Purdue vs. Illinois football: Lovie Smith's beard shocks Twitter

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois — Third-year Illinois football head coach Lovie Smith has a new look this season, and some people think he is impersonating Santa Claus. 

That's one of the comparisons made during Saturday's game against Purdue. 

Other comparisons include Uncle Drew and Ted Kaczynski.

Prior to coaching Illinois, Smith coached the Chicago Bears from 2004 to 2012 and coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014 and 2015. 

Read more Purdue football news: 

• Purdue football at Illinois | Live updates and How They Scored
• Game Week | Purdue football at Illinois
• Purdue vs. Illinois football: How to watch on TV, stream, spread
• Purdue safety Simeon Smiley quickly recovers after scary collision