Mistakes from stars doom IU

Remember the New York Yankees blowing the ALCS in 2004? Or how about Chris Webber in the closing seconds of the 1993 NCAA Championship game? Greg Norman’s notable Sunday meltdowns on the golf course?\nAll of the above have had something slip through their hands. The same could be said for the Hoosiers on Saturday. \nIn prime position to beat Penn State for the first time in history, the Hoosiers fumbled – four times, actually – their chances away and lost to the Nittany Lions, 36-31. \nIt was the type of stomach-punch game that pumped excitement into Memorial Stadium, but ultimately left IU fans feeling empty. Kellen Lewis’ three untimely fumbles crippled the Hoosiers’ comeback effort in the second half. \nIU’s offensive leader wasn’t the only one making mistakes that reminded onlookers of spring football. Cornerback Tracy Porter – one of the most reliable players on the team – poorly misplayed two punts that were equally devastating to the Hoosiers’ chances. One punt, fumbled in Penn State’s red zone, resulted in a turnover; the other forced the Hoosiers to go 95 yards if they hoped to make a game-winning comeback. \nBut a Lewis fumble would prevent that from being a possibility. With 40 seconds left, Lewis fumbled a snap from the shotgun. Penn State had already registered six sacks on the day, running through IU’s offensive line like plastic tape at the finish line. Instead of pouncing on the ball, Lewis heard the footsteps of the bruisers who had pounded him all game. \nThe quarterback looked up in anticipation of a big hit, but failed to grab the football that was resting on the field. Penn State recovered the ball, and Lewis experienced a blow that no Nittany Lion defender could deliver: The game had slipped through his hands. \nIU coach Bill Lynch refused to single out players in his postgame press conference, but Lewis and Porter’s mistakes stood out like the North End Zone Project. \nThen again, the Hoosiers would be miles away from Motor City Bowl consideration and bowl eligibility without the play of Lewis and Porter this season. Lewis is arguably the best quarterback in the Big Ten, and Porter is an elite cornerback and returner. \nWhich just makes the mistakes Saturday all the more puzzling. But like true leaders, Lewis and Porter accepted responsibility for their team’s loss. Neither player pointed out the fact they have carried the team all season. Rather, they admitted fault and honestly spoke of their blunders. \nLewis sheepishly said IU knew it would lose “if we had a lot of turnovers.” And Penn State coach Joe Paterno opened his press conference with a trace of guilt: “Really, it is a shame because they gave us the game … I told (Lynch), ‘You’ve got a good football team there. You’ve just got to keep the ball off the ground.’” \nFor a man who has been around football as much as anyone, Paterno’s simple words speak volumes about IU’s composition. It’s a talented team that can play with anyone in its conference, but it’s a team that still makes stubborn turnovers and mistakes that can easily be credited to inexperience. \nLewis, Porter and the rest of the IU football team let the Penn State game slip through its hands. Their focus now turns to not doing the same thing to their season. \n \nPrediction: Indiana 34, Penn State 27\nActual: Indiana 31, Penn State 36