IS BUYING CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS
But those images, especially the interception he threw that led to the Hawkeyes' game-winning field goal - which knocked the Nittany Lions from the roster of unbeaten teams - still cling to his psyche like moss to a rock.
Maybe the senior quarterback for the fifth-ranked Lions is using them as motivation for Saturday night's game at Beaver Stadium. After apologizing to Penn State fans following last year's 24-23 loss, he has waited nearly 46 weeks for his shot at redemption.
"I feel I owe our football team a lot, given what happened last season," Clark said yesterday. "I've done everything I can to improve, in film study and practice and showing leadership, so I don't have what happened last season happen again.
"We're not thinking about what happened last season because this is a new season. But we haven't forgotten it."
With Penn State nursing a two-point lead on the Iowa 37, Clark threw an interception to Tyler Sash with 3 minutes, 46 seconds remaining. Iowa converted three third-down plays (one on a penalty) and got the ball in position for Daniel Murray's 31-yard field goal with one second left.
The loss dropped the Lions to 9-1 and knocked them out of any chance at the BCS championship game.
Clark, who was 9 of 23 for 86 yards in the bone-chilling conditions in Iowa City, said he wasn't happy with any part of his performance. He admitted that he had watched the film of it more than film from any other game he had played.
"I wasn't very accurate," he said. "Plays I could have made, I didn't make. The interception was an important play, but there were others. I watched that film time and time again. I have to make sure that stuff doesn't happen again."
Clark has thrown for eight touchdowns in three games and ranks 22d in the nation in pass efficiency. He was helped in Saturday's win over Temple by the Lions' best rushing performance of the season.
This will be Penn State's toughest test to date, in a supercharged "whiteout" atmosphere. Both teams are 3-0. Clark said the weight of responsibility on his shoulders wouldn't be an issue.
"I'm going to be as relaxed as possible," he said.
Lee update. Senior linebacker Sean Lee said that his sprained left knee was feeling better but that he wouldn't be allowed to play Saturday night unless doctors gave him the OK.
"I don't know for sure," he said. "It's the doctor's call. If he says it's 100 percent, I'd love to be out there. But the thing is, they might not let me go out there."
Lee, the Lions' leading tackler, was injured in the Temple game. He said he initially hurt his knee in the second quarter when it hit against a helmet. The knee tightened up as the game went on before he left for good in the fourth.
Lee missed the entire 2008 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He said he recalled feeling helpless standing on the sideline and watching Iowa drive to the winning field goal.
"It'll be extremely tough for me to not play in a game like this," he said.
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