There’s plenty to like about Lovie Smith. And some things to fret about, too. Pluses and minuses courtesy 27-year football writer Bob Asmussen:
GOOD
u279c He led the Bears to the Super Bowl. Last time the Big Ten hired a Super Bowl coach — Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh — it worked well.
u279c Everybody in Chicago knows his name.
u279c He would be the first African-American head coach at Illinois in football or men’s basketball. Breaking that barrier is long past due.
u279c His former players like and respect him. They don’t have a bad word to say about the guy.