Even before Turner Gill's official introduction as the new coach at Kansas today, FireTurnerGill.com was up and running.
Welcome to life in the Big 12.
The biggest complaints about Gill's hiring in Lawrence seem to be his 20-30 record at Buffalo and the fact that he wasn't someone else.
In fact, the former Arlington Heights High School and Nebraska standout represents a better hire than Kansas could have expected after the public bloodletting during the final days of Mark Mangino. Jayhawk fans need to remember that even with an Orange Bowl appearance two years, Kansas football isn't exactly a name brand.
Prying Jim Harbaugh away from Stanford? Luring Tommy Tuberville out of retirement? Don't think so.
Getting Gill gives Kansas a chance to remain factor in the Big 12 North and not drift back to .500-is-pretty-good status. Remember, until Mangino, Kansas hadn't won at least eight games in back-to-back seasons since 1908 and '09.
As for Gill's record, he went 2-10 in his first season at Buffalo, considered a coaching graveyard with no real identity. Buffalo improved to 5-7 in his second season and captured a Mid-American Conference title, upsetting Ball State. A lot of people thought Gill and not Gene Chizik should have been the hire at Auburn, re-opening a debate on football hiring practices.
This season, Buffalo lost all-time leading rusher James Starks to a shoulder injury before the season began, dropped three games by a combined seven points and still finished 5-7. If Buffalo had finished 8-5 or better in the MAC this season, there's no doubt Gill lands a much higher profile job.
Gill will be able to heal any lingering resentments from the Mangino era quickly. With his Texas and Nebraska roots, he should be able to recruit the Big 12 footprint nicely.
Athletic director Lew Perkins wanted a coach who would be positive after Mangino. He got one. As his press conference today, Gill set the bar high.
Welcome to life in the Big 12.
The biggest complaints about Gill's hiring in Lawrence seem to be his 20-30 record at Buffalo and the fact that he wasn't someone else.
In fact, the former Arlington Heights High School and Nebraska standout represents a better hire than Kansas could have expected after the public bloodletting during the final days of Mark Mangino. Jayhawk fans need to remember that even with an Orange Bowl appearance two years, Kansas football isn't exactly a name brand.
Prying Jim Harbaugh away from Stanford? Luring Tommy Tuberville out of retirement? Don't think so.
Getting Gill gives Kansas a chance to remain factor in the Big 12 North and not drift back to .500-is-pretty-good status. Remember, until Mangino, Kansas hadn't won at least eight games in back-to-back seasons since 1908 and '09.
As for Gill's record, he went 2-10 in his first season at Buffalo, considered a coaching graveyard with no real identity. Buffalo improved to 5-7 in his second season and captured a Mid-American Conference title, upsetting Ball State. A lot of people thought Gill and not Gene Chizik should have been the hire at Auburn, re-opening a debate on football hiring practices.
This season, Buffalo lost all-time leading rusher James Starks to a shoulder injury before the season began, dropped three games by a combined seven points and still finished 5-7. If Buffalo had finished 8-5 or better in the MAC this season, there's no doubt Gill lands a much higher profile job.
Gill will be able to heal any lingering resentments from the Mangino era quickly. With his Texas and Nebraska roots, he should be able to recruit the Big 12 footprint nicely.
Athletic director Lew Perkins wanted a coach who would be positive after Mangino. He got one. As his press conference today, Gill set the bar high.
"I'm not coming here to use it as a stepping stone to a football dynasty, but rather to create a football dynasty here at KU," Gill told reporters. "I hope to be here 15 or 20 years because if I'm here 15 or 20 years, that will mean we have done well."
-- Chuck Carlton
Turner Gill IS a classy person, without a doubt a better hire than KU currently deserves, as time will probably testify.
Currently Gary Patterson has a contract until 2016. If he decides to move on to a different challenge after then Turner Gill will quite possibly be ready to step up to the TCU job.
But that's still quite a way into the future.
Posted by: JW Hardin | December 15, 2009 at 01:43 PM