In about three weeks, Lovie Smith will lead his first Illini football team onto Bob Zuppke Field against Murray State. While it’s his debut at Illinois, Smith is no stranger to season-opening games as a head coach. In nine years with the Chicago Bears, Smith won five of his team’s nine season openers. He lost the lid-lifter in both of his seasons as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Of the three men who preceded Smith at Illinois in their debuts, Ron Zook, Tim Beckman and Bill Cubit all won their first games. Of the 24 other Illini head coaches, they went 14-9-1 in their opening games.
Illini Legends, Lists and Lore: Happy birthday, Dee Brown!
