HOUSTON - Dan McCarney watched an episode of desperate coaches Wednesday night.

So maybe its no coincidence that Iowa State spent part of Thursday rehearsing final scenes.

Taking a break from preparations for the Ev1.Net Houston Bowl, the Cyclones head coach saw the closing minutes of Nebraskas Alamo Bowl win over Michigan. The already-historic last play featured a forward pass, a fumble and seven laterals by the Wolverines plus extra players from both teams on the field.

Following Thursdays practice, a reporter asked McCarney if Iowa State had designed plays for a final-snap crisis.

We worked on it today, said McCarney. We worked on it today.

The finish to the Alamo Bowl, added the ISU head coach, was a reminder you better have something ready. You better be ready defensively, and you always want to try and have a desperation play … how to stop it defensively and how to execute it offensively.

Like other veterans of the college football, McCarney drew comparisons between the Nebraska-Michigan play and the improbable kickoff return that ended the Stanford-California game in 1982. Rarely an outspoken critic of officials, ISUs head coach did have some thoughts about the absence of a penalty call at the end of the Alamo Bowl.

Yeah, I thought there might be something, said McCarney. When theres 125 players out there on the field, I thought there might be something, but I guess not.

He added, I wouldnt want to be in charge of that officiating crew. That was unbelievable circumstances. It was just a wild finish.

QUICK COUNT: To Austin Flynn, the buzz about TCU can be summed up with one word: Speed.

Thats the word everyone keeps talking about, said ISUs junior wide receiver, especially in the secondary. Theyre fast, they fly to the ball, and they make plays. Speed wins ballgames, and theyve got a lot of it. Theyve won a lot of ballgames.

Speed is also part of TCUs offensive backfield. Both starter Robert Merrill and No. 2 tailback Aaron Brown can move, according to the Cyclones.

That said, linebacker Tim Dobbins hardly sounded frightened.

Referring to Brown, Dobbins said, The running back looks pretty fast. Hes only a freshman. I mean, Im pretty sure we can teach him a couple of things. But its going to be a pretty good game.

OFFICIALLY SPEAKING: A Big East Conference crew will officiate Saturdays Houston Bowl. Today, TCU and ISU were scheduled to learn what replay system will be used.

McCarney said he favors the model used by the Big 12, where reviews are completely in the hands of officials in the press box. No coaches challenges are allowed.

I thought it worked real good for us, said the Iowa State head coach, who noted that some conference coaches were in favor of an on-field challenge system.

Im sure its something well continue to talk about, said McCarney. It may possibly get to that, someday.

MORE NOTES: While the Cyclones have been available for post-practice interviews all week, the Horned Frogs were placed off-limits by head coach Gary Patterson. … In the family ties department, the parents of Pattersons wife, Kelsey, are both Iowa State graduates. Dean Hayes received his aerospace engineering degree in 1980 plus a business degree a year later. Irene Hayes is a 1980 graduate of ISU with a degree in sociology. … TCU equipment manager Matt Lewis worked for the Cyclones from 2000 through 2002.

Contact Jim Sullivan at (319) 291-1434 or jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com