At first glance an uninformed sports fan might scratch their head at the University of Kansas putting its football fortunes into the hands of Turner Gill. Sure, he was a great quarterback at Nebraska in the 80s, but his head coaching record is 20-30 at Buffalo over a four year period.
Buffalo had long been one of the worst college football teams in the nation. The team had won more than two games in one season for the previous seven years. Gill's first year at Buffalo was 2-10, but was 18-20 over the next three years, winning a MAC title and two MAC East titles. Gill had proven that he could raise a program from the dead to respectability.
Turner Gill's Record
Gill may not have been a household name, but he was known in coaching circles. He was interviewed and a serous candidate for jobs at Auburn, Syracuse and Nebraska in the year or two before Kansas came calling. At the recent Big-12 Media Days, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said he tried to hire Gill to be his offensive coordinator in 2000.
Gill's pedigree of coaching includes being quarterback coach at Nebraska when the Huskers were winning three national titles in the 90s. He was Eric Crouch's position coach when Crouch won the Heisman. He also coached receivers at Nebraska, and had brief stints at SMU and with the Green Bay Packers.
Viewed in light of his accomplishments and achievements, Kansas grabbing him doesn't seem so strange. Kansas does not need him to bring a program from the dead. The Jayhawks have been respectable for a few years, but they do have some uncertainty and instability with the departure of coach Mark Mangino in less than positive circumstances. The team needs stability and direction, and based on his track record, Kansas believes Gill is the person who can deliver.
Turner Gill's Philosophy
Gill started in the spring with building relationships. At the Big-12 Media days he said he worked on that more than anything. "The biggest thing is we have to get to know each other. As men particularly, and particularly young men, we have to know how to communicate." he said. Gill said the team would obviously be talking football, and would get into the fundamentals of the game, but he said he has been stressing teamwork, team building and communication more than anything."
Turner Gill Builds Character
Gill said he realizes the game is played to be won, but winning isn't main concern. His main concern is developing players who play well on the field and play well in society.
"I knew things would fall into place. Didn't know necessarily when, but as long as I was going to be able to be coaching and teaching young men, that's all that mattered to me." he said at Big-12 Media Days.
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