So Michigan State loses in the last two seconds of the game?

[LisaM]

I didn't see it, but apparently my mother quietly remarked (remembering, of course, the famous Spartan Bob incident), "there is a God".


:rofl:

[caraher]

1. Well, timekeeping played no role in the outcome

It was a heckuva finish to a game where I think the scoring was a bit lower thanks to uber-conservative play calling by both teams in the red zone. If the Spartans hadn't gone nuts and decided to actually score a TD to go up by 4 rather than tie it they probably would have taken it to OT. But since Iowa had no choice but go for the win they finally threw the ball with a sense of urgency (abetted no doubt by a dose of "prevent defense" on MSU's part).

State did still have the play of the game, a huge gain on a hook-and-lateral throw on 3rd and forever to keep their final drive alive. Which I suppose only makes the loss sting that much more...

[LisaM]

2. I know that timekeeping played no role

It's just that that extra two seconds from a few years ago still rankles with some Michigan fans. Worse, during the Michigan/Michigan State game this year, they ran replays and had interviews with State players from TWO games marred by the officiating!!! Funny now, I guess.

[caraher]

3. I'm getting old...

I do remember that game with the timekeeper, but I think I was too busy with grad school to let it stick in my head. The one last-second play in a UM-MSU game I tend to remember is the 1990 game where there was a no-call on a trip of Desmond Howard on a 2-point try at the end of the game. And unlike the timekeeper play, everyone admits it was a blown call - including the guy who tripped him.

[Condem]

6. Man, that was a thing of beauty, caraher.

A lot of arguing over the spearing call on the blogs being the game changer. THIS was the game changer. No way Iowa should have recovered from that. You knew MSU was going to score. Speaks volumes of the character of the Hockeyes.

[caraher]

10. it's always easy to point to something the refs did

I thought the spearing call was a bad break for MSU - it didn't strike me as a dirty play. But the call didn't sink the Spartans, and if they'd actually held on that last drive I doubt there'd be much chatter on the blogs about it at all. State put together a dramatic drive to take the lead and the game was theirs to win. Iowa took it away.

And I just watched it as a fan looking for a good game. I'd have been happy to see an upset and I'm also happy to see Iowa continue to roll. I'll definitely be pulling for the Hawkeyes when they go to Columbus though...

[Condem]

11. After watching the game again, I see both sides of the call.

I had to laugh when color analyst Chris Martin said he "had to pick his jaw off the floor" after the hook and ladder. Just like we all did in The Sports Column in Iowa City. What a finish. The Hawks are banged up, caraher. They have to watch out for a flat one this weekend. Every game gets bigger.

[Capt. America]

4. Prevent defense only prevents winning. See also: Jim Tressel vs. Texas, vs. USC, vs. etc.

[joeybee12]

5. They lost in the last minute to Notre Dame...

...seems like a trend.

[LisaM]

7. Michigan lost to both Michigan State and Iowa on their last play

Close wins always make the difference between a winning season and not. I don't think any team has ever gone undefeated without a couple of lucky wins.

[joeybee12]

8. Yeah...ND lost in the last few seconds to michigan, not that they

were gonna go undefeated anyway. In 1988, ND beat Miami by 1 point...that's the last time they went undefeated...so, yeah, there always is a close one.

[Condem]

9. Watching the replay now on the Big Ten Channel.

Start of the third quarter.