Lovie Smith's Down-Home Approach Has Bears

He is a stern teacher. But in his news conferences, during games, he is often viewed as far from stern and routinely stoic.

Lovie Smith knows how to hoard his best shots.

He is honest. He is as blue-collar as the team and city he coaches and represents. He does not strut among his Bears players or coaches, or speak to Chicagoans in a tone that reminds all daily that he is the head coach and that he is in the building. No, Smith has created a family-feel among the Bears in his seven seasons, an atmosphere where people want to come to work and there is not much among them to hide. Teams with grit that Bears fans can grip.