Gill's future uncertain as Jayhawks coach

KANSAS CITY Kansas coach Turner Gill expects to return next season despite continued speculation and rumors that Saturdays 24-10 loss to Missouri may have been his last game. And his future may come down to whether athletic director Sheahon Zenger listens to the high priced donors or the Jayhawk players. While a 5-19 record in two seasons has fueled outside criticism and pressure for Gill to be removed as the KU coach, his players dont appear to feel the same way. "I just hope he stays, said Kansas running back James Sims. "All of us as a team, we feel like Coach Gill should stay. Its just two years. You cant really change everything and make a big change in two years. Its going to take time. We just hope he gets to stay and gets another opportunity. "I think it would be unfair. We all love Coach Gill. He's a great man. It's us as players. We have to go out there and play. It's not like he can go out there and play. We have to get our stuff together. They are giving us great opportunities, we just have to execute better." After ending the season on a 10-game losing streak and going winless in conference play, what the players want may not matter. Widespread speculation in the Arrowhead Stadium press box Saturday had Gill coaching his final game whether Kansas beat Missouri or not. Just four years after coach Mark Mangino led them to a 12-1 season and a victory in the Orange Bowl, Gills Jayhawks appear to be moving in the wrong direction. Kansas dropped to just 1-16 in conference play the past two years Saturday after a mental mistake again played a key role. With the score tied at 10 early in the third quarter, Gill called timeout as the Jayhawks formulated a play to attempt a 4th and one conversion from the Missouri 44 yard line. But tight end A.J. Steward was whistled for a false start following the timeout and the Jayhawks were forced to punt. Missouri followed with a 93-yard touchdown drive to take a 17-10 lead. The Jayhawks didnt score again and lost what was a winnable game they led 10-3 at halftime. But the Kansas players say the lack of production in recent years has been their fault and not because of poor coaching. Gill apparently has the support of everyone in the locker room, who think firing him after just two years would be unfair. "I think so, said senior linebacker Steven Johnson. "Its only been two years and I think after this loss and this season, I can see it in a lot of guys eyes that they want him to stay here. If he does have the opportunity to stay here, next year is going to be completely different. Guys are going to work. "Youre not going to find a better coach in the nation than Turner Gill. Hes just a great guy, a great coach, who can ultimately help turn this program around. I just hope they give him that chance. Mangino resigned following the 2009 season after allegations arose over his treatment and conduct towards players at practice and on the sideline. In eight seasons with the Jayhawks, Mangino brought Kansas to national prominence with a top-5 ranking in 2007 and three bowl wins in four appearances. And expectations were even higher when Gill was given a 5-year, 10 million contract to join the Jayhawks in December 2009 after leading Buffalo to the MAC Championship in 2008. Kansas lost to FCS foe North Dakota State, 6-3, in Gills first game as Jayhawk coach in 2010 and the results havent improved much since. Following a 3-9 first season, the Jayhawks were rarely competitive and suffered several laughable losses in 2011. Among them: -Allowed 70 points and 600 yards of offense in a 70-28 loss at Oklahoma State on October 8. -Had three first downs and 46 total yards of offense in a 43-0 loss at Texas on October 30. -Blew a 24-3 fourth-quarter lead at home to No. 25 Baylor and lost in overtime when Gill elected to go for a two-point conversion that would have won the game. And those were just the worst three. But despite the struggles, Kansas players and coaches seemed united Saturday that Gill deserves a chance to see his plan succeed. "Its hard to turn something in two years, you know? said KU offensive coordinator Chuck Long. "We all understand three. We understand that. But we felt like, Hey lets play these young guys. Lets bite the bull a little bit, play these young guys and get them out there. "We have some freshman and true freshman out there against a tough league. Its going to be rough sledding and we knew October was going to be rough with the teams we were playing, but we feel like 2012 and 2013 could be good years for us based on playing all of these young guys. Said quarterback Jordan Webb, who completed just nine passes for 60 yards Saturday: "We feel like hell be back. We feel like he should be. He put us in position to win a lot of ballgames this year and there were a few that just didnt bounce our way and we should have won. Despite the players hope and plea that Gill returns next season, the high priced donors and alumni at Kansas could cause Zenger and the athletics department to make a chance. Attractive candidates such as Mike Leach, Jim Leavitt and Mike Stoops could be enough of an appeal to force Kansas into moving in another direction. But Gill certainly wasnt thinking about the possibility of losing his job after Saturdays game. "I still feel like we can get things done here and move this program in the right direction, Gill said. "And do the things that we need to do to win games, get to bowl games and eventually be able to win championships. Asked if he expected to get that chance, Gill said simply, "I do. Yes. Well soon see if the KU administration feels the same way.