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Hot seat watch, Week 1: Clay Helton and 5 coaches feeling the heat

By Charles Rahrig V

Mandatory Credit: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /
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COLLEGE PARK, MD – OCTOBER 27: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field on October 27, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD – OCTOBER 27: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field on October 27, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

3. Lovie Smith – Illinois

You remember that special group that Chris Ash and Randy Edsall belong to? The “they’re definitely getting fired, so why are these programs delaying the inevitable?” group? Well, Lovie Smith is knocking down the door to join them.

Through three seasons with the Fighting Illini, Lovie is a whopping 9-27. He could have been fired after last season and probably not too many people would have had a problem with it.

Nonetheless, the program is giving him a fourth season to try and turn things around. There was an incremental success last year improving from two wins all the way to four wins. One has to assume the number for Smith to keep his job after this year is six, which would mean becoming bowl eligible.

Four years is a solid time for a program to gauge what they have in a head coach and certainly, by now, Smith has his players in and can’t use recruiting as leverage.

Illinois opens at home against Akron this week. Then they get to visit UConn next week. The Huskies, let offenses average 600 yards against them last year. If Illinois doesn’t walk away from this starting 2-0, then Smith should be worried.

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