Truth serum time for Husker/Turner Gill fans: Do you still see Gill as a Nebraska head football coach one day?

One game. It's not very far from the lofty perch of classy savior to the hot seat. And nobody ever had a shorter distance than Gill this week at the University of Kansas.

The former Nebraska quarterback and icon took it on the chin in more ways than one. First, he lost his KU debut to North Dakota State, an FCS (I-AA) team coached by former NU defensive coordinator Craig Bohl, in a bit of sharp irony.

Then, on Tuesday, the man who hired him, Lew Perkins, was forced out the door several months before he was set to retire next summer.

Meanwhile, in the KU media, Gill is suddenly seen as an afterthought. Overmatched. Bound to fail. On the clock. One sports talk show host on KC's WHB wondered if Gill would be a "one and done'' coach, as in one year and fired.

Now, Gill had his skeptics. His successful run at Buffalo did not win over everyone on Mount Oread. But he was seen as a guy who was the anti-Mark Mangino. A father figure. Christian man. He would make the college football experience fun for his young men.

This just in: winning is fun.

Now, suddenly, in the wake of that ugly 6-3 loss, critics are calling Gill too nice and too soft. Funny, but it seemed to work for everyone last week.

I hope Gill gets some time to grow into this. He should. Thanks to the Perkins situation, Gill was going to have a tough timetable; Perkins was going to be out next summer and a new guy, who didn't hire Gill, would be in. Now, who knows?

Here's why I think Gill might get more time than people think. The new KU athletic boss will be hired for image; he'll need to be the anti-Perkins. He'll need to be less about money and more about the "right way.'' Gill is about the "right way.'' How could a new AD come in and wipe that away without giving Gill a chance?

Meanwhile, KU fans need to look in the mirror. They only think they want strong college football. Often, that means you have to hold your nose. Do they want an image guy or a tough, rough guy who wins football games? They had that guy and let him go.

That doesn't mean Gill won't win. But he couldn't have had a worse start — and next year, success becomes harder in the Big 12. There are still 11 games left for Gill this season to change minds. But if you can't beat North Dakota State, well, who can you beat?

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