CHAMPAIGN — The palpable buzz created by the hire of former NFL coach Lovie Smith as the next Illinois football coach didn't come cheap.
Smith's six-year, $21 million deal — plus possible bonuses — follows more than $5 million spent by the athletic program on legal investigations and coaching buyouts just since last spring.
The tally includes:
— Almost $1.35 million to buy out the contracts of former head coach Bill Cubit ($985,000 left on $1.2 million salary, negotiated in November) and his son, offensive coordinator Ryan Cubit ($361,000 for remainder of his contract, offered in December).