'"UNBELIEVABLE" DOESN'T DO INDIANA/PENN STATE JUSTICE

Gotta love CURT CIGNETTI. Prior to Saturday’s game 

at Penn State, Fox-TV’s JENNY TAFT said, “Indiana 

has never won here … how does that change today?”

“This team has never played here,” the IU coach said.

Next question.

O MY GOSH! THAT IS CRAZY. HE GOT HIS TOE 

DOWN … BARELY!! ... MAN, I LOVE THIS SPORT.

Who else but GUS JOHNSON, on the call for the 

winning touchdown in a 27-24 come-from-behind win for 

No. 2 and still unbeaten (barely) Indiana (10-0).

With :36 to go, OMAR COOPER JR., soared in the 

back of the end zone to (a) catch a 7-yard pass from QB

 FERNANDO MENDOZA; (b) somehow keep his 

momentum plus a hit from defender ZAKEE 

WHEATLEY from taking him well over the base line; 

and (c) get his right toe down just in time before tumbling 

to the ground.

In perfect position, standing a few feet (inches?) away 

and keeping his head down, watching nothing but 

(Cooper’s) feet, the nearest official, back judge JOSH 

DASHER signaled touchdown.

In 2 ½ minutes, the call was official. For once, there was 

no reason to drag out the certifying replay. Cooper clearly 

made a clean reception … completing an 80-yard drive 

that began with a sack and wound up with Mendoza

 accounting for all of it completing six passes (withhelp 

from his friends) to solidify his place as a front-runner f

 the Heisman Trophy.

Getting possession on their 20 yard line with 1:51 left, 

thanks to a monster State punt of 63 yards that went into 

the end zone, Mendoza was thrown for a 7- yard loss then 

completed a 22 yard pass to Cooper, among the few 

homebreds on Cignetti’s transfer-loaded roster.

With no timeouts, Mendoza, 22, a transfer from 

California, found former Clemson wideout EJ 

WILLIAMS, 24, for 13 yards to the IU 47 but overthrew 

an open Cooper deep. On second and 10, he hit tight end

 RILEY NOWAKOWSKI, for 27 yards to the PSU 24 

and, with 1:07 remaining, spiked the ball for the third 

time en route to stop the clock.

Next was a preview of things to come when CHARLIE 

BECKER, a backup wide receiver, made a high-flying 

reception, his back to the sideline and barely got a foot 

down before landing out of bounds at the Nittany Lions 

seven.

“INSANE! THAT’S INSANE!” Guess who?

Clock stopped with :40 left. State calls TO.

First and goal. Mendoza’s pass is deflected at the line of 

scrimmage. Second down. State players running in and 

out when interim coach TERRY SMITH  calls time out 

apparently just in time to nullify a TD pass to wide open 

Becker in the shadow of the goal posts.

Still second down. Big rush, and Mendoza’s arm is hit as 

he throws for Cooper. Almost intercepted.

Third and goal. Mendoza drops back, is faced by another 

heavy rush and, falling backwards, off balance, lofts a 

pass towards Cooper who is well-covered by Wheatley, a 

veteran safety, but not well enough.

“NO WAY! NO WAY!” 

Yes, Gus, way.

The operative word was unbelievable, which everyone 

used including Mendoza, Cooper and Cignetti after it was 

over. Never one to shy away from adding to the drama, 

Johnson said he thought “tough guy” Cignetti was tearing 

up during his post-game remarks.

Maybe, maybe not but he certainly was emotional when 

he told Taft, “I’ve seen a lot of unbelievable stuff in my 

life … but I’ve never seen anything quite like this.”

Amen, brother. Amen,

FINAL THOUGHTS:

* Gus Johnson doesn’t know his … make that Omar 

Cooper’s … right foot from his left. The veteran talking 

head kept telling us the talented Indiana receiver got his 

left foot down (barely) for the winning TD in Saturday 

night’s fun-filled, last-minute 27-24 victory over in 

Charlottesville. It was his right foot (actually the toe).

* Comments section always good for words to live by … 

such as “Omar Cooper Jr., just re-wrote the laws of 

physics with those toes.”

* How great (improbable) was Cooper’s reception? It 

would have passed replay on the next level as well. He 

somehow got his left foot down legally, too. Amazing, 

simply amazing.

* A redshirt junior, Cooper caught six passes for 32 yards 

Saturday, giving the 6-0, 201 pounder from Indianapolis 

46 for 669 yards and eight touchdowns on the season.

* We’d be remiss in failing to mention Penn State (3-6), 

now losers of five straight, didn’t go away quietly. With 

time running out, the Nittany Lions drove to midfield … 

from where a last-snap Hail Mary fell short of the end 

zone and incomplete.

Until next time ...