College football

Hawkeyes break down

Too many turnovers and penalties, plus a controversial call, help send Iowa to defeat.

By FRANK PASTOR
Published January 3, 2006

TAMPA - His college career suddenly behind him and a certain NFL future awaiting, Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway stood before a battery of microphones and television cameras and explained his role in the play that ended Iowa's Outback Bowl hopes.

Greenway's offside penalty with 1 minute, 11 seconds remaining negated Scott Chandler's onside kick recovery and allowed Florida to hang on for a 31-24 victory Monday at Raymond James Stadium.

"All those guys played so hard, and to lose at the end like that, it makes it even harder on a guy like myself who gets the foul at the end where you're just trying to do anything you can to make the ball go your way and it just didn't happen," Greenway said.

Try as he might to shoulder the blame for Iowa's first bowl loss in three seasons, Greenway had plenty of company.

A blocked punt and interception were returned for touchdowns, and penalties for running into the kicker and a personal foul extended a second-quarter Florida drive that put Iowa in a 24-7 hole.

The problems started on Iowa's first possession when Florida's Jemalle Cornelius blocked Andy Fenstermaker's punt and Tremaine McCollum returned it 6 yards for a touchdown. It was the first punt Iowa had blocked since Oct. 23, 2004, against Penn State and the first returned for a touchdown since Oct.27, 2001, against Michigan.

"You don't really expect it to happen," said Fenstermaker, a junior. "Our guys up front have been doing an excellent job all year long."

Iowa dodged a bullet when Chris Hetland missed a 23-yard field goal, but Hawkeyes quarterback Drew Tate gave the points right back. Trying to get a pass to Clinton Solomon, Tate threw off his back foot and the ball sailed into the hands of Florida's Vernell Brown, who returned it 60 yards for a touchdown.

"I gave them a touchdown, the special teams gave them a touchdown," Tate said. "That's two touchdowns on us."

Tate's 20-yard scoring pass to Solomon brought Iowa back to 17-7 with 1:10 left in the half. The defense forced a punt, but Marcus Schnoor was penalized for roughing when he slid into Eric Wilbur's plant leg. A personal foul on defensive end Ken Iwebema for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Florida quarterback Chris Leak one play later set the stage for Leak's 24-yard pass to Dallas Baker that put the Gators ahead 24-7.

"We just made too many mental mistakes, mental breakdowns throughout the entire game," Fenstermaker said. "Playing a team like Florida, we can't afford to have those mental mistakes or mental breakdowns if you want to win the game."

[Last modified January 3, 2006, 04:38:04]