pointing fingers at certain plays.”
What if the Hawkeyes have that timeout in their pocket after his desperation flip to Adam Robinson is snuffed for a short gain? What if the game doesn’t end there, a mess of rain, confusion and heartbreak?
Iowa's Marvin McNutt tries to pull in a pass while Wisconsin's Niles Brinkley (29) defends. (Christopher Gannon/The Register)
“We wanted to burn the timeout and just go from there. I guess we could have gone the other way. Might’ve saved us 2 seconds,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “I don’t think that was exactly the turning point in the game.”
No? OK, then what about this: What if that Mike Meyer extra point in the first half isn’t blocked by Wisconsin end J.J. Watt, making the Hawkeyes’ first lead 7-3 instead of 6-3?
“It ends up being the game,” Badgers coach Bret Bielema offered.
What if a second-quarter field-goal snap isn’t too high for the reach of holder Ryan Donahue, who had to eat the ball and turn it over on downs at the Wisconsin 17-yard line? What if those four kicking points are back on the scoreboard?
“Special teams really hurt us today,” Ferentz continued. “Between that and penalties, that’s not a good thing.”
Sometimes the difference between a good season and a great one is four points. Four points here, 12 seconds there. With five Big Ten games yet to play, the Rose Bowl bandwagon isn’t wrecked, by any stretch, but it’s got a fairly nasty dent in the back fender. And with 8-0 Michigan State coming to town next, doubts about the play-calling, the kicking game, and the pass defense are creeping back into the collective psyche of a wounded fan base.
While we’re on the subject, what if Iowa’s defensive front seven isn’t getting tossed around like a shrimp salad? End Adrian Clayborn was visibly upset after the game, and with good reason. Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien was surgical (20-for-26 passing), while tailbacks John Clay and Montee Ball combined for three rushing touchdowns.
What if the Hawkeyes aren’t caught with their pants down on fourth-and-4 at the Wisconsin 26 midway through the fourth quarter? What if somebody gets a paw on Badgers punter Brad Nortman, who rumbled untouched, up the middle, for a 17-yard gain?
What if Wisconsin isn’t a perfect 3-for-3 on fourth down — two of those conversions coming on the Badgers’ final, game-winning drive?
“When you lose a game like this, there are a lot of things you can look at, a lot of different plays,” Ferentz said, “but it’s a team loss.”
Yes. Yes it was. Tip your cap to Wisconsin, which turned up with nostrils flaring and proved that the Ohio State pelt on Bielema’s wall was no fluke. Tip your cap to Stanzi, who matched Tolzien, strike for strike, connecting on 25-of-37 throws and three scores.
It was a whale of a tilt, in hindsight, as much as it stings right now. Eight lead changes. Nearly 725 yards of total offense combined. Two programs that are mirror images of their neighbor. Except that one came to win. The other couldn’t get out of its own way.
Category: Iowa Hawkeyes Football
The fake punt should not have been a surprise to the Hawkeyes. With time running out, Wisconsin HAD to fake a punt to have a chance to win the game. Ed Podolak knew it was coming. I even knew it was coming. The last thing Iowa needed was to let Wisconsin get a first down there. Iowa should have rushed the punter instead of dropping back like they to give the punter room to run the football. If the Hawkeyes stop the Badgers there, they win the game.
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Kurt Ferentz is an idiot with clock management. He has lost four or five games over the years with stupid decisions at the end of the game.
Oh well, another year of underachieving Hawkeyes. Been that way for 40 years.
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Good article. I felt like you just ranted for me and feel a little better as a result. It irks me Coach Ferentz downplays the ridiculous burned timeout. With our offense showing it could move the ball there is no excuse with a minute remaining and 3 timeouts we shouldn’t have had a chance to at least kick a field goal for a potential win. Both loses this year we have looked confused in the final seconds and with experienced coaches and quarterback Hawk fans should be able to expect more. That being said, flush this game just like Arizona and lets move on. If some said at the beginning of the year Iowa would have two losses and be in the Rose Bowl I think we all would be thrilled. The team needs us most right now, don’t turn your back on them. Beat Sparty!
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I am a huge fan of Ferentz, but I do not understand his logic about that time out. His quote about “it might have saved us a couple seconds” just does not fly. It would have cost a couple seconds to spike the ball, but it would have given you a timeout remaining which is infinitely more important. That was a blunder of mythical proportions, there is no “you could play it either way” about it in that circumstance. Sorry. Might have cost us the game.
The only positive is with a win next week we can move back in to a tie for the Big 10 lead. Only issue is our remaining schedule is a lot tougher than Mich St or Wisconsin, and of course Wisconsin has the tie break. This one hurt.
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Iowa was winning the game. If they could have been more aware of a possible fake punt the outcome of the game would have been different.
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No kidding. Did they not watch the AZ tape after that fake punt was pulled on them?
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This was a GREAT game — better than most bowl games you’ll ever see. You certainly have to execute well in all phases to beat the really good, veteran teams. The Iowa coaches do a great job with young men and getting them to play to their full potential and with great effort and determination. But they don’t seem to be great situational coaches at key moments in the game. They don’t seem to adjust to the circumstances.
Wisconsin didn’t have far to go to get the first down when the fake punt happened. It’s being hailed as a great call, but it was a coaching staff stepping up to the circumstances. They felt if Iowa gets the ball back their chances to win would fade. Iowa didn’t just have its pants down, they were no where to be found!
It’s Great to be a Hawkeye, but it’s never been easy.
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Definitely a few what ifs but when the game was absolutely on the line with 12 sec., Kirk made one of the biggest bonehead calls in all of college football. You spike the ball. Every fan, coach out there says spike the ball. Just spike the ball. I denied Stanzi and the offense a real opportunity to get the ball in field goal range. I still could win the game despite the other what if’s
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Oops I meant Kirk…not I
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Yeah, i didn’t understand why he burned the last TO. Confusing way to end the game. Time to regroup and go after the Spartans!
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It is unfortunate to lose to a team that we are better than. Not a lot better, but better. However, special teams didn’t show up for the second time this season. That said, Iowa was good enough to weather that storm. Unfortunately, the D was sloppy a lot of the day, Stanzi was not as sharp as usual (but he still had a good game), and, shockingly, Iowa was out-coached. That is one thing we never expect. A rare occurrence indeed, but it happened yesterday.
Not being completely ready for that fake punt is an unacceptable coaching gaffe. The play calling after the INT was borderline shameful. It appeared as if they thought 3 would seal the W. Finally, the clock management was amateurish at the end. Rick was fully ready to spike the ball. It would have cost 2 seconds, 3 max. KF has very few weak points, but clock management is one of them. Remember the Capital One Bowl against LSU?? Tate bailed him out of that calamity. Rick had no chance of doing the same here. Unfortunate.
Go get ‘em next week! This is where our coaching staff can prove that they really are one of the best in the nation.
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I completely agree with you about going for 3 after the INT. I was screaming at my TV and the coaches. going up by 6 with 8 minutes left doesn’t deflate the opposition and put them away. It gives them HOPE! and a team with hope will fight like crazy. We go agressive and get a touchdown and we win. i would rather have come away with no points and attempted a touchdown then go up by six. Six forces the other team to score a touchdown. we stay up by only 3 (worst case scenario) then wisconsin feels okay playing for a field goal.
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I agree with the coments that you spike the ball!!!!! My GOD its a no-brainer, I was sitting watching the game in Madtown with Gabes old high school coach and several Wisconson high school coaches who were all screaming along with me, jumping up, yelling “SPIKE THE FREAKING BALL!!!” I am sort of in shock that Kirk doesn’t own up to it? He is a great person and coach and everyone I was watching the game with were relieved that he didn’t spike it and puzzled by that fact also? They could have gotten off another short pass that may have made the difference for the winning field goal attempt?!
Why can’t he admit that? Is his ego that big? I sure never thought so before, I love the guy!
GO HAWKS!!
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What if Iowa is just not that good! To many what if’s. Second or third best in the big ten this year.
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We’ll know for sure in five games.
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