For the second consecutive Big Ten media days, Illinois coach Lovie Smith’s beard stole the present on the Hilton Chicago. That was about the one factor value speaking about Thursday on the Illini entrance.
Smith’s beard was noticeably thicker and longer than it was final 12 months. But sufficient about his facial hair.
This was Smith’s fourth Big Day media days, and he approached it the identical approach as he has previous occasions. He spewed empty platitudes and preached optimism for the upcoming season.
‘‘When we first got here, we knew there were some challenging things that we had to take care of, and we attacked it,’’ Smith mentioned. ‘‘We went to work immediately. We overhauled our soccer program. We have quite a lot of new gamers.
‘‘Recruiting has gone effectively. A number of years in the past, we had 15 freshmen that began. Those guys are juniors now and are working our soccer group, and that’s a very good factor. Our recruiting goes effectively and [so are] our guys’ offseason exercises. Our gamers are actually working extraordinarily exhausting.’’
Smith additionally set the usual for his 2019 group.
‘‘Are we saying this is a year where you should really see where we are? Absolutely,’’ Smith mentioned.
Smith, nevertheless, mentioned kind of the identical factor at media days final 12 months.
‘‘Year 3 will produce results,’’ he mentioned final July.
Those outcomes weren’t favorable by any means. Illinois suffered a number of lopsided losses, together with a 63-Zero rout at house to Iowa, and completed 4-Eight final season.
Still, Illini athletic director Josh Whitman mentioned he noticed progress in this system.
In some packages, Smith might need been gone after final season. But regardless of his 9-27 report in his first three seasons on the college, Whitman gave him a contract extension by means of 2023 in December.
Smith mentioned this might be a telling season, despite the fact that 34 Big Ten reporters voted unanimously that the Illinois will end final within the Big Ten West.
‘‘This is a year our best football should be put on the field,’’ Smith mentioned. ‘‘That’s what we’ve been constructing for.’’
The solely approach for the Illini to alter the notion of their program is by successful, Smith mentioned.
‘‘We have to find a way to win, finish games,’’ Smith mentioned. ‘‘You train for that.’’
So is that this the season Illinois will put up a legit battle towards Big Ten opponents?
‘‘I don’t know,’’ Smith mentioned. ‘‘We’re seeking to enhance our group. We’re higher proper now. It’s speak proper now till we get the prospect to indicate it on the soccer area.
‘‘We’ve accomplished what we’re purported to do in spring ball [and] summer time exercises. We must get to coaching camp now and see this group. There’s some new additions, [but] we have to get everyone collectively as a group.’’