Ugh. I ate a bug.

Well now. That was pretty terrible.

So, remember how Joe Paterno spent about 4 years saying that "we're just a play or two away from being a really good football team"?

There were about 10 of those "plays" last night.

Obviously, PSU's first possession was abject failure. They were given that fumble on the 1 yard line. It's sorta sad that I was yelling at the TV - "Take the safety!!!" - but right there - that would have won the game (in the first 1/2 the defense was stopping the iowa offense - given an 80 yard field - versus 25 - Iowa doesn't score that touchdown.

Red zone play calling was just sad - touchdowns versus field goals- PSU wins.

Dropped passes from Jordan Norwood (????) and Andrew Quarless running before he caught the ball.

These were mistakes that other teams (from other schools and seasons past) make - not this squad - or so I had led myself to believe.

The defenisive scheme in the second half lost the game.

Soft zone coverage with the d-backs lining up 10 yards off of the line of scrimmage guaranteed first downs against. Nevermind Anthony Scirotto's penalty - his coverage was much more of a negative factor.

On offense, obviously the interception proved to be the critical play - but the holding penalty before set it up. The lack of a score on that drive - and PSU's "bend over" defense sealed PSU's fate in a game in which (and no, I don't care about the weather or the wind or the lack of heaters on the sideline) Penn State did not look like a team that deserved to be whining about its lack of BCS respect.

I heartily hope that Penn State wins the rest of their games - and I hope that they win the big ten - but I was not impressed with the team, coaching, game plan, preparation (for opposition and/or elements) - Kevin Kelly played pretty well - and had PSU won - Derrick Williams would have had the game of his career.

One faction that I can not blame - the officials - not even a little bit.

Yes, I'm sad and angry that Penn State lost to Iowa - and that they've lost any chance at the "dream season" - but I'm more disappointed that this team isn't what I had built them up to be in my own opinion - and that smells.