CHAMPAIGN, ILL. • As an errant pass by Michigan's Denard Robinson hung tantalizingly in the air, Illinois linebacker Trulon Henry positioned himself for a seemingly easy interception near midfield Saturday.
But with room to run, Henry bobbled the ball and watched it fall to the ground as he collapsed in disbelief.
Michigan's J.T. Floyd didn't botch his chance in the fourth quarter. He picked off Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase and returned the interception 43 yards to set up a backbreaking touchdown as the No. 22 Wolverines dominated in a 31-14 win at Memorial Stadium.
For the first six games, the Illini were on the receiving end of most of the breaks. Throughout a subsequent four-game losing streak they have failed to take advantage of opportunities while the offense has fallen on hard times, turning a promising season into the type of collapse rarely seen.
"Probably the biggest difference is the overall mental attitude," coach Ron Zook said. "In the first six games they weren't questioning themselves. Now any time things aren't going right, they doubt themselves. Coaches begin to press a little bit. I thought it might have been the start of it in the Ohio State game. The coaches press a little. The players press a little."
Illinois (6-4 overall, 2-4 in the Big Ten) failed to score in the first half for the fourth consecutive game and became one of seven programs in the Football Bowl Subdivision to open with at least six consecutive wins and follow with four losses.
Asked if this scenario would have seemed possible when the Illini were 6-0 and nationally ranked, defensive coordinator Vic Koenning suggested that some players might have looked too far ahead.
"I'm extremely big on worrying about what's right in front of you,'' he said. "Many times I've looked (ahead), I've tripped over something. Maybe that's exactly what happened to some of our guys."
The Henry-Floyd contrast was one of many problems that led to occasional booing and some unflattering comments directed by fans at Zook as he ran off the field.
Illinois is bowl eligible but plays Wisconsin at home next week before finishing on the road against Minnesota. The Illini once appeared headed for an upper level bowl game, but they have plummeted in a conference that could send 10 teams to bowls.
"We're just trying to get a win. That's all we're trying to do," Scheelhaase said. "It has nothing to do with what our record is, or what it could have been or what we wish it is."
Although Illinois was within striking distance in the third quarter, trailing 17-7, the game was a considerable mismatch statistically. Mistakes by Michigan (8-2, 4-2) kept the Illini off the hook until the Wolverines pulled away in the fourth quarter.
Illinois had 30 total yards and one first down at halftime. The Illini didn't break into positive rushing yards until the third quarter. Ryan Lankford muffed a punt that was recovered by Michigan. And yet a 13-yard touchdown run by Scheelhaase in the waning seconds of the third quarter had the Illini within 10 points.
"I thought when we were down 14-0 at halftime we had a chance,'' Zook said. "It could have been 48-0."
The Wolverines blew huge holes in the Illinois defense early. The Illini eventually settled down after Robinson ran for two early touchdowns, but the offense continued to run as if in mud.
"Defensively we can't give up scores at all. Zero," defensive end Whitney Mercilus said of the Illinois defense's mind-set. "We have to have something going on offense. ... When we give up an easy touchdown it does get frustrating. Confidence is just shot all the way. It's frustrating when teammates on the other side of the ball aren't getting it down field into the end zone."
Michigan's Fitzgerald Toussaint ran for 192 yards. Meanwhile, the Illini managed only 37 yards on the ground and Scheelhaase was sacked four times.
Even so, the Illini were in the game when they reached the Wolverines' 40-yard line early in the fourth quarter. That's when Floyd came up with his interception, which led to a Michigan touchdown minutes later.
"You have to look at changes, go back and ask what gives you the best chance to win," Zook said. "We're in a funk for some reason. I don't understand it either. If changes need to be made, we'll make them."
