George Halas. Red Grange. Dick Butkus. Usually the pipeline between the University of Illinois and the Chicago Bears runs from Champaign to Chicago, but with the Fighting Illini hiring former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith as their new head coach, the flow has been reversed. The bold move by new Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman adds instant stability and credibility to an Illini football program in dire need of both. As an Illinois alumnus and lifelong Chicago Bears fan, it’s the right move at the right time for Illinois.
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I was not the biggest Lovie Smith fan over the last few seasons with the Chicago Bears.