Lovie Smith calls Illinois 'Chicago's team'

Illinois sits about an hour farther away from Chicago than Northwestern, but that means nothing to new Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith.

"I feel like we're Chicago's team," the soft-spoken Smith said Tuesday at Big Ten media days.

Smith's connection to Chi-town is no secret, as the 58-year-old previously spent nine seasons as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. His assertion, however, may ruffle a few feathers down the road in Evanston, where the Wildcats reside.

Northwestern will host Illinois Nov. 26, with the title of "Chicago's team" presumably on the line.