Lovie Smith. Bears coach, Bucs coach and as of Monday, University if Illinois’ new head coach. A household name within in my own home and just about very other household in the entire Chicagoland area. We’ve watched him pace the sidelines of Solider Field, tried to ignore him on the other sideline when we watched the Bears play the Bucs and now we get to watch him change the way football is looked at in Memorial Stadium. This was the move, Josh Whitman, this was definitely the move and here’s why I’m stoked.
1. I grew up watching him.
For as long as I can remember, Lovie Smith has always been my first favorite coach. I always think of him when I think of the Chicago Bears, and still have vivid memories of watching him coach my Bears. He was always calm, cool and collective on the sidelines, something my dad always criticized, but something I found comforting.
2. He brought the Bears to the Superbowl.
Sure, the Bears weren’t doing so hot when Smith ended his career with the Bears, but he did bring them to the biggest bowl game in the nation! It came three years after he started with the Bears in 2004, so in 2019 I think we can expect a Rose Bowl visit. And yes, they didn't win, but we still got to see Hester run one back on the opening kickoff (so we kinda won).
3. He practically bleeds blue and orange already.
His longest stint as head coach was with the Bears, who just so happen to have the same colors as the Fighting Illini. Granted, he wore some red and black for awhile, but it seems like he couldn’t stay away from the blue and the orange.
4. He knows what needs to be done.
And he seems passionate about it. He knows that the Illini are in a major slump, but he is determined to put a better team on the field, pack Memorial stadium and make the Fighting Illini a fighting contender in the Big Ten.
5. He took a selfie with me.
Case closed. Lovie Smith rocks.
So welcome to the greatest school in the United States. I hope that you can learn the love the rich traditions we have here. I hope you can make our football program strong and great again. I hope by the time I graduate, the football stadium will be packed every Saturday. I can't wait to see what our football team has to offer in the upcoming years. Thanks for choosing us, Lovie, and I-L-L!
