Imrem: Lovie huggable now, but for how long?

Illinois football was whisked into a brave new world Monday.

An oddly foreign one, too.

This is real big for the beleaguered program. How big? Consider the 1:30 p.m. news update on CNBC.

The fourth of four short items — No. 1 was Russia sending relief aid to Syria — was Lovie Smith getting a job.

Talk about being relevant.

I don't remember the Fighting Illini making the financial network cut when they named Tim Beckman or Bill Cubit head football coach.

Smith has succeeded them and was impressive at his introductory news conference. OK, so most new coaches are on Day 1 but not many can captivate an audience like he can.

Later Smith becomes more defensive and adversarial as media scrutiny and public skepticism intensify and postseason victories become rare.

There will be time enough for that now that Smith has signed a six-year contract and says that “this is where I want to be to finish my career.”

Smith proceeded to talk the talk as if walking the walk was a given.

That's who this guy is: Once he had a chance to become Illinois head coach, he was going to get the job if he wanted it, and he did want it.

Illini athletic director Josh Whitman didn't have a chance once he dipped his toe into Smith's waters.

It was reminiscent of why Jerry Angelo, then the Bears' general manager, hired Smith as his head coach in 2004.

The Bears needed an offensive-minded head coach and Smith's expertise is defense. Angelo hired him anyway.

Why was that?

First, Angelo recognized that the Bears needed leadership more than offense, defense or anything else. After meeting with Smith, Angelo was convinced that this guy could lead a roster of players and staff of coaches to where the Bears wanted to go.

Second, Smith is a difficult guy to bypass once he has a chance to sell himself.

Angelo found Smith unusually prepared for his job interview, organized and knowledgeable about the Bears and overall ready to be a first-time NFL head coach.

With a little time to study Illinois — the team and university — Smith similarly impressed Whitman.

“He's a leader of men,” Whitman gushed. “He cares about players and is a mentor, teacher, coach.”

Whatever the question at the media session, Smith had the right answer whether it concerned the student body or the university or recruiting or competing against Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.

“Quite a bit,” Smith said of how significant it was that he is Illinois football's first black head coach.

By the way, Smith also was the Bears' first black head coach.

“I realize who I am and what people see,” he said. “Hopefully I'll do what I can to open doors for others and inspire young men to dream big.”

Illinois fans had to be excited to hear that Smith had no fear of Harbaugh. That's no surprise to Bears fans who must recall Smith's uncompromising confidence in himself.

Now Smith is saying matter-of-factly that he'll instill class, integrity, trust and honesty into Illinois football.

Along with winning, of course.

A smiling, charming, huggable Smith was on the offensive on this day as those old nemeses media scrutiny and public skepticism lurked in the shadows.

Where Lovie Smith guides Illinois football in this brave new world will be interesting if nothing else.

Check the financial networks for Illinois football results next season.

mimrem@dailyherald.com