FIRST WORD

I SIGNED A SIX- YEAR CONTRACT. I’M NOT GOING ANYWHERE. THIS IS THE START OF THE THIRD QUARTER OF MY CAREER. THIS IS WHERE IWANT TO FINISH UP MY FOOTBALL CAREER.”

Lovie Smith, former coach of the NFL’s Bears and Buccaneers, on being named head coach at Illinois. He hasn’t coached in college since he was an assistant at Ohio State in 1995.