CHAMPAIGN – Lovie Smith spent a decade or two in The League, where NFL coaches work overtime to keep things under wraps.
There’s a league mandated injury report that’s often mistaken as being accurate, and New England coach Bill Belichick makes the CIA look like a Boy Scout group.
Let’s not even go into DeflateGate. That’s old news. Belichick was even going incognito with the Patriots during preseason training camp by sending his players onto the practice field with no jersey numbers.
It’s a good idea to keep everyone confused.
College coaches are pretty good at the game. It’s amazing how players and coaches are available to the media throughout their high school and professional careers. Somehow, they’re off limits while they spend their time at some of the nation’s finest learning institutions.
But it’s time to get down to business, because it’s week two of the college football season. After little more than a walk through against lowly Murray State, Illinois faces a measuring stick game against North Carolina.
No hiding it. Even Lovie wasn’t pretending.
So when it comes to recruits or Illini-heads who want to see if there’s hope for a miracle turn around this year or a need for a little more patience, Illinois plays host to the Tar Heels Saturday night in a chance to make a statement with an upset win (the Illini are seven-point underdogs) or just playing Carolina close.
Last week, recruits and fans “got a chance to see us play, period,’’ Lovie said. “Now they get to see how we match up against a better team with a little bit more of a spotlight on us. It’s early in the year, but for us it’s a big game. I’m not sure what North Carolina is thinking with the way they beat us last year. For us, it’s a big game and a true measuring stick to see where we are.’’
Illinois has been spreading the love (or is it spreading the Lovie) since he was first announced as the surprise hire to replace the Tim Beckman tenure and the Bill Cubit stop-gap maneuver. Any real feel good in orange and blue centers around Lovie, whose salary was adjusted Thursday. The university trustees approved to move $2 million of his $21 million in direct payment from the final two years of his six-year contract to the second and third years.
Lovie generated a vibe in Champaign County that extends throughout Central Illinois and perhaps to Chicago. Any kind of bowl berth would be a big payoff for these Illini. The schedule isn’t kind, beginning with a meeting with the Tar Heels, who are ranked higher than any team in the Big Ten West Division.
With Western Michigan coming to town in the season’s third week after upsetting Northwestern in the season opener, the Illini don’t have too many gimmes.
The Illini are confident.
“We’re excited,’’ Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt said. “We’re confident as a group. We still made quite a bit of mistakes in every position room, myself included. We still put up 52 points. That gives us confidence moving forward that we can get better – the running game, the passing game and everything.’’
When talking with offensive coordinator Garrick McGee, the Illini have more than just a little brushing up to do.
“We grade technique, and our technique grades weren’t very high,’’ McGee said. “We have a lot fundamentally that we have to get cleaned up. Every position, Wes included.’’
They’re things folks in the Collonnades Club or East Main grandstands might not notice. Proper steps. Proper angles. Better timing between quarterback and receivers, better spacing between offensive linemen.
The fact that there were no dropped passes was little comfort for McGee. He like the play of his offensive line but looked forward to week two.
“I thought they played hard,’’ McGee said about the line. “They were physical. I was impressed with the enthusiasm they showed early in the game. The first and second game is when a lot of development happens.’’
Defensively, the Illini gained confidence from grabbing turnovers and dominating an FCS school.
“You love the fact that we were able to get takeaways early in the football game,’’ Illini defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson said. “You always want to be in position to set the tone.’’
North Carolina was the team setting the tone last season, whipping Illinois 48-14 in Kenan Stadium a year ago. North Carolina is considered the favorite to win the Coastal Division in the ACC, but that was before a 33-24 loss to Georgia in the Georgia Dome last weekend.
The Tar Heels allowed 474 yards, including 289 yards rushing, while blowing a third-quarter lead. Defensive coordinator Gene Chizik wasn’t impressed with the stats or a flurry of missed tackles. The run defense was porous, to say the least.
“You don’t ever know going into the first game how good or bad you’re going to be at that,’’ he said. “We were poor. The numbers aren’t pretty.’’
So Illinois wants a measuring stick game. North Carolina wants to rebound by flexing some muscle.
“Our confidence is pretty good,’’ Nickerson said. “Guys are excited about the win we had this past weekend and looking forward to going against North Carolina.’’
Sure, the Illini say their confident. A new coach offers refreshing hope. For everyone outside the lines, the game Saturday against North Carolina is the first step into reality.
John Supinie is a columnist for OrangeandBlueNews.com. During the day, he’s an Audi Brand Specialist at Green Audi in Springfield. Call or text him at 217-377-1977 if you’re looking for an Audi, Volkswagen, Toyota or preowned car. Ask for the Illini deal.
