The News-Gazette: Ex-Illini try to wow NFL brass
Lovie Smith did not show his face Thursday inside the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility while 16 former Illinois football players went through the paces of pro day.
But Luke Butkus was walking around, sporting a bushy brown beard and a navy blue Illinois pullover hours before Illinois officially announced the hiring of Smith’s first assistant coach.
Scout: Pro-bound Illini support Lovie hire
“Not saying that (former Illini head coach Bill) Cubit was a bad guy or a bad person for the job, but I think once you saw Lovie get hired, you saw the energy come back to Illinois.