Wisconsin hands Illinois fifth straight loss

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Wisconsin’s Montee Ball scores the first of his three touchdowns in the Badgers’ comeback win over the Illini. | Seth Perlman~AP

Updated: December 21, 2011 8:28AM

CHAMPAIGN — After Illinois had found a way to lose for the fifth straight time, blowing a 14-point lead in a 28-17 loss to
No. 15 Wisconsin on Saturday, new athletic director Mike Thomas followed his usual custom.

He stood at a corner of the field, shaking hands and offering encouragement to Illini players and staff as they jogged off the field.

The exchange with Ron Zook was brief. The coach barely broke stride as he took Thomas’ hand.

Signs are mounting that Zook’s tenure will end after the Illini finish up at Minnesota on Saturday.

Wisconsin (9-2, 5-2 Big Ten) did what good teams do. On a day when things weren’t going well, it pulled one out of the fire.

And Illinois (6-5, 2-5) did what struggling teams do. Shut out in the first half of its previous four losses, it was shut out in the second half this time — while handing the Badgers 21 points on an orange-and-blue platter.

“As soon as we start thinking, we get ourselves in trouble,” Zook said. “When bad things start happening, you have to put it out of your mind and go on to the next play.’’

With Illinois leading 14-0 with 3:35 left in the first half, punter Justin Duvernois fumbled a snap that gave the Badgers the ball at the 2.

That let Wisconsin back into the game at 14-7. Then the Illini turned the ball over four times on their five second-half possessions, setting up 14 more Badgers points.

If Thomas, as expected, fires Zook, few in Illini Nation will disagree, and many will cheer.

“Wisconsin is a good football team,’’ Zook said. “The frustrating thing is, we can be a good football team if we play like we did in the first half. Somewhere along the line, we disconnect.’’

Zook’s staff talked about the really good effort the players mustered after a week that included safety Trulon Henry being shot and Zook taking heat for sort of walking out of a news conference.

“They came out and played with fire and energy,” said offensive coordinator Paul Petrino, who coached from the sideline rather than the booth to energize the offense. “We just can’t make those stupid mistakes.”

Players said Illinois’ troubles are not about coaching.

“We have a great scheme every week,” freshman quarterback Reilly O’Toole said. “It’s not the coaches at all. It’s one person messing up every single play.”

It’s OK for new coaches to talk about correcting mistakes and improving. Too much of that talk, though, turns old coaches into former coaches.