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Last place again? Lovie Smith is shaking his head. His message: It’s winning time at Illinois

CHAMPAIGN — Here’s the thing about Lovie Smith’s 9-27 record as football coach at Illinois. About the three games last season — against Penn State in September, Maryland in October and Iowa in November — in which his defense was lit up for 63 points. About a parade of bigger, stronger, faster opponents that has called the state, and the future, of the Illini program, not to mention its 61-year-old coach, into question.

Smith doesn’t remember any of it.

Or maybe he’s just being coy.

“When did that happen?” he said on Day 5 of training camp, his fourth at the school.