Turner Gill makes a change in travel arrangements, makes players change rooms

LAWRENCE, Kan. – After taking away cell phones from his players and prohibiting any interaction with females after 10 p.m. the night before a game, University of Kansas head football coach Turner Gill is trying a few new tricks to help get the Jayhawks on the right track.

Starting with this week’s game against K-State, anytime the Jayhawks ride the bus they’ll ride as an offensive unit and a defensive unit. Also, Gill has ordered several of his players to change dorm rooms to ensure that each room contains one black player and one white player.

The move sparked controversy among the players and the media, but Gill is hoping it’ll help spark a sense of team unity, which he believes is the only thing keeping them from winning. He said he's heard of these things working before and is hoping to duplicate the success for his team. He also said he will not be deterred from his tactics.

“I don't scratch my head unless it itches and I don't dance unless I hear some music. I will not be intimidated. That's just the way it is,” said Gill.

In addition, Gill has instituted a new disciplinary policy, ordering his players to run a mile any time they make a mistake. After dropping two passes during the Jayhawks loss to Baylor, wide receiver Johnathan Wilson was ordered to run two miles.

“Petey, do you know how many feet are in a mile,” Gill asked Wilson, who responded by stating his name isn’t Petey. “5,280 feet! You pick this ball up and run every one of them! You're killing me, Petey! You're killing me!”