If it wasn’t the longest night of Ron Zook’s life, it had to rank in the top five.
A coach knows he’s having a rough time when the opponent pulls its starting quarterback out of sheer pity–in the second quarter.
That’s what happened after Penn State scored its eighth touchdown to take a 56-3 lead Saturday night. Viewers killing time before Game 1 of the World Series must have seen the score and thought they needed to check their prescription.
And remember: Illinois had two weeks to prepare for Penn State because of a week off.
Appearing on his weekly coach’s show Sunday morning, Zook literally winced when host Brian Barnhart announced the final score, which was 63-10.
But Zook, the rookie coach who is equal parts energy and optimism, at least pretended he wasn’t dreading his team’s final four games, starting with a home date Saturday against Wisconsin (7-1).
“I’ll tell you, every day I feel better and better,” he said. “We’re going to get where we need to get.”
Illinois wasn’t there Saturday, as the defense suffered that nightmare triple crown of terrible pass coverage, poor tackling and no pressure on the quarterback.
The offense was equally bad. Even a successful fake punt was called back because Illinois had only six men on the line of scrimmage. And wide receiver Derrick McPhearson was tossed from the game for taking swings at Penn State’s Anwar Phillips in full view of an official.
Zook said he felt a little better when Penn State coach Joe Paterno told him after the game, “Sometimes these nights happen.”
Yes, they do. But the Illini, losers of five straight, haven’t come within 23 points of a Big Ten victory.
A major reason is that Zook started only two seniors Saturday. His lineup featured six juniors, 10 sophomores and four freshmen.
Zook is trying to follow the model of Kirk Ferentz, whom Iowa hired after the 1998 season. Ferentz’s first team beat only one opponent, Northern Illinois. The Hawkeyes then lost eight of their first nine games in 2000.
Ferentz’s third team went 7-5, and his fourth went undefeated in Big Ten play.
“We’ve just got to keep getting better,” Zook said.
False starts
If we learned anything Saturday, it’s that a game’s opening possession can be misleading.
Illinois actually struck first against Penn State with a 41-yard field goal, and Michigan State toyed with Northwestern on its opening drive. The Spartans scored on only three plays: a 53-yard pass, a 4-yard run and an 18-yard touchdown strike from Drew Stanton to Kerry Reed.
“I’m not sure they could do that against air, let alone 11 guys,” NU coach Randy Walker said.
Now anything seems possible for Northwestern, which surged to a No. 21 ranking in the Associated Press poll and plays host to Michigan at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Quarterback Brett Basanez ranks sixth in the nation with 2,181 passing yards. And the five QBs ahead of him have thrown an average of six interceptions and been sacked 15 times. Basanez has thrown one pick and has been sacked five times.
He could emerge as this year’s Alex Smith.
House of pain
Check out this quote from Michigan coach Lloyd Carr: “We have been the most unlucky team from an injury standpoint I’ve ever been around.”
The incredible thing is that Carr uttered those words three weeks ago, after his team escaped Michigan State with a 34-31 overtime victory.
Carr should have saved his sob story for Saturday, when the Wolverines turned to fourth-string tailback Jerome Jackson to lead them to victory in Iowa City.
After Mike Hart injured his right ankle, Kevin Grady was ineffective and Max Martin fumbled, Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson encouraged Carr to play Jackson, a junior from Saginaw.
Jackson’s first carry went for 19 yards. His last was a 1-yard touchdown in overtime.
Hart expects to return next week. No word on star linebacker LaMarr Woodley, whose injured right forearm kept him off the field Saturday.
How’s this for an injury? The Detroit Free Press reported that Michigan’s longtime equipment manager, Jon Falk, broke his leg Saturday during a sideline scrum.
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tgreenstein@tribune.com
