Lovie: Always A College Coach
July 26th, 2016
Michigan ready?
In his first major speaking engagement since he was introduced as the new football coach at the University of Illinois this spring, former Bucs coach Lovie Smith addressed the throng today at the Big Ten Football Media Days conference in Chicago.
As usual, Lovie didn’t say a whole lot. Joe only caught Lovie uttering his favorite phrase “simple as that” once. Joe did snicker when Lovie didn’t know the name of the Illini beat writer for the Chicago Tribune. Whoops.
One thing getting a lot of play, maybe a bit misleading, was a quote from Lovie claiming he always considered himself a college coach even when he was working in the NFL. Lovie reinforced this quote saying he was and is big on fundamentals.
Still, this raised a question to Joe that directly links to the Bucs.
Lovie considered himself a college coach as far as fundamentals, yet when he faced a college offense, that nasty spread offense, the one Tennessee incorporated to help Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota’s transition into the NFL, Lovie and his pathetically prepared defense was as lost as Joe would be at a temperance movement.
If “Tennessee ready” is what Lovie calls fundamentals, boy, watching Lovie trying to stop Urban Meyer’s offense at Ohio State just might be DVR-appointment TV. Fortunately for Lovie, the Illini don’t play Ohio State this year (but do play Jim Harbaugh and Michigan Oct. 22).
For Lovie fans, and Joe knows there are a couple grazing out there, below is his press conference this morning.
July 26th, 2016 at 11:19 am
Hahahah hahahaah hahaHHAHAAH!!!!!
What a joke!!!! Thanks College coach for running this bad team even into the ground more!!!!! The only thing that was surprising is that this classes coach stated awake thru the whole press conference!!!! Welcome to Incompetence Illinois!!!!!!
July 26th, 2016 at 11:22 am
Pray for the illuni players they do not deserve the infectious disease that will soon spread uncontrollably from the incompetent and classless lovie
July 26th, 2016 at 11:29 am
How would I have liked to have been in that audience. Did Lovie notice the crowd fell asleep after a few minutes?
July 26th, 2016 at 11:35 am
The big “I” on the helmet was taken from his first name.
What’s left is LOVE.
LOVE is what Bucs fans should have for our former coach for being the biggest cheerleader in drafting Jameis Winston and being masterful in helping him navigate his rookie season.
Simple as that. 😉
July 26th, 2016 at 11:39 am
Actually, that was Jason Licht, who was on Jameis’ bandwagon back when he was working in Arizona.
Lovie was Jameis’ cheerleader 1-B.
But, yeah, if Lovie didn’t want Jameis, he wouldn’t be here. That was one of three decisions in two years Lovie got right.
July 26th, 2016 at 11:40 am
Geez guys! Seriously?!
Good luck Coach!
July 26th, 2016 at 11:47 am
Wait until they get killed week after week by all those spread offenses. Mariota had a field day in his fist game against seasoned professionals. That Cover-2 is going to get toasted and roasted.
July 26th, 2016 at 11:51 am
My Dad went to U of I, as I went to NIU 120 miles to the North, so this hits home to us. Lovie would have to learn how to coach kids as he can’t “draft” certain kids to play his “system”. Normally, I’d say we are doomed, but you have to remember, Illinois hasn’t been relevant in the Big 10 for 50 years (or at least since Dick Butkus played for them). It’s always, in football, Michigan or Ohio State. It’s either those two teams are extremely lucky for the last 50 years or their sports alumni group have been extremely generous with the players. You make the call.
July 26th, 2016 at 11:58 am
Illinois was relevant when Mike White and John Mackovic coached. That program has never recovered from the Lou Tepper disaster. He destroyed that program.
But, yeah, when Illinois goes to the Rose Bowl (once every 20 years) the B1G is way down.
RE Lovie: He can recruit “his” kids. Like Jimbo Fisher says about coaching in the NFL, “In the NFL you get one first round draft pick a year. In college, if I recruit right, I can get three first round draft picks each year.”
July 26th, 2016 at 12:55 pm
He was in Arizona when he checking Jameis, so f*cking what! Do he want some cookies! Don’t mean he would have taken Jameis had he been wheeling the power, I think he would have taken M.M. If he could have! You give Licth all the damn credit. Two right decisions in two years! BS!
July 26th, 2016 at 1:01 pm
The Crying Illini
July 26th, 2016 at 1:01 pm
BigHogHaynes
Poor bighog has his panties in an uproar because once again the facts dont support his case…. lovie failed and is the worst coach in bucs history avcept it and go back to
Fightingillini.com where you can get your lovie fix
July 26th, 2016 at 1:04 pm
Let me guess?…”it’s not about the future, it’s always about the future”
Or…
“We’re a 5 and whatever football team”
July 26th, 2016 at 1:10 pm
@bighogheinous
You better check your tone son!!!! There is a reckoning coming to all Buc Fans!!! This year we will see who is a “Real” Buc Fan and who was just a tampa2/lovie loyalist!!!! You better choose the right ship or get left behind!!!!
The only things the incompetent one brought to this team was losses and misery!!!! coach my scheme was the worst coach in Buc History!!! Period!!!!
July 26th, 2016 at 1:11 pm
@Hog- Don’t fret man! Lovie’s going to be just fine at Illinois.
All the blame and none of the credit, it’s crazy! You’re not going to convince these guys otherwise, and at this point, they’re just doing it to get a rise out of you.
Lovie does not deserve ALL the blame and they know it. However, his lack of adjustments cost him his job. You can’t deny how horrific that defense was.
I’ll stay classy and wish him well. For the record, I can’t stand Urban Meyer and I hope Lovie Illinois 2’s him into the loss column!
July 26th, 2016 at 1:49 pm
Somewhat related…again college is so different than the NFL.
There is ONE game in the Big Ten or whatever they are these days…
November 26th in Columbus Ohio Harbaugh brings Michigan in against Urban’s Buckeyes. That is the ONLY real game in that conference this year. Oh there may be an upset or two but Illinois relevant….bwaaahaaaaa They are playing against Northwestern, PSU, Purdue and the rest for 4th place. Mich St or Wisc has 3rd
Same in ACC…FSU versus Clemson…great game…ONLY one that counts
SEC…Alabama against who? Seriously who can challenge Bama this year?
The Bucs are not playing college ball. In the NFL it’s “On any given Sunday”.
In Urbana it’s going to be all about the point spread….as can Lovie keep the Michigan game within 28 points. Personally I’ll give the points and take Harbaugh.
July 26th, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Can’t wait until after coach my scheme fails in college to hear ” I was always a high school coach”!!! “Its as simple as that”!!!!!
Who knew when the incompetent one was say “simple as that” that “THAT” meant his game plan!!!!!!!!
July 26th, 2016 at 2:31 pm
In 3 years when he’s fired and coaching high school he will say he always considered himself a high school coach. The man is a machine when it comes to reasons why he has failed i.e. excuses.
July 26th, 2016 at 2:36 pm
@StPete- If you listen to the pundits, it’s Tennessee by a landslide. They’ve all but guaranteed a Tennessee SEC Championship. Where they get this stuff, I’ll never know!
@Realist- ” I was always a high school coach”!!! “Its as simple as that”!!!!!
LOL, you’ve got issues!
July 26th, 2016 at 2:43 pm
@Bucsfanman
LOL, you’ve got issues!
Not since Jan 6th 2016 10:25 when I heard the great news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 26th, 2016 at 3:47 pm
we’ll see if dirk is saying in the near future,”i was always just an oc”….lol…..GO BUCS!!!!
July 26th, 2016 at 4:43 pm
Thanks for building us a solid foundation Coach Smith.
July 26th, 2016 at 5:30 pm
Lovie will do well in Illinois. Good Luck to him. Again..ole Joe throwin out the..Lovie lunch meat to the salivating Buc blame dogs. Txmaxcon and Buc realist have soiled underwear from working themselves into a frenzy when Lovie is mentioned. Can’t wait for game one to start so some fresh bait can be slung in another direction.
July 26th, 2016 at 6:23 pm
Pretty obvious you don’t talk to too many folks who work in the NFL.
July 26th, 2016 at 10:29 pm
That burnt orange looks great. I wanted the Bucs to go to the burnt orange instead of red when the uniforms changed in ’97.
July 26th, 2016 at 11:06 pm
THANK YOU JOE AT 11:39AM!!!!! I’m tired of hearing this constantly from Rick Stroud that Winston is a Buc because of Lovie. Licht and Lovie could have been on board equally, I’ll give anyone that, but to say that Lovie had to “convince” Licht is and absolute lie. Licht is on record wanting Winston before the 2014 Bortles/Bridgewater draft. I could make the case that Licht “convinced” Lovie. GMs usually have a longer leash than HCs, and could afford 1 QB mistake as a first time GM more than a veteran HC could. Lovie could have been on board all along, I don’t know, but he would have had to convince Licht NOT to draft Winston.