Love Struck? Tennessee Expressing Interest In Chicago's Lovie Smith

Sports News - January 14th, 2010 - Written By John

Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith hasn't had the strongest show of support this season, and may have the chance to get out on his own terms.

Multiple sources reported Thursday that the University of Tennessee has reached out to Smith to gauge his interest in the vacant head coaching position. Smith was offered an interview in 2008 after the Volunteers fired then-coach Phillip Fulmer, but he elected to stay with the Bears.

Since then, both parties have been involved in nothing but controversy. Smith, just three years removed from a Super Bowl berth, went 9-7 in 2008, and then 7-9 in 2009. What's worse is his defense, which basically carried the team to the Super Bowl, ranked in the lower half in each of the last two years.

What's worse is Smith wasn't able to tame Jay Cutler until the end of the year, presiding over one of the worst years by a quarterback this decade. Cutler came over from the Denver Broncos in a trade that left Chicago short three draft picks and sans Kyle Orton. Orton finished as Denver's starter and was the 14th-rated passer in the league. Meanwhile, Cutler threw an NFL-high 26 interceptions, most since 2005, and had four games with three picks or more.

Without Smith, Tennessee hired Lane Kiffin, who went 7-6 this season before becoming the school's biggest villain probably ever. He ditched the school after committing six minor NCAA College Football rules violations to take the same job at USC earlier this week, and students rioted in protest.

Whoever replaces Kiffin will certainly get a hero's welcome and it may be in Smith's best interest to at least listen. He would be only the fifth black head coach in college football, and may find a cooler environment in Tennessee to be appealing. Even a slow start with the Bears next year may have him on the hotseat, and perhaps Cutler is too deconstructed right now to succeed.

The only reason he is even still with the club is for buyout obligations, but that may be aided by the Volunteers if a deal can be reached.