Begin the season as The Blackshirts?

[JJ Husker]

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

[True2tRA]

Damn knapp, you got me ready to strap up and go! I remember those teams. Yea even most of them were before my time, but I go back to the tapes and watch those old teams all the way back to the early eighties I have on tape. Those teams were just different. They just knew who they were. They had no fear and they trusted each other. All instinct. Trained machines. I know it might sound exaggerative, but it was just something else. Tough, hard nosed dudes.

 

 

I'm ready for football. I'm ready for this defense to resemble a Blackshirt defense.

[Hercules]

[Hercules]

Jesus where did all the rush ends go...

[tschu]

Just hand 'em out at the beginning of the season to the starters. meaning, 11 guys get blackshirts. You can't have 20 starters or however many shirts Bo handed out last year.

 

You earn your shirt by getting a starting job. You earn the respect of the fans and your opponents by playing lights-out defense.

[EZ-E]

Just hand 'em out at the beginning of the season to the starters. meaning, 11 guys get blackshirts. You can't have 20 starters or however many shirts Bo handed out last year.

 

You earn your shirt by getting a starting job. You earn the respect of the fans and your opponents by playing lights-out defense.

 

So again, Ciante Evans doesn't get a BlackShirt because we don't start in our nickel package. I'm sorry but I disagree with that.

[True2tRA]

A ton of old school blue-haired responses in this thread that sound a tad Jason Peter-ish

 

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.

 

In 09 if you remember correctly, Bo tried to give them out after we beat Mizzou. The Defense said no. We need to do it one more game and that game was against Texas Tech. We gave up 31 points (7 of which were when Niles Paul fumbled) and only 259 yards against a Mike Leach offense that had usually owned us. They earned them. It has been that way since '08 and I absolutely have no problem with that.

 

Remember in '07? They were given out in camp. That defense towards the end of the year appeared to not even care. I remember watching them and screaming the rhetorical question "Are you even trying?" Over and over at the TV after about the Okie State game that year. I don't recall them ever not getting to wear their black practice jerseys. You tell me. What is a bigger "break in tradition?" A team like the 07 team that ( again to my knowledge) never had to give theirs up. Or a team that comes together and works to earn it and agrees upon it?

 

Again, the players know the deal and they know the standards they are being held to and have agreed upon them. No issue with the way this tradition is being handled.

 

For all your concern about the "old school blue hairs," you seem to have entirely missed the tradition of the Blackshirts. Which is not surprising knowing how youthful you are. But these examples pale in comparison to the Blackshirts the "old school blue hairs" know.

 

I understand that you know a few of the players. That's great. Almost every one of them was born in 1990 or later, and none of them were old enough to really understand this tradition, where it came from and why it means so much to people today. Using these players as examples of how it should be entirely misses the point. They're young men - they have neither the experience nor the memories of the great Blackshirt defenses.

 

There's a predatory aspect to the real Blackshirts that these guys know nothing of. Certainly they don't evince that aspect of the tradition, aside from a few players here and there over the past, say, ten years or so. There were more "true" Blackshirts on the 1993 defense than in all of the 2000s.

 

So you'll have to pardon us "old school blue hairs." Those of us who weren't still crapping our diapers when the last few real Blackshirt defenses played. I guess we just don't understand like you.

 

Educate me bro. Who was worthy in the 2000s?

 

Edit.

 

Furthermore, since I don't know anything about anyone being a true BlackShirt how should it be done. Since you know a ton more than I do.

 

EZ, I like you and all, but no......just no. Don't even go there. Knapp owned this one and it isn't even about that. It isn't his knowledge versus your knowledge. He is spot on with this one. These players these days much like the young fans these days just need an education on some things. Knapp brings more to this board than anyone else I can think of, and fact is I can't think of very many times I ever disagree with him. Even when I don't see it exactly his way he makes valid points that are hard to argue with. So no, this isn't an ass kissing fest for Knapp, but no.....just no. The man knows his sh#t.

[tschu]

Just hand 'em out at the beginning of the season to the starters. meaning, 11 guys get blackshirts. You can't have 20 starters or however many shirts Bo handed out last year.

 

You earn your shirt by getting a starting job. You earn the respect of the fans and your opponents by playing lights-out defense.

 

So again, Ciante Evans doesn't get a BlackShirt because we don't start in our nickel package. I'm sorry but I disagree with that.

I'll allow 12 for the nickel. But that's it.

[The Duke]

A ton of old school blue-haired responses in this thread that sound a tad Jason Peter-ish

 

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.

 

In 09 if you remember correctly, Bo tried to give them out after we beat Mizzou. The Defense said no. We need to do it one more game and that game was against Texas Tech. We gave up 31 points (7 of which were when Niles Paul fumbled) and only 259 yards against a Mike Leach offense that had usually owned us. They earned them. It has been that way since '08 and I absolutely have no problem with that.

 

Remember in '07? They were given out in camp. That defense towards the end of the year appeared to not even care. I remember watching them and screaming the rhetorical question "Are you even trying?" Over and over at the TV after about the Okie State game that year. I don't recall them ever not getting to wear their black practice jerseys. You tell me. What is a bigger "break in tradition?" A team like the 07 team that ( again to my knowledge) never had to give theirs up. Or a team that comes together and works to earn it and agrees upon it?

 

Again, the players know the deal and they know the standards they are being held to and have agreed upon them. No issue with the way this tradition is being handled.

 

For all your concern about the "old school blue hairs," you seem to have entirely missed the tradition of the Blackshirts. Which is not surprising knowing how youthful you are. But these examples pale in comparison to the Blackshirts the "old school blue hairs" know.

 

I understand that you know a few of the players. That's great. Almost every one of them was born in 1990 or later, and none of them were old enough to really understand this tradition, where it came from and why it means so much to people today. Using these players as examples of how it should be entirely misses the point. They're young men - they have neither the experience nor the memories of the great Blackshirt defenses.

 

There's a predatory aspect to the real Blackshirts that these guys know nothing of. Certainly they don't evince that aspect of the tradition, aside from a few players here and there over the past, say, ten years or so. There were more "true" Blackshirts on the 1993 defense than in all of the 2000s.

 

So you'll have to pardon us "old school blue hairs." Those of us who weren't still crapping our diapers when the last few real Blackshirt defenses played. I guess we just don't understand like you.

+1!

 

Holy crap Knapp! I think the rest of us "old school blue hairs" will just shut up and let you take it from here...you're on a roll.

 

I especially agree with what you said about the real Blackshirts having a predatory type aspect to them. Those defenses would dictate to the offense most of the time what they could or could not do. If the opposing team scored on us...good for them, otherwise we were the opposing offenses' nightmare most of the day.

[EZ-E]

 

 

You tell me I need the education and I'm giving you guys the opportunity to give it to me. I don't believe we are even "arguing" we are discussing."

[EZ-E]

Just hand 'em out at the beginning of the season to the starters. meaning, 11 guys get blackshirts. You can't have 20 starters or however many shirts Bo handed out last year.

 

You earn your shirt by getting a starting job. You earn the respect of the fans and your opponents by playing lights-out defense.

 

So again, Ciante Evans doesn't get a BlackShirt because we don't start in our nickel package. I'm sorry but I disagree with that.

I'll allow 12 for the nickel. But that's it.

 

So Alex Henery doesn't get one either??????? He did a ton with his directional punting for the defense and was given on his senior year.

[True2tRA]

 

You tell me I need the education and I'm giving you guys the opportunity to give it to me. I don't believe we are even "arguing" we are discussing."

 

10-4, not trying to stir the pot, just want it to stay respectful. Your both good dudes with good opinions that's all I was getting at. I won't cloud Knapps point anymore with my ranting. I just thought he said it very well.

[EZ-E]

 

You tell me I need the education and I'm giving you guys the opportunity to give it to me. I don't believe we are even "arguing" we are discussing."

 

10-4, not trying to stir the pot, just want it to stay respectful. Your both good dudes with good opinions that's all I was getting at. I won't cloud Knapps point anymore with my ranting. I just thought he said it very well.

 

*edit* Nevermind

[Ed Helms]

How many of you were in support of Bo not giving out Blackshirts until they proved themselves in 2008, after that disastrous 2007 when those guys wore em' after giving up massive amounts of points? I'm guessing a large percentage was in favor of it, making the guys earn that Blackshirt, not just giving them out willy-nilly. What has changed?

 

I'd be in favor of anyway Bo would want to do it. I understand both sides.

[EZ-E]

How many of you were in support of Bo not giving out Blackshirts until they proved themselves in 2008, after that disastrous 2007 when those guys wore em' after giving up massive amounts of points? I'm guessing a large percentage was in favor of it, making the guys earn that Blackshirt, not just giving them out willy-nilly. What has changed?

 

^^^ great question