I agree with you. Blackshirt are traditionally handed out to the first string D. Over the course of a few yrs, the name blackshirts became so much more, the proud tradition of wearing a black shirt in practice became legendary. It has nothing to do with how good you are as a D, it's that you are the First String Defense for the University of Nebraska, even if you aren't as good as some before you. We're spoiled by years of success with BD, TO. legendary coaches aren't replaced easily. This D will be the most improved in the B1G this year. If the season begins and you're starting D, you should get a blackshirt. Pride has been know to win games at times. GBR
I believe the tradition may have started as the entire first team defense getting them but I think the tradition has evolved since the beginning. I think the Blackshirts mean much more than that now. It has evolved into a representation of something fierce and powerful. An intimidation factor in ways.
Plus, if I'm not mistaken, isn't Bo himself the one who changed the tradition by not handing them out to the starting defense? So in that itself it has clearly evolved, from the Osborne era and again in Pelini's short time here.
You're right that the tradition has changed over time, but that doesn't necessarily mean that every change has been for the better.
I think the biggest problem with Bo's policy is that it is fickle, and the last few seasons have undercut the symbolism that he's trying to convey. He's attempted to turn the blackshirts into something that must be earned over time, with great defensive performances on gameday that live up to the great Blackshirt defenses of the past. That was cool in 2008-2010, when Bo's defenses got better each week and actually had great performances against great teams that did live up to the Blackshirts of the 70's-90's.
However, in 2011-12, they just handed out blackshirts after the first game where the defense looked halfway decent against a respectable opponent (in 2012, a Bellomy-led Michigan squad). The idea that the defense had somehow "arrived" in that game was later completely blown apart as they gave up an average of 30.5 points per game the rest of the season.
If Bo's only going to hand out Blackshirts once they have supposedly been "earned" by on-field performance, he better be willing to take them away when those standards aren't met, and he better be willing to go entire seasons without distributing Blackshirts (2012 should have been one of those).
I'd prefer a return to the old tradition. If you're on the #1 Defense, you wear a Blackshirt. You're expected to perform like a Blackshirt from day one, not starting halfway through the season. I also love the stories from former players about their first fall camp and seeing the top defense in those things, setting the tone from day 1. THAT'S intimidating.
Over the current policy, I'd even prefer they hand out individual Blackshirts as those players earn them, even in Fall Camp. Ciante Evans should have one from day 1. That might be a nightmare in reality though, practicing with a unit of guys wearing different colors.