Part 3 WOWT: What About The Blackshirts?

[Eric the Red]

What About The Blackshirts?
I will probably talk to Coach Osborne about this because I’ve got to get a better feel of the tradition. I think it is great. The pride in that is very obvious to me. I have always known about the Blackshirts, did not know how they got them, or when they got them.

 

[Saunders]

If they aren't handed out before the season, I'll be disappointed.

 

[MichiganDad3]

If they aren't handed out before the season, I'll be disappointed.

I will be very happy if the blackshirts are handed out before the season. It tells me that we have a coaching staff that understands and embraces tradition. This is step one to rebuilding the powerhouse.

 

[Saunders]

If they aren't handed out before the season, I'll be disappointed.

I will be very happy if the blackshirts are handed out before the season. It tells me that we have a coaching staff that understands and embraces tradition. This is step one to rebuilding the powerhouse.

Agreed. I didn't mind the "making them earn it" aspect the first season, and maybe even the 2nd, but after that, it got dumb.

 

[True2tRA]

I don't have so much of a fascination with when they hand them out as long as the guys are playing at a level worthy of wearing the BLACKSHIRT. If the players are representing, give them to the contributors on defense. If they aren't representing the right way, then I hope the coaches are willing to strip them of the BLACKSHIRT.

I'm tired of seeing guys talk about how much it supposedly means to them then they go out and give half assed effort and don't tackle. There should be a sense of pride amongst the defense. I hope that feeling is brought back once the kids start feeling comfortable again and feel like they are playing the game and having fun again.

The coaches have to raise the standard and hold their players accountable, but more importantly, the players have to hold themselves and each other to a higher standard. All of this starts now, its not just a show up on Saturday and be a BLACKSHIRT kind of thing. These guys should be putting in the work right now.

 

[Comish]

Just so it's not a "flavor of the week" approach in a constantly changing mode.

Sometimes 7, sometimes 13; payers decide; give a week, then take them back, etc............all combine to lose meaning and relevance.

 

[ColoNoCoHusker]

If they aren't handed out before the season, I'll be disappointed.

Same. Blackshirts are a great tradition and should not be used as a "carrot & stick" approach. It's a better motivation tool to say "you need to play up to the level of that BLACKSHIRT" than to say "you don't deserve the BLACKSHIRT yet". Only distraction during the season should be to improve play every week. Not worry about when you'll get yours... Consistency is huge as well

 

[StPaulHusker]

The blackshirts were handed out based on the players merit of being a starter.

That's all there was to it. That's all it needed to be.

 

[NUance]

I dunno. I sort of liked the idea of using the Blackshirts as a motivational tool, and handing them out during the season. I would think they'd be useful as motivation, in at least a small way. I mean, if half the team had their Blackshirts it seems like the other half would be working like crazy to get theirs.

 

[strigori]

I'm still of the mindset that in either the spring, or early fall camp, Riley should bring in several of the old guard Blackshirts to speak to the team. A lot of the history and meaning seems to have been lost over the last decade, with both Pelini and Callahan doing their takes on it.

As to the motivational factor, simply limiting them to the starters would do it I think. It sets them apart in practice, and everyone without one, should be driving to take one. Having a limited number increases their value.

 

[roadrat]

With changing defenses it's kind of hard now days since you have nickel and dime defenses. How many should they give out? The old days when the Blackshirt theme was established everybody played every down.

 

[strigori]

With changing defenses it's kind of hard now days since you have nickel and dime defenses. How many should they give out? The old days when the Blackshirt theme was established everybody played every down.

There is not really a big issue of giving a 12th to the nickle. But I don't see us playing enough dime to worry about that scenario. The Big Ten is not exactly a 5 wide conference, and even most of our non-con are not using that as a formation much.

 

[ColoNoCoHusker]

Strigorii - I like your thinking

rr - McBride used to give them out to the top D unit which was usually more than 11 players. The requirement wasn't being out there every down. I know the Nickel package was around in the late-1950s NFL, Dime package probably been around since 70s. Knapplc or one of the posters who use to go to games back then might be able to shed more light here... My point is you give them to top unit, worry less about the numbers, focus on play.

 

[Hunter94]

Just so it's not a "flavor of the week" approach in a constantly changing mode.

Sometimes 7, sometmes 13; payers decide; give a week, then take them back, etc............all combine to lose meaning and relevance.

agree, the tradition has been marginalized and massaged by so many coaches, it has really lost it meaning....it's not something we NEED to preserve, it's becoming a pissing point and a distraction, a controversy. Walk on program is a different animal.

 

[Hunter94]

I dunno. I sort of liked the idea of using the Blackshirts as a motivational tool, and handing them out during the season. I would think they'd be useful as motivation, in at least a small way. I mean, if half the team had their Blackshirts it seems like the other half would be working like crazy to get theirs.

to some of today's kids, this tradition looks divisive......the whole defense, anyone on the field should/can excel when they get a chance to play....the shirt shouldn't be more than the jersey.....its Nebraska, play with intensity, everyone knows who does that without looking for a shirt!