Leading up to the Iowa debacle, most of Penn State's defensive linemen were looking forward to starting Big Ten play.
Defensive tackle Anthony Adams said he couldn't wait to start the "down and dirty" style of football the conference is known for. Defensive end Michael Haynes said the Big Ten would be ready for the Lions but Penn State would be ready for the heavyweights.
Saturday afternoon, they were singing a different tune.
The forgotten element wasn't how big the running backs were or how tough opposing defenses were. Instead, it was the officials.
"They were holding the hell out of [defensive tackle] Jimmy [Kennedy], I'm not going to lie, the refs didn't call it," Haynes said. "Are we surprised? No, because it's the Big Ten and you're not going to get a holding call in the Big Ten."
The officials did make one holding call in the second period, but only after defensive end John Bronson was literally tackled on his way to the Hawkeye backfield.
Kennedy went so far as to offer empirical evidence of Iowa's less-than-legal tactics.
"My jersey was as loose as it's ever been in the first four games. The loosest, like a jacket, like that," he said, pulling at his windbreaker.
However, no one really seemed surprised by the lack of calls in the Lions' favor. Since Penn State entered the Big Ten in 1993, there has long been the idea of an anti-Penn State bias, something Kennedy believes whole-heartedly.
"I find it funny that we always get more calls [against us] at home than anywhere else in the Big Ten and that kills me," Kennedy said.
"That kills me that last year we led the Big Ten in penalties and the majority of them were at home, so you tell me."
"I think [there is a bias], if you ask me because I've had some bad calls, and I've had some refs say some bad things to me playing this game. You guys just don't know."
The linemen weren't the only ones displeased with the officiating crew. Penn State coach Joe Paterno tracked down one of the officials leaving the field Saturday and later complained about two key overtime calls.
