Have you ever tried to maintain your grip on a wet and slick bar of soap?  It is almost impossible ... and the bar can slip out of your hands before you even realize it.

That is the way it has been for the 2009 Illini.  They have spent this entire season trying to get ANY kind of momentum in games....and when the game momentum shifts their direction....the Illini cannot take advantage. 

Sometimes the other team makes a big play and you have to give them credit. Some teams are just better than you.  OK...fine.   But more often than not this season....the Illni have beaten themselves. The game at Indiana on Saturday night was a prime example of what I am talking about.

Indiana's "wildcat' and "pistol" offense kept the Illini defense off-balance early  on Saturday night.  The Hoosiers marched down the field on sustained drives the first two times they had the ball... but came away with no points each time as Indiana placekicker Nick Freeland missed on two very makeable field goal attempts.

Momentum Illinois. What do the Illini do?.....

Put together a nice drive with a mixture of passing and running move the ball down the field.  After a 20-yard completion by Juice Williams to the Indiana 33-yard line to receiver A.J Jenkins....Jenkins gets up celebrating a first down and is called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.   So the ball is moved back 15 yards.  On the next play the Illini are called for holding and are eventually forced to punt after being forced back into their own side of the field.  

End of momentum

Late in the 3rd quarter the Illini trail 13-7 but have another drive going and have a chance to take a potential 14-13  lead as they have the football inside the Indiana 10 yard line.  The game has been a struggle for both teams... but the Illini have the Hoosiers back on their heels and look like they are going in for the touchdown (and at worst... a short field goal)

Momentum Illinois.... right?

Wrong.  Juice Williams loses the football on a quarterback keeper and Indiana's Ray Fisher scoops up the loose ball.  End of momentum.  Indiana ball...and they eventually get a 44-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Chappell early in the 4th quarter to push the Hoosier lead out to 20-7. 

That was pretty much the ballgame.  Juice Williams was hit again on the next Illini possession and fumbled ...and Indiana cashed that turnover in as well with another touchdown pass.  The Illini defense also missed chances at a couple of interceptions during the course of the game that could have turned momentum their way.

The Illini did score a touchdown late in the game and were driving for another score in the waning seconds when time ran out... but as has been the case many times this season...a lot of the yards and points came after the momentum had been lost and the game was already decided.

There are many reasons why the Illini are winless in Big Ten play at 0-4 and sit in the Big Ten basement at 1-5 . I am sure that Illini  fans have a LOT of opinions as to why that is the case ...blaming everything from the coaching staff.... to the play-calling... to the defense... to special teams.. to ill-timed penalties.....etc. 

But I think one reason for the dismal  record in 2009 is that game-to-game.... the Illini have rarely taken advantage of the opportunities given to them during crucial points in games. You dont get many of those chances against the top teams around the country or in the Big Ten.  But when you dont take advantage of them against struggling  teams like Indiana..then you are really in trouble and you lose momentum not just for that game.....but for the entire season.

Next up... a trip to Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette 

But first...a bar of soap...and a shower.