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Lovie Smith Can’t Resist Taking Shot At Tampa Bay Buccaneers

By Erik Lambert

Jan 3, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith walks on to the field at the end of the game. The Panthers defeated the Buccaneers 38-10 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith walks on to the field at the end of the game. The Panthers defeated the Buccaneers 38-10 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Any head coach who says he was happy being fired from his previous job is probably lying.  Most agree that Lovie Smith was blindsided to a degree when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to dismiss earlier this year.  While the team finished 6-10, it was a considerable improvement from the 2-14 campaign in 2014 and he’d done it with a rookie in Jameis Winston at quarterback.  There were signs the team was headed in the right direction.

The Buccaneers didn’t seem to feel that way.  However, there are indications and speculation that the team was concerned over the possibility of losing prized offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter to a head coaching job elsewhere.  Rather than risk that happening, they fired Smith in order to promote Koetter, ensuring he continues to work with Winston.

Since then Smith has landed on his feet elsewhere, being scooped up by the University of Illinois football program to become their new head coach.  After signing a six-year deal for $21 million, the media couldn’t resist asking him about what happened in Tampa.  His answer, though professional for the most part, still held a degree of saltiness to it.

"“As far as Tampa Bay, you just have to kind of take it,” Smith said, via Rick Stroud of theTampa Bay Times. “You know, there’s a coach going in the Hall of Fame this summer that was also fired by the Buccaneers so you just take it and move on. I’m not saying that in a bad light, that’s just our profession. That happens. When something like that happens, by me leaving there, it gave me this great opportunity to really have an impact on young men’s lives.’’"

He is of course referring his friend and mentor Tony Dungy.  The two worked together in Tampa Bay back in the 1990s when the Hall of Fame coach built it into a contender.  Years of early playoff exits though compelled the organization to make a switch.  He was fired and a blockbuster trade was made to bring in Jon Gruden.

It ended up working out for all parties.  Gruden led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title the next year in 2002 and Dungy joined the Indianapolis Colts, turning them into an AFC powerhouse and winning his own ring four years later.  It’s clear Tampa Bay is hoping for similar results in their dismissal of Smith for the more offensive-minded Koetter.

Though he may not admit it outright, the 57-year old coach doesn’t share their optimism.

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