2008 University of Buffalo Defense - Turner Gill

The coach of the 2008 University of Buffalo football team was Turner Gill.

Turner Gill is a former football player and coach who served as the head coach of the University of Buffalo football team from 2006 to 2009. Prior to his head coaching tenure at Buffalo, Gill was an assistant coach at various college football programs, including the University of Nebraska and the University of North Texas.

Gill is known for his offensive expertise, particularly in the area of the option offense. During his time as head coach at Buffalo, he implemented an option-based attack that helped lead the team to its first-ever bowl game appearance in 2008.

After leaving Buffalo, Gill went on to coach at several other universities, including the University of Kansas and Liberty University. He is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2019 for his accomplishments as a player at the University of Nebraska.

In 2008, Turner Gill led the University of Buffalo football team to one of its most successful seasons in school history. The team finished with an 8-6 record and won the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship. It was the first conference championship in Buffalo football history and the team's first bowl game appearance. The team's success was largely attributed to its high-powered offense, which averaged 30 points per game and was led by quarterback Drew Willy. The defense also performed well, allowing an average of 23 points per game.

Turner Gill's 2008 University of Buffalo defense utilized a 4-3 scheme. This means they had four down linemen and three linebackers as their base defense. The defense was known for being aggressive and attacking the opposing offense, frequently blitzing linebackers and safeties to disrupt the timing of the opposing quarterback. The defense was also adept at stopping the run, finishing 15th in the nation in rushing defense in 2008.