np_husker
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Interesting article, though I still want Pelini!
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1200...;u_sid=10169565
Lee Barfknecht: Is Gill's tenure at Buffalo temporary?
BY LEE BARFKNECHT
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN - Two kinds of football buzz are building at the University of Buffalo.
The first involves on-field success at a school that entered this season with a 12-79 record since its move to Division I-A in 1999.
Second-year coach Turner Gill, a former Nebraska star and assistant coach, has the Bulls (4-5 overall, 4-1 conference ) alone in first place in the Mid-American Conference East Division after a 26-10 victory over Akron on Saturday.
"There is some real growing respect for football around here," said Graham Stewart, UB's associate vice president for alumni relations. "People are seeing that change is occurring.
"We've had a couple of great home games where people looked at each other and said, 'Boy, this feels good.'"
The second source of chatter in Buffalo stems from athletic upheaval 1,050 miles away at Nebraska, and whether Gill is among those who might be targeted in a potential NU coaching search.
Among the facts:
• Former Husker coach Tom Osborne is the new athletic director in charge of evaluating a slumping football program.
• Osborne was a groomsman in Gill's wedding.
• In his book "More Than Winning," Osborne wrote that "I was probably closer to Turner than to any other player I have coached."
Said UB's Stewart: "It's more than on our radar screen. There's a heck of a lot of speculation here.
"I don't think there is any merit to it, but I'm not on the inside. It would be hard to turn down an opportunity like that. Whether this is the right time for Turner or for Nebraska is the big question."
Those on the inside - Gill and Buffalo Athletic Director Warde Manuel - aren't contributing to the speculation.
Gill told reporters in Buffalo that he is happy in his current position and focused on the season. Manuel, through the sports information director, politely declined an interview request saying he "didn't see any purpose to commenting at this time."
If this turns into a contest over money, Nebraska blows out Buffalo.
NU coach Bill Callahan's current contract guarantees him a $400,000 base salary and $1.35 million in other income for a total of $1.75 million annually.
Gill, in the second-year of a five-year deal, has a base salary of $180,000 and a minimum guarantee of outside income of $3,000. Yes, $3,000 is accurate.
Callahan's bonus for a bowl bid is $50,000. He also gets the unlimited use of two vehicles. Gill's bonus for a bowl bid is $15,000, and he gets a vehicle allowance of $400 a month.
Gill's contract states that he has the right to renegotiate his deal starting in January 2008. If he resigns to take another college or pro coaching job before Jan. 2, 2008, he must pay Buffalo $100,000.
Stewart said Gill has become a familiar figure on the Buffalo sports scene, and that there are plans to use him in more promotional work for the school.
"Turner has got such a great work ethic and style," Stewart said. "There's definitely some buzz around here. If we can get four or five wins in a season, things will really turn around."
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1200...;u_sid=10169565
Lee Barfknecht: Is Gill's tenure at Buffalo temporary?
BY LEE BARFKNECHT
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN - Two kinds of football buzz are building at the University of Buffalo.
The first involves on-field success at a school that entered this season with a 12-79 record since its move to Division I-A in 1999.
Second-year coach Turner Gill, a former Nebraska star and assistant coach, has the Bulls (4-5 overall, 4-1 conference ) alone in first place in the Mid-American Conference East Division after a 26-10 victory over Akron on Saturday.
"There is some real growing respect for football around here," said Graham Stewart, UB's associate vice president for alumni relations. "People are seeing that change is occurring.
"We've had a couple of great home games where people looked at each other and said, 'Boy, this feels good.'"
The second source of chatter in Buffalo stems from athletic upheaval 1,050 miles away at Nebraska, and whether Gill is among those who might be targeted in a potential NU coaching search.
Among the facts:
• Former Husker coach Tom Osborne is the new athletic director in charge of evaluating a slumping football program.
• Osborne was a groomsman in Gill's wedding.
• In his book "More Than Winning," Osborne wrote that "I was probably closer to Turner than to any other player I have coached."
Said UB's Stewart: "It's more than on our radar screen. There's a heck of a lot of speculation here.
"I don't think there is any merit to it, but I'm not on the inside. It would be hard to turn down an opportunity like that. Whether this is the right time for Turner or for Nebraska is the big question."
Those on the inside - Gill and Buffalo Athletic Director Warde Manuel - aren't contributing to the speculation.
Gill told reporters in Buffalo that he is happy in his current position and focused on the season. Manuel, through the sports information director, politely declined an interview request saying he "didn't see any purpose to commenting at this time."
If this turns into a contest over money, Nebraska blows out Buffalo.
NU coach Bill Callahan's current contract guarantees him a $400,000 base salary and $1.35 million in other income for a total of $1.75 million annually.
Gill, in the second-year of a five-year deal, has a base salary of $180,000 and a minimum guarantee of outside income of $3,000. Yes, $3,000 is accurate.
Callahan's bonus for a bowl bid is $50,000. He also gets the unlimited use of two vehicles. Gill's bonus for a bowl bid is $15,000, and he gets a vehicle allowance of $400 a month.
Gill's contract states that he has the right to renegotiate his deal starting in January 2008. If he resigns to take another college or pro coaching job before Jan. 2, 2008, he must pay Buffalo $100,000.
Stewart said Gill has become a familiar figure on the Buffalo sports scene, and that there are plans to use him in more promotional work for the school.
"Turner has got such a great work ethic and style," Stewart said. "There's definitely some buzz around here. If we can get four or five wins in a season, things will really turn around."
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