Doesn't he have like a dozen assistants for this type of thing? It is not like it was a 20 plus point difference in score.


By Graham Watson

Ron Zook admits he forgot the score before two-point conversion Illinois coach Ron Zook has been the butt of jokes the past couple years thanks to his team's lack of success. And now that the Illini are 6-0 — one win away from matching the 1951 team for the best start in school history — Zook still can't get out of his own way.

During Saturday's 41-20 win over Indiana, Zook made a play-calling gaffe that, while it didn't directly affect the outcome of the game, left a lot of people scratching their heads. With about 7 minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Illini scored a touchdown to put them up 20-13. Instead of kicking the PAT to go up eight, Zook decided to go for two. His reasoning? He thought his team was down five.

"We were down five, right? Up five, I mean," Zook said after the game.

After some clarification: "It was 20-13? Up seven?

"Maybe I didn't know what the score was. That's happened to me before. It's usually when we're behind. [This will] give you something to pound us about."

Um, yeah, especially since Illinois failed to covert the two-point play.

I get that coaches tell their players to ignore the score and always play like it's 0-0, but how difficult would it have been to look at one of the many scoreboards in the stadium and realize the score? How many staff and personnel people are on the sideline? Didn't one of them think, "Wait, what are we doing?"

Or maybe it was Zook being Zook so no one thought to say anything? Heck, Zook's gotten the Illini this far this season, why mess with a good thing?

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Wouldn't be the first time he demonstrated that he had no idea what was going on during a football game.

While I think it was early to do so, I think a smart coach with a good offense would do this more often.

Let's say that you are up 7 points, with 3 minutes to go, and you have the choice between going for one or two. If you go for one, you go up 8, and leave yourself open to tying the game as your worst potential outcome. If you go for two, you either go up 9 and end the game, or you stay at up 7, and leave yourself open to tying the game as your worst potential outcome assuming the opposing coach doesn't go crazy and go for two instead of playing for overtime.

I'd rather take the chance to be up two scores and end the game.

When Zook did it, I'd probably take the single point.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Head Coaches in the NFL and NCAA need a common sense coach to pipe in with

"What the hell are you doing taking a timeout?"


"Uh get the play in clock is running and were nearing fg position."


"Dont for 2 here, it makes no sense"

Between the sidelines and the booth every team has almost as many coaches as players. You would think every team would have one guy whose only job was clock management. Maybe they do but it sure doesn't seem like it.

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