Years Ago, Iowa Had Play Similar to Dejean Return at Kinnick Stadium [WATCH]

Saturday's Iowa-Minnesota game was about as exciting as watching corn grow. That is until the 1:33 mark of the 4th quarter. It turns out something very similar happened at Kinnick Stadium decades ago.

This past Saturday, as Iowa trailed Minnesota 12-10 late in the game, I messaged my parents and reminded them, 'Dad and I once went to a 12-10 MN game. I fear a repeat. How will this team score?' For a moment, it appeared I was wrong. After a two-minute review, the horrific truth.

Yes, the 12-10 Minnesota victory on the unseasonably cold day of October 24, 1981, was to be repeated. You talk about the agony of defeat.

According to Hawk Central, here's how the NCAA rule-book describes an invalid fair-catch: "While a free kick is in the air, (a player) gives a waving signal that does not meet all the requirements of a valid fair-catch signal. The ball is caught by (that player). RULING: The ball is dead when caught."

You could argue the same call should've been made Saturday night in the game between North Carolina and Virginia. The returner waves both arms before one arm raises up to near his shoulder. It wasn't called on the field, or reviewed.

It turns out that Iowa fans saw a play similar to the one that happened on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, October 24, 1987. Iowa was playing the Purdue Boilermakers when Iowa tight end Mike Flagg did something eerily similar to what Cooper Dejean did on Saturday, this time on the opening kickoff for the second half. You can watch it below. TV cameras didn't catch it live, but replays did. Keith Jackson and Bob Griese had the call.

The full replay of that 1987 game is below. Iowa put up 38 points that day in a 24-point win. Oh how I miss the offense.