“Past is prologue,” Shakespeare once said.
To see where you’re going, you have to first know from whence you came. This was a significant theme at 2016 Illini football Media Day; the very first of the Lovie Smith era. Yes, there was plenty of talk about Illinois football depth charts, recruiting, position battles, strengths, weaknesses and all the other topics that you usually find at every team’s preseason media day.
Lots of industry standard discussion during this session, but what made today’s press conference unique were all the allusions to Lovie’s Chicago Bears past. We cover some of the more interesting news and notes, nuggets and tidbits from Smith’s Media press conference below.
Also you can watch the video in full if you so desire:
.@LovieSmith talked #Illini training camp, seniors, the D-line and more at today's press conference » https://t.co/BKd4OGG9Jv
— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) August 14, 2016
We must begin with the new contraption in the team room/press conference room. It doesn’t have an official public name, but to me, I would call it “The Peanut Punch Machine.”
“We talk a lot about takeaways, and in order to have that mindset, always, it’s a reminder,” Lovie Smith said.
Every defender must hit the ball as they walk through the door entering the team meeting room. They will not be allowed to come in unless they have done so.
“We would like to see them punching the ball every play during the season too,” Smith added.
Have a look below:
This is new this year. You can see that the @peanuttillman visit really had an impact #Bears #Illini pic.twitter.com/TAoO0dC2U2
— Paul M. Banks (@PaulMBanks) August 14, 2016
The newly retired Charles “Peanut” Tillman stopped by Illini practice this past week, and gave a pep talk to the team.
Peanut also got caught up with his good friend/coach of eight years when both were with the Chicago Bears. A reporter asked Lovie Smith what topics he and Tillman discussed, and Smith gave him a good natured ribbing.
Smith playfully asked the room if the reporter has any friends before he answered the query. Tillman was obviously not at Illini practice in any “official capacity,” but he is a proud supporter of the program and the legendary NFL cornerback provided some inspiration for the team after a long hot day of practice.
The exchange begins at the 10:00 minute mark, and with two follow-up Q&As, runs until the 13:00 mark.
Lovie did say back during spring practice that he expected some of his former Bears players to come visit in Champaign. Thus you can anticipate more players dropping by in the near future.
The conversation then shifted to how Tillman has embraced retirement, with Lovie then saying that he would like to attend the Olympics some day. (Unfortunately, the topic of Tillman’s role in “Sharknado 4” this summer was not covered)
Talk of quarterback Wes Lunt inspired a reporter in the back of the room to reference former Chicago Bears QB Rex Grossman.
Smith then gave the room a “Rex is our quarterback,” and I couldn’t help but LOL at that. (it’s around the 21:00-21:20 mark)
Naturally, for the sake of journalistic accuracy, fairness and balance, a Kyle Orton question followed.
Lovie Smith had praise for both.
Lovie Smith just gave a "Rex is our quarterback" here at #Illini Media Day. LOL adding "for the record I love Rex Grossman" #Bears
— Paul M. Banks (@PaulMBanks) August 14, 2016
Now @LovieSmith just needs to give us an "off the bus running" in this presser and all the archetypes will be satisfied. #bears #Illini
— Paul M. Banks (@PaulMBanks) August 14, 2016
After the Rex Grossman talk, I naturally brought up Kyle Orton to Lovie Smith, for the sake of fairness and balance. Cc @HammerAndRails
— Paul M. Banks (@PaulMBanks) August 14, 2016
“Get off the bus running,” and “Rex is our quarterback” is to Lovie Smith, sort of, what khakis are to Jim Harbaugh. It’s simply the brand archetype.
When you take the stage and rock the mic, you have to play your hits. It’s what they came to see/hear. If you went to see Warren G. in concert, you would expect him to play “Regulate” at some point.
Finally, Hardy Nickerson Jr. was a late arrival, but he’ll absolutely be one of the most influential players on the team this season. As the Mike linebacker, he’ll quarterback the defense. It’s the same exact role Brian Urlacher had on the highly successful Bears teams that Smith coached.
Of course, no one expects the son of the new Illini defensive coordinator, Hardy Nickerson Sr, to play like the NFL first ballot Hall of Famer, or anything close to that, but they will be tasked with the same duties within the system.
Also, the Nickerson-Urlacher talk (at the 28:00 mark) makes for a much livelier discussion than what you typically get at your usual preseason media day.
The University of Illinois made a great hire in Athletic Director Josh Whitman. He then made a splash hire in Lovie Smith. Hence you get an upgraded preseason media day as well.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.