It is finally game week for the Illini, and Lovie Smith met the media ahead of the season opener in Wisconsin. Here’s what the fourth-year head coach had to say:

On last year’s upset over Wisconsin

• We needed a signature win.
• Only way it (being a good team) can be confirmed is getting a win.
• Winning definitely gives you confidence.

On being underdogs against Wisconsin

• Until we become a consistent winner, this is the position we will be in quite a few times.
• We were a six-win team and I think we’re a stronger football team now.

On traveling to a place with a high positivity rate / battling Covid

• We’re focusing on what we can control.
• There’s a lot on my mind about this Wisconsin game, but being safe is not one of them.
• We’ve been testing around here for a long period of time.
• I wash my hands, I try to socially distance as much as I possibly can.
• We kinda keep our game plan to ourself.

On playing after a long layoff

• We're expecting to play good football right away.
• I do not expect a bad brand of football.

On the game against Wisconsin

• We were able to beat this football team last year, we’re a better football team now.
• They want to establish the run and we have to meet that challenge.

On playing without fans

• If you’re relying on someone else to get you going as an athlete, you’re going to fail eventually.
• Would I rather have 90,000 Badger fans there or no badger fans there? I’m going to pick no Badger fans every time.

On the team’s philosophy

• Taking the ball away is in our DNA.
• We start with a minimum (goal) of three takeaways a game.

On players

• I love Jake Hansen.
• Verdis Brown will be starting at guard.
• Jake Hansen was on a course last year to do something better than anyone has ever done in college football at taking the ball away.
• For the most part we’re injury free.
• Everything is good (Covid-wise).

On Social Justice

• The conversation will not fizzle out.
• There is a time and a place for everything, and there will be a time.