Iowa had its undefeated season ruined today by Northwestern in part because starting Hawkeyes QB Ricky Stanzi injured his ankle in the second quarter.
(Facemask penalty would’ve negated Northwestern subsequent touchdown)
Video of the play shows Northwestern player Corey Wootton rolling onto the back of Stanzi’s right lower leg. But just before Stanzi went down, the quarterback appeared to have his head wrenched backwards by the right hand of Northwestern defensive tackle Jack DiNardo.
Video after the jump.
If there was a facemask on the play, it doesn’t appear it would’ve changed the nature of Stanzi’s injury. But if the Wildcats had been flagged, their subsequent touchdown would’ve been disallowed, which very well could’ve affected the outcome of the game.
6:47 pm on November 7th, 2009
Stupid and careless play by #90 Jack DiNardo. Stanzi was already sacked, obviously wasn’t going to break the tackle and sheltered the ball, and DiNardo was most likely trying to strip it out, missed, and facemasked Stanzi. Hey, too bad, that’s the nature of the game.
Easy call. 15 yards. First down.
7:27 pm on November 7th, 2009
The stripes choked on their yellow laundry, just as they did on several pass interference fouls by NU in the fourth quarter that were not called.
9:05 pm on November 7th, 2009
Brings back memories of the shitty officiating in the 2006 outback bowl.
9:25 pm on November 7th, 2009
Looks like all the defensive player did was slap his hand against his helmet trying to help bring him down
10:59 pm on November 7th, 2009
Couldnt really tell if he grasped it or not, but if you want to see the most blatant facemask in NCAA history that was MISSED, check out the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSVVpg_fEUE
10:44 am on November 8th, 2009
He may have touched the facemask, but it doesn’t look like there was any grasp. TV replays didn’t pick up anything either. NU’s defense was really solid after the McNutt TD. They were the better team on the field Saturday and it is what it is.
7:10 pm on November 8th, 2009
You need your eyes check Buchanan. IF THAT IS YOUR REAL NAME! Seriously though…it’s a facemask.
8:56 am on November 9th, 2009
looks like cinderella wont be attending the ball this year!!!
2:05 pm on November 9th, 2009
suck it up you lost move on quit your bitching and whining
10:40 pm on November 9th, 2009
I’m with hienikin king - coulda, woulda, shoulda doesn’t get you sh*t! Iowa should have lost at least 3 times already to lousy teams but got a bunch of lucky calls to pull wins out of their asses - now go out and do your business against OSU and win the Big 11 so you can face a real team from the SEC in a January bowl and get slaughtered on national T.V….
2:16 pm on November 12th, 2009
I was at the game section 134 row 48 seat 44 clear view looking straight down on the play I’m 6′ 3″ fifty-three years old had my prescription sunglasses on (no glare). From my clear angle I saw the facemask being pulled. Repeat I saw the facemask being pulled. Now for the nay sayers and their points there are other penalty considerations. First, no matter how hard the grab/hit was, the following comes into play, #90 came in a clothesline position (forearm extended) to QB head (penalty). Second, blow to QB head, whether is was a hard or light hit (penalty). Take your three picks, facemask, clothesline or blow to head. By the way Northwestern did not recover the fumble yet, play nullified, ball back to Iowa plus penalty yardage. Iowa national title hopes lost and QB hurt. Isn’t the Big Ten suppose to protect and enforce rules to protect the QB of all players or what is the cover-up here? Big Ten come out with the truth. I already reported this to NCAA and Big Ten and other newspapers, I was there.