Iowa likes the look of the real Zook

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- You could hear the chuckling all the way down in Gainesville, Fla.

After two-and-a-half seasons without an appearance, the Ron Zook that Florida fans warned everyone about finally showed up on Illinois' sideline.

The 18th-ranked Illini penned a heinous chapter in one of the nation's best feel-good stories with their 10-6 loss Saturday afternoon at Iowa.

To be fair, Zook's handwriting wasn't the only unintelligible scribble to be found on Kinnick Stadium's pockmarked grass.

One mindless penalty -- wide receiver Jacob Willis taking his stance on the line of scrimmage instead of one yard behind it -- ruined a go-ahead, 82-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

Two turnovers derailed crucial second-half drives, including Illinois' drive to Iowa's 11 in the final two minutes.

Oh, and the Illini offense also settled for a field goal on a first-and-2 situation in the third quarter.

But Zook's faulty thinking enabled Iowa to score its winning touchdown.

If he doesn't make a mind-boggling decision on a third-down penalty, then the Hawkeyes might still be searching for the end zone.

Don't take my word for it. Decide for yourself how Zook should have played two crucial decisions.

Here was the first situation: Illinois led 6-3 late in the third quarter. Iowa faced third-and-2 from the Illini 15, but Jake Christensen's pass to Albert Young went for no gain.

But wait, Iowa was flagged for an illegal formation. Did Zook decline the 5-yard penalty and force Iowa to try a field goal?

Heck, no.

He pushed them back and gave the Hawks a third-and-7. Next play, Christensen took advantage of a busted coverage and hit tight end Brandon Myers for a 20-yard score.

What'd you think of that decision, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz?

"That helped us out, gave us a shot," Ferentz said. "That's a risk. I won't second-guess what they did. I certainly understand their motives, and that was a huge play for us coming back and executing on that thing."

Of course, Ferentz wouldn't second-guess. That'd be something along the lines of looking a gift horse in the mouth, right?

Of course, Zook wouldn't second-guess himself, either.

"I thought we had a better chance being fourth-and-long," Zook said. "And they'd been going for it on fourth down all the time. In my opinion, it was the only thing to do."

Yes, Iowa did go for it on fourth down twice in the first quarter, but that was when the Hawks would have been attempting 45- and 50-yard field goals into the wind.

But this time, Iowa had the wind and was close enough to go for the field goal and the tie. At least, that's what Christensen indicated 45 minutes after the game.

Oops. Big oops.

And, just to prove his decision-making process doesn't change, Zook made the same mistake again in the fourth quarter.

Here was the situation: Christensen threw an incomplete pass on third-and-4 from Illinois' 48, but Barrington's Dan Doering was flagged for holding.

Did Zook decline the penalty and force the Hawks to punt? Heck, no, 'cuz he thought they'd go for it again.

On the next play, Christensen found Paul Chaney open over the middle against a zone for a 29-yard gain.

Fortunately for the Illini, it didn't cost them anything except time because Christensen eventually fumbled away a snap at the 11-yard line.

Now, Illinois still controls its own destiny with Michigan and Ohio State still on the docket.

Does everyone in Illini Nation feel good about that, especially based on what they saw from the sideline at Iowa?