It’s been 12 days since the search began for Western’s next coach following the news that Head Coach David Elson would not be retained after the season.

Athletics Director Wood Selig said Thursday afternoon that the search committee planned to meet Thursday night. Selig said the committee would begin to review applications and inquiries and start to determine if there are any prospective coaches that “truly stand out.”

Selig also said the committee would meet with the Unity Council, which is a small group of current players from the football team, at 8 p.m. Thursday.

“We want to get from them what it is they’re seeking,” Selig said. “Not just with the head coach, but with the coaching staff.”

Members of the Unity Council were not available for comment.

Selig said the committee will ask for questions to address when the committee meets with candidates.

Selig did address a rumor swirling around the interest of Turner Gill, head coach at the University at Buffalo, in the position.

Selig said Western hasn’t spoken to Gill.

“I’m quite aware of what he’s accomplished at Buffalo,” Selig said. “He’s made quite a name for himself as a head coach.”

Calls to Buffalo Athletics Director Warde Manuel were not returned.

Selig pointed out that Western is talking to numerous candidates but hasn’t specifically asked permission from other institutions to speak with current coaches.

Joe Young, director of football media relations at Stanford, said former Western quarterback and current Stanford running backs coach Willie Taggart was not available for comment.

Young said that, to his knowledge, Taggart hadn’t been contacted for any head coaching positions.

Selig said he is amazed that the longer Western goes without a hire, the bigger and more “wow” names surface.

“We’re talking to all sorts of agents who represent dozens of coaches,” he said. “A lot of times they might call and say, ‘These are my eight coaches that I represent that have interest in your job.’”

Selig also said universities’ coaching searches often aren’t legitimately open searches.

“Ours is truly an open search,” Selig said. “And when you have a truly open search, you owe it to yourself to be a little bit more methodical and a little bit more patient.”

Reporter David Harten contributed to this story.