Laid Back Lovie
August 23rd, 2014
Gerald McCoy talks about the difference between Lovie Smith and former commander Greg Schiano.
Joe can’t claim he knows Bucs coach Lovie Smith. Oh, sure, he knows who he is (and Lovie knows who Joe is, too). That doesn’t mean Joe knows him.
But in Joe’s perhaps, half-dozen times he’s had a chance to talk one-on-one with Lovie, the word “gentleman” springs to mind. Because Lovie really is a gentle man.
Joe can understand how he resonates with players. He is so kind, yet stern and smart, you really don’t want to let him down. Lovie has that sort of magnetism about him.
In a recent interview on BSPN Radio, Bucs stud defensive tackle Gerald McCoy claimed he knew things were going to be far different for him and his teammates when he learned Lovie was taking over for former Bucs commander Greg Schiano.
Coach Smith is an awesome guy,” GMC said. “He really is. Everything I kept hearing when he got hired was ‘Gerald, you are going to love him. … Gerald, you are going to love him. … Gerald, you are going to love him.’
“OK, he is a coach. I met him a couple of times. But until you are around him every day, you don’t realize what a good guy he is. Just a really great person. What he brought to our team is something we haven’t had since I have been here. We have someone who won as an assistant. Someone who won as a coordinator. And someone who won as a head coach. You take all of that experience with a group of talented guys and some elite group of coaches; it can get scary, man. People are really excited for the future.
“He just brought a completely different feel. It didn’t feel as intense. First time we met with Coach Schiano it was a real intense meeting. He had on a full suit, and it was intense. Lovie came in with a T-shirt, shorts and sandals.”
Now that is a difference! Maybe Lovie was just enjoying the warm “winter” of Tampa Bay a bit more than he would have in his infamous basement in suburban Chicago. Either way, Lovie’s initial approach sure seems to have hit home with the players.
If nothing else, Lovie brings stability, a sense of order that apparently couldn’t be forced the way Schiano attempted.
Of course, at the end of the day, if Lovie and the Bucs don’t win, it won’t matter what his personality is. It’s all about winning, baby.
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:31 am
Lovie is a breath of fresh air after the nimrods the Glazer boys have been bringing around here. A quintessential Texas gentleman, and a great football mind. Thank you for getting this one right. Go Bucs!
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:32 am
Haven’t had the privilege to personally meet Coach Smith, but from what I can see (from Joe’s articles and others) he’s a LEADER. Big difference to me between being in a leadership position and actually being a leader.
Lovie’s a leader. He obviously knows how to create the vision for his team, how to select good people to form his team, how to provide them with the necessary guidance and resources, and most importantly, how to treat people.
The coaches who he’s brought on-board are all top-notch, and I’m confident that’ll pay dividends this year and in future years. The quality of our starters, and backups, is higher now than I’ve seen since our 2002 Super Bowl year.
We all know that it takes time to truly build a winning team, any team, so it may be premature for us to start celebrating playoff and Super Bowl victories right now. But it’ll come.
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:35 am
If Schiano had shown up in flip-flops, players and fans alike would have labeled him unprofessional, not “laid-back”. Funny how this works.
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:40 am
Laid back, gentle and friendly are Lovie attributes. Sounds like Tony Dungy. At least the Bucs can count on a good defence.
August 23rd, 2014 at 10:10 am
Watching Lovie’s press conferences is interesting….I notice that he has a way with the media that commands respect and admiration….he has an easy-going nature and it is very disarming to those who wish to attack or question him. He is a very hard guy not to like!!!
August 23rd, 2014 at 10:11 am
Lovie has also brought TB into the media attention a lot more. He has made the Bucs relevant again as an NFL team. Unfortunately, Greenie of Mike and Mike has picked the Bucs to excel this year in the NFL south which is, the kiss of death; lol. We finally got a respected man and professional to lead the team. Now we need a QB like that too. I know, I know….the ollne.
August 23rd, 2014 at 10:17 am
@LightningBuc – that’s what success as a professional gets you. If you’ve proven nothing to that point and you show up looming like a clown then people aren’t going to take you seriously. Lovie had teams that were perennial contenders and played in a super bowl. He doesn’t have to convince anyone
August 23rd, 2014 at 10:23 am
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader” (John Quincy Adams)
August 23rd, 2014 at 10:32 am
Laid back during practices, comatose during games. I just don’t prefer the Dungy style coaching personally. I like high energy coaches.
August 23rd, 2014 at 11:20 am
I’ll take flip flops over a popped collar any day because I’m FROM Tampa.
August 23rd, 2014 at 12:21 pm
Buccaneer Buddha follows the Buccaneer Mussolini, Lol.
That’s a good thing.
August 23rd, 2014 at 1:03 pm
Gotta admit, I loved watching Gruden lose it on the sideline. It was far more entertaining than the stoic Dungy/Lovie style.
August 23rd, 2014 at 1:26 pm
lightningbuc Says:
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:35 am
If Schiano had shown up in flip-flops, players and fans alike would have labeled him unprofessional, not “laid-back”. Funny how this works.
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I think Lovie has earned the right, as a coordinator, as a coach, and as a head coach, to wear flip flops. Schiano had accomplished very little…plus flip flops is way out of his straight laced character. He probably doesn’t even wear flip flops to the beach, probably those stupid water shoes instead… with dress socks.
August 23rd, 2014 at 2:44 pm
If Schiano were a winner, he could show up wearinf a mumu and a wig and we would be OK with it. When you start out 0-8, everything you do gets scrutinized. Welcome to the real world.
August 23rd, 2014 at 3:19 pm
Lovie and Schiano have something in common – both were fired from their first NFL head coaching gig.
I look forward to the flip flop wearin’, laid back Lovie Smith leading us to a Super Bowl win. Can’t wait to see what all the hub bub about this guy is all about. But don’t forget – don’t cuss. Lovie don’t allow it. Grown men treating grown men with respect.