IRVING, Texas- The Kansas football team has a completely new feel this year.

Last season, the internal issues of the Jayhawks was well documented. Players claimed to have suffered all kinds of distress, leading to a complete remodeling of the coaching staff.

With first-year head coach Turner Gill at the helm, senior corner back Chris Harris knows this season is going to be different.

“He’s a loving coach that wants the best for us,” Harris said. “Other college coaches are just like a robot.”

Gill’s positive idealism was evident during the recruiting process. Instead of focusing solely on the X’s and O’s of football, he communicated faith and good human qualities.

Senior defensive end Jake Laptad had nothing bad to say about his new coach. It struck him how caring his coach is to the students athletes.

“He’s more concentrated on your personal life,” Laptad said, “not only just getting you a better football player but a better person.”

With that mentality, Gill has instilled some unusual, but positive, customs.

For instance, he once had players stand up and discuss the most influential person in their life. He said it was an effort to build relationships and looking inside yourself will help others see you as you truly are.

“I wanted to make sure that we got a chance to know that there’s a lot more in common that we have with each other than we have differences,” Gill said.

The players are also discouraged not to cuss, which is difficult transition for some.

“We try not to cuss,” Harris said. “We’ve been around it so long.”

And when a player does something wrong, the punishment is not as bad, Harris said. Former coach Mark Mangino would tell players something once and they would have to figure it out on their own. Gill walks players through the learning process.

“If we mess up on the field, he teaches us,” Harris said. “They come at us in a totally different way.”

Through the tumultuous summer, Gill could only do his job as a coach since the realignment and ticket scandal were all out of his control. And it didn’t affect his life’s purpose.

Gill said his purpose on Earth is to work with men 18-22 years old. It’s what he loves.

“As long as I was going to be able to be coaching and teaching young men, that’s all that mattered to me.”

Senior lineman Brad Thorson loves his new coach. Gill has entrusted a leadership role to him and the other seniors, and even more than that.

“He’s truly a mentor to me right now,” Thorson said. “He’s what I want to become as a man.”