Next Croker gridiron chapter set for 2017

Barely an hour had passed since Sam Ficken kicked the game-winning field goal for Penn State against the University of Central Florida on Saturday, but Croke Park and everyone inside and around the stadium were already moving on.

Stadium staff were even then stripping the venue down in preparation for yesterday’s All-Ireland semi-final between Dublin and Donegal while Irish and American fans were taking in the unfolding epic in Limerick at the nearest watering holes.

The victors weren’t hanging around. Penn State and their 300-strong entourage of players, coaches, support staff and other personnel were booked on an overnight flight back to Harrisburg in preparation for next week’s home game against Akron.

And their erstwhile hosts here were looking to the future as well.

Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna has targeted the college game as a key income generator. The stadium was adorned with banners on Saturday declaring it to be the ‘European home of American college football’.

The stated ambition is to bring a game to Dublin 3 every two years although McKenna confirmed to the Irish Examiner that the next chapter in the venue’s gridiron story is being pencilled in for 2017 with the teams as yet to be confirmed.

McKenna declared himself delighted at what was the first college game to be played at Croke Park since Notre Dame met Navy at the ground back in 1996 and he had good reason for cheer.

The crowd of 53,304 made it the best attended American college game ever in this country, beating the previous mark of 48,820 held by Navy and Notre Dame at the Aviva Stadium in 2012.

That was a blowout, however. This was anything but.

Penn State held a 10-3 half-time lead that should have been greater and they went into the final quarter 20-10 in front only to be pegged back and overtaken by a UCF side surfing on the momentum generated by a replacement quarterback.

Justin Holman had come in for ineffective starter Pete DiNovo soon after half-time. The change energised the game with Holman ultimately driving his team’s downfield and rushing in for a converted touchdown with just 1:13 left on the clock.

In football, 1:13 is an eternity and, in Christian Hackenberg, Penn State had a star QB of their own, and he orchestrated a march back downfield to within kicking distance for Ficken to do the honours.

UCF coach George O’Leary was in fantastically grouchy form after his side’s late loss, but he dished out the honey when praising the event and the venue itself.

So, too, did Penn head coach James Franklin who had gone on record in the build-up to voice his displeasure with having to start his Penn State career on the far side of the Atlantic against a side that had built a daunting 12-1 record in 2013.

“I wouldn’t say it was necessarily more rewarding,” he said on the back of winning under those circumstances. “I hope it was a great experience for the fans. We did do some unique things which I think is always great from a cultural perspective for the players.

“But for the most part it was a business trip. The most important thing was that we found a way to get a win.”