Football coaches aren’t immune to bitterness, even though they coach their players to avoid it, move on and not allow one result to become a distraction.
Like many of his peers, Urban Meyer has one loss that he still agonizes over and, to some extent, remains bitter about.
The game? Penn State in 2016.
The former Ohio State coach and current FOX Sports analyst appeared on The Triple Option podcast, where the subject of the game came up. Meyer explained why the loss still stings.
“By rule, you can’t physically pull the field goal protector out of the way of the guy jumping through,” Meyer said, referring to how Penn State defender Ryan Bates pulled Ohio State offensive lineman Brady Taylor on the game’s most consequential play.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.With Penn State trailing 21-17 late in the fourth quarter, Meyer sent out the field goal unit. As the action unfolded in the trenches, Penn State safety Marcus Allen blocked Tyler Durbin’s field goal attempt. Grant Haley recovered the ball and returned it for the go-ahead touchdown.
“They later came back and said it could have been and should have been a penalty, if I remember right,” Meyer said. “If they would’ve thrown that flag, obviously, we win.”
The loss cost Ohio State a chance to play in the 2016 Big Ten Championship Game, where Penn State defeated Wisconsin 38-31.
Meyer and the Buckeyes ultimately got the last laugh, however, when the College Football Playoff committee selected Ohio State for the 2016-17 playoff over Penn State. The Nittany Lions had to settle for a Rose Bowl matchup against USC.
