Illinois Post Game Thoughts

It was like 2003-2004 all over again, except this time the players didn't stink.

Missed opportunity after missed opportunity plagued the Nittany Lions in an ugly, horrific, frustrating, baffling loss.

5 second half possessions ALL beginning in Illini territory yielded THREE points. Absolutely pathetic.

After watching Penn State try and take a knee on their way to victory over Michigan, the offensive Gameplan this week actually called to throw the ball. And Morelli looked great in the first half, as the Lions moved the ball with ease.

However, once the 2nd half began, at times it would seem as though the Penn State coaches would freak out, and revert to the screen, and the draw, and other head scratchers. Poor throws by Morelli yielded another 2 interceptions, and after poor Anthony made a gutsy, diving run on 4th down, he dropped the ball and turned it back over to Illinois. (Note that on the 3rd down play before that Morelli completed a 1 yard pass to DWill in bounds...when the ball traveled 30 yards in the air, when time was at a premium)

Who knows where this PSU team will go from here. A BCS bowl is now out of the question, and it seems as though the Outback would be a best case scenario. The scary thing is that looking at the schedule, there might only be 2-3 more wins, which would make for a really ugly season.

Last week it was the coaches, but you can hang today's loss squarely on the players. Turnovers, dropped passes, bad throws, butterfingers (on O and D), wasting field position, it was all there.

Illinois tried on multiple occasions to hand the game to PSU. Great starting field position, combined with dumb Illinois penalties, but Penn State couldnt take advantage.

Hold onto your hats, because this ride for the rest of the season could get really ugly.