JJ Husker

Take away- Apparently if you're not a hater, you're a homer. I can live with homer if that approach is the standard for being fair and evenhanded. I'm not exactly sure what his point was but I don't like him. Must mean I'm a homer.

This is at the heart of the problem. Bo's way says it does or doesn't exist. And even when he determines it does exist there is ample evidence proving it does not. But, if starters are awarded blackshirts by week one, it always exists. It's just that it still might not be very good some years. That's always been the case.

EZ-E, yes the game has changed somewhat in that regard but it is not light years different either. Yes teams may not be able to dominate and dictate like ot used to be but a defensive unit can still be feared and an offense can still take what is available. There are many teams today that have defenses that other teams really don't want to line up against. Bama has one of those, we do not. It can be better and I am hopeful and reservedly confident it will be better.

Had to go with B. I figured everyone deserved a chance and if it didn't work out, your only 250 worse off than the guaranteed 750 loser route of choice A. Actually it isn't a very tough choice IMO. Now if it risks the total loss of a species or ethnic group, then you might have to consider saving a guaranteed 250.

As far as handing out more than eleven blackshirts, I have no problem with giving them to all package position starters even if it is 20ish shirts. As long as that shirt is tied to a specific first string package position it would be quite easy to make the players understand what shirt is being competed for and how to attain and keep it.

I've done all the opinion giving (educating) I can do on this subject. Couple that with Knapp's and some of the other comments and I think we've made a pretty solid case. As has been mentioned by many, we no longer dictate what opposing offenses can do and generally are not feared by our opponents like we used to be. Much of that falls on the debacle of the early 2000's and it's not entirely fair to lay that at Bo's feet. But us old blue hairs lived through a time that was much different and we know it can be better. We've seen it live and in person. The only educating necessary is to look at the defenses of the 80's and 90's and compare that to the 2000's and 2010's. It becomes quite clear which is likely the better way. I like Bo and think he has things headed in the right direction. However on this issue, I think he and some of the younger generation need to trust the judgement of some of us crusty old blue hairs. And BTW, I thought that moniker was reserved for the old farts that sit on their hands and tell those around them to sit down and be quiet. That ain't me.

Holy sh#t knapp. +++++x100

EZ-E, it's not that I am concerned about doing it the "traditional" way or not. In fact prior to just recently (some point towards mid to late last season) I was in favor of doing it the Bo earn em way. It didn't/doesn't bother me at all that it wasn't the way McBride did it. What bothers me is I think they could get more good out of the blackshirt tradition by doing it the old way. I am convinced that it has not been a force for good during Bo's tenure and I at least partially blame that on the way it has been administered. Really the bigger culprit has just plain been team defense that hasn't been as good as it could or should be. Blaming that on how and when black jerseys are handed out is probably short sighted at best. But I just feel it could be more of a positive force handled the other way. Your examples of the 07 and 08 defenses proves nothing to me. You stated they couldn't take them back from the 07 team , apparently with the thought they weren't deserved. But the old way they sure could've taken them away from those who didn't care and given them to the next guy up. If nobody on the team cares enough to have one or earn it that way, then we've got much bigger and deeper problems than the blackshirt sideshow can fix.

What knapp said. The noncons are pretty much a wash for all three years but swapping Wiscy and tOSU for Illiois and Purdue makes it relatively much easier than the previous two seasons. However, that does not necessarily mean it is an "easy" schedule, just easy as it's likely to ever be in the B1G.

Had to +1 your post just because of this gem of a phrase

And your examples of this are? I think it's been a pretty good discussion but I might be one those old school blue hairs to which you are referring. Sometimes it's not "old school blue hair" to suggest that traditions revert back to how they used to be. Those times IMO would be when the new way is not accomplishing anything and may possibly be providing negative motivation. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I think it's time to shake it up by taking the blackshirt tradition back to the way it used to be. Maybe just maybe it will help provide more blackshirtesque results on Saturdays. I don't see how it could hurt.

I suppose if you look at it in the wrong light that it is pointless. Sure if the defense and most players, top to bottom, just plain aren't very good or don't have pride in earning or keeping their blackshirt then it is rather pointless either way. My problem with the current system is it merely provides a distraction and appears to be a negative or non motivator for the players. There is no benefit to the team if an under performing defense is concerned about when they are going to get their blackshirts. Picking some relatively better than average performance in the middle or later part of the season simply has not worked to any positive effect. Look at knapps summary of when Bo has handed them out, why, and then the D's performance after that. My opinion is that it is a useless window dressing tradition if it does not motivate the players and help make the whole unit better. Bo's way has not accomplished those goals. If you are the best performing player at your position, you have earned it whether you are very good or not. If you stumble one week and it goes to #2 on the depth chart, hopefully it would motivate both players, one to get it back and one to keep it and possibly 3 or 4 to step up their game and go after it. If nobody has them, you don't have that. The other problem I see, that nobody has brought up, is that the current system seems to put all responsibility on the players and zero on the coaching staff. The gist is, we coaches have these to hand out but you guys haven't done enough to earn them. It kind of glosses over that possibly the coaches aren't getting their job done too and puts it all on the players. If they give them out for the first game, they then have to admit that this is the best we've got to offer and, if it's not real impressive, then that's on the coaches as well. It helps to hold them accountable for their recruiting and what they're accomplishing in practices. My only dog in the fight, besides the obvious desire for a more sound defense, is that I don't want to see the tradition watered down to having no meaning. Giving them out in week 8 and getting your ass handed to you in week 9 and the CCG tarnishes the tradition way more than giving them out week one and then going about your business with the constant motivation of keeping that shirt or getting it from the next guy.

For those of you who don't want them handed out until they are clearly earned and the bearer of such is worthy of those before them, were you upset that blackshirts got handed out at any point the last two years? I guess that is my problem with that approach. We would not have had a blackshirts unit for two years. At that point you might as well say to hell with the whole deal. Personally I don't want to see it come to that. Yes, I want them performing to the higher standard that shirt stands for but I just no longer see the motivation behind being reminded that you're not worthy for 6 or 8 games and then receiving them in an act of desperation and mercy. Look at it this way, if and when our defense is to be feared, the shirts will mean something. But when the D sucks, it really doesn't matter if they have blackshirts or not. The legend came about due to having fearsome defense not because people feared the shirts.

OU would be a welcome addition. I would have no hesitation in bringing them into the B1G family. But I can name 200 others I would consider before Texass. I don't care what they could bring to the table; tv market, geographic location, recruiting exposure, academics ......I Don't Care. Texass can suck my sack. Besides that there is zero chance they would do it without special concessions, and greater than average control. Did I mention- f#*k Texass.

I can appreciate the thought that they should be earned and represent something bigger. But, IMO that approach has not worked out too well for Bo, the guy who introduced that approach. I simply feel going back to the way it used to be would serve many purposes. 1- Everyday there would be 11+ blackshirts that would have to be earned and defended and striven for by lower level players. I think that may provide more incentive and motivation than Bo's current system. 2- I think it would reducethe recent trend of making an even bigger mockery of the tradition by handing them out after some mid to late season mediocre performance simply because they are running out of time, and then pretending that they were earned and that a blackshirtesque defense has arisen.

Arrogant Bastard Ale. I have not tried it but a couple buddies say it is good. However I did want to share what is written on the ABA pint glass that I purchased. Arrogant Bastard Ale: This is an aggressive beer. You probably won't like it. It is doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory--- maybe something with a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it's made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beer will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think multi-million dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better. Perhaps you're mouthing your words as you read this.

I agree with this. Historically, they were given to the first team defensive players. They weren't necessarily "earned" but they could be lost to an up and comer from lower on the depth chart. Sorry to say it but Bo waiting until they are earned or deserved has not worked. Sadly recent defenses have not lived up to the blackshirts tradition of excellence. I say motivate the first teamers by handing them out at beginning of season and make them individually fight to hold onto that starter status. Giving them out in week seven when they still suck does more damage to the rep of the blackshirts so that practice needs to stop.

The shuttle might be convenient and fun in it's own way but I always prefer to park downtown or on campus and fully absorb the spectacle. If your kids can handle walking a mile or two, that's the way I'd go.

Contrary to Knapp's usually outstanding capabilities of seeing into the future (or what some people call "shining"), I do not foresee any injuries prior to the first game. In fact for the whole season I believe the only injury will be a rug burn gone bad when it is discovered that some of the turf cork filler material was recycled from an undisclosed medical waste facility.

Is it just me or does Adam Taylor look like a super ripped Will.i.am. I want to see this kid with the rock in his hands.

Good article by Sam. Although I was surprised in addressing the defense that he didn't mention the need to be able to generate a serviceable pass rush without having to blitz to achieve it. He touched on the need for the guts two to step up and stuff the run but IMO, in addition to that, we have to be able to generate some upfield pressure also with our D line. This is just my opinion but I think it won't take much more than an infusion of speed, strength, and athleticism (which I believe we will have compared to the last 2 years) and some scheme tweaks to remove/reduce hard and fast gap responsibilities. IMO the D line needs to just plain be animals. Let the other guys worry about "responsibilities", those guys need to rip heads off and raise hell. Turn em loose Bo, turn em loose. I might be partaking too heavily of the preseason Kool-Aid but I am excited to see this D unit start causing problems instead of just reacting to their own ineptitude.

Taze him bro. Seriously though, if you like the neighborhood, I wouldn't consider moving without exhausting all options. It can be tough to findneighbors that fit you and vice versa. But often times neighborhoods start to change and usually that change is for the worse. We had that problem at my last house. Got along great with everyone for about ten years then the demographics started changing and a few of the homes became rentals and it all went to hell fairly quickly. THEN you know it's time to move on.

Everything appears to be set up for a high output offense but, this kind of talk is not deserved until they actually do it on the field. The scoring explosion was in the prime of my college years at UNL. They were incredible to watch. You literally felt/expected that they could score on any play from any position on the field. This current team has some work to do before I have that same feeling of superiority and invincibility. The ppg will be very dependent on the O line. The triplets, as great as they were, wouldn't have put 52 on anybody without a dominating line.