This season of Iowa football was lost on the playing field of Ohio State three years ago. The score was tied at 24 with more than a minute to play. Iowa had the ball. Both teams were undefeated and the focus of national TV. It was for the Rose Bowl and higher ranking.

The favored Buckeyes were on the ropes. Filling in for the injured Ricky Stanzi, James Vandenberg could have led the Hawkeyes to a win that would have gone down in the annals of Iowa football lore. If not, at least it would be a legendary college try.

What happened? The Iowa 11 stood out on the field in embarrassing inactivity, not using their two timeouts, and let the clock run out in hopes of winning in overtime, which they lost.

What recruit would want to play for the team that managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?

Karl Knutson

Cedar Rapids