The latest news about all things Husker, stop back throughout the day to get updates as they become available. Go Big Red!
What you'll find in today's news:
LJS: Goff, Mahomes cautionary tales as Huskers try to Win Big with Lee
LJS: Among Huskers' newbie receivers, Spielman will make biggest splash
247: Boaz Joseph proud to have stuck with it and be a Husker senior
OWH: Lee, offense have big load as Riley implements pro-style system he’s been waiting 2 years to truly install
OWH: Telltale signs gathered in offseason suggest Nebraska football will travel bumpy road
H.Com: No. 14 Huskers Trounce Tigers, 3-0
OWH: Husker fans flock to a pair of stadium favorites — Runza and Valentino's
Five burning questions heading into Arkansas State week
Huskers release first depth chart
Riley announces true freshmen who will play
5 takeout orders from the Husker press conferenceSlideshow: The Big Red Architects http://nebraska.247sports.com/Bolt/Huskers-hand-out-Blackshirts-106603173
Riley Press Conference Monday 28 Aug
Replies
Husker defenders who got the Blackshirts include:
DE: Carlos Davis
DE: Khalil Davis
DT: Mick Stoltenberg
DE: Freedom Akinmoladun
LB: Dedrick Young III
LB: Chris Weber
LB: Alex Davis
LB: Marcus Newby
LB: Mohamed Barry
LB: Luke Gifford
CB: Lamar Jackson
CB: Dicaprio Bootle
Safety: Aaron Williams
Safety: Joshua Kalu
Safety: Antonio Reed
CB: Eric Lee Jr.
Huskers hand out Blackshirts
By Mike Babcock
For Huskers.com
Among Nebraska's best-known traditions is that of the Blackshirts, the nickname for the Huskers' defensive unit. The nickname, originally two words (Black Shirts), dates to Bob Devaney's third season as coach and is derived from the black, pullover, contrast jerseys worn by defensive players in practice.
Exactly when the jerseys were purchased is a matter of some debate, resulting from the disparity in recollections caused by the passing of time. The most likely time frame is the second week of the 1964 season, when Nebraska traveled to Minneapolis to play Minnesota.
Changes in NCAA rules following the 1963 season allowed for a return to two-platoon football, but Devaney had played most of his starters on both offense and defense in the 1964 opener, a 56-0 victory against out-manned South Dakota at Memorial Stadium. On the Wednesday before the Minnesota game, however, Devaney announced the Huskers would use offensive and defensive units.
"We just decided that we would be more efficient if we started platooning," Devaney told the Lincoln Star. Otherwise, he said, opponents would take advantage of the Huskers.
A headline in that Friday's Lincoln Star said: "Final Decision Made."
The black pullovers, which distinguished defensive players from offensive players, were purchased at a local sporting goods store by assistant coach Mike Corgan, who was in charge of procuring equipment. He was known for his frugality, always looking for bargains.
His purchase of the black pullovers "was an accident of availability," defensive line coach George Kelly once said. "I told Mike the only reason they had black ones was because they didn't sell."
The story was that the sporting goods store made Corgan a good deal.
The way Kelly told the story, when players were practicing with the defense, they had worn gray pullovers. Then, when the team was divided into offensive and defensive units, the black pullovers were given only to first-team defenders, as a way to motivate those on the lower units.
Initially, the black pullovers were distributed each day at practice and collected afterward. A player might have a black pullover one day and a gray one the next. They had to continually be earned.
Mike Kennedy, a junior in 1964, was among those sent to the defense with the change to the two-platoon system. He was among the defensive starters for the Minnesota game.
"We had no idea then of the tradition that was beginning," he said.
Long-time Husker Sports Information Director Don Bryant credits much of the Blackshirt mystique to Kelly, who served on Devaney's staff until 1968. Kelly and Jim Ross, who coached the defensive ends and backs, were often heard exhorting the "Black Shirts" during practices and scrimmages.
The nickname caught on almost immediately. By mid-season, the Lincoln and Omaha newspapers were using it. "The defensive unit got its ‘Black Shirt' tag because members wore black pullover shirts in practice," the Omaha World-Herald reported in its Oct. 19, 1964 edition.
A sub-head in the Lincoln papers proclaimed: "Black Shirts Drawing Praise." The accompanying story credited Kelly and Ross with applying the nickname to the defenders.
The tradition continued to grow during Monte Kiffin's tenure as defensive coordinator (1973-76), earning national acclaim under Charlie McBride, defensive coordinator from 1982 to 1999.
Devaney never conferred the title "defensive coordinator" on an assistant. Kiffin, Kelly's successor as defensive line coach, was the first to have the title, in Tom Osborne's first season.
The tradition grew because of Nebraska's defensive success. The Huskers ranked No. 2 nationally in total defense in 1964, No. 8 in 1965 and No. 1 in 1967 – which belied a 6-4 record.
In Street & Smith's College Football annual in 1969, the Nebraska preview began: "If the Huskers develop more offensive consistency to go with their always-tough defense (emphasis added), coach Bob Devaney should have no trouble posting his eighth straight winning record in 1969."
Over time, the distribution of the black pullovers changed. They were no longer handed out before practice and collected afterward. During Tom Osborne's Hall-of-Fame tenure as head coach, members of the top defensive units received Blackshirts at the end of pre-season practice, the week before the opening game. Typically before bowl games, McBride would award all senior defensive players the coveted practice jerseys at the bowl site, to wear during game preparations.
The black jerseys themselves also changed, with players' numbers and names added.
Early on, the nickname was two words. That's how it appeared for the first time in a Nebraska media guide. The 1965 edition refers to the "Black Shirt Battalion."
During the 1970s, both forms – "Black Shirt" and "Blackshirt" – were used in media guides, sometimes in the same section, in at least one instance in the same paragraph.
The 1978 media guide uses the form "Blackshirt," the same as "redshirt," and from that point on, "Blackshirt" appears to be the acceptable spelling, one word.
In the early 2000s, the jerseys were hung in players' lockers before the start of the week's practice leading up to the opener. Then they were distributed in a pre-season ceremony, often with more than 11 defenders receiving them. "That's not part of our philosophy," Coach Bo Pelini said.
In his first season as coach, no Blackshirts were awarded until late in the season, after an outstanding defensive effort against Kansas. "Blackshirts are earned on the field," Pelini said.
Even though only starters receive the jerseys, the term "Blackshirts" represents Nebraska's defense in its entirety, its spirit and the considerable weight of five decades of success. In addition to leading the nation in total defense twice – in 1984 as well as in 1967 – the Blackshirts have ranked among the nation's top 10 in all four major defensive categories five times (1967, 1984, 1994, 1996, 1999). They have also helped the Huskers win five national championships (1970, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1997).
Say "Blackshirt" and the association is immediate: Nebraska defense.
"I'm so proud it's been maintained," the late Kelly would say many years after leaving Nebraska, many years after helping to establish the tradition.
History of the Blackshirts
Gosh Darn this is fun. So much information all in one location.
Riley announces true freshmen who will )
Nebraska will have at least four freshmen who will forego redshirt seasons, Husker head coach Mike Riley said Monday.
Running back Jaylin Bradley, wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey, defensive tackle Deontre Thomas and linebacker Avery Roberts will all play as true freshmen. Bradley and Lindsey were both listed as returners on Nebraska's depth chart released Monday.
Several others will be ready to play if needed, but could still redshirt. Riley said that defensive tackle Damion Daniels, offensive tackle Brenden Jaimes and linebacker Guy Thomas could play if needed.
b1. Can Tanner Lee live up to the hype?
The amount of hype and excitement that has built around quarterback Tanner Lee over the course of the offseason is unlike anything Nebraska has seen in a long, long time.
On Saturday, the junior will finally step into the spotlight in his first real game as the Huskers' starting signal caller.
Lee has looked every bit the part of the potential NFL draft pick he's been built up to be by NU's own coaches and pro scouts alike. But the reality is he's yet to show anything against a live defense in a game situation since transferring from Tulane a year ago.
Arkansas' defense is no easy warmup, either, especially the Red Wolves' pass rush. Will Lee be able to play at the level that has earned the praise of most everyone who has watched him this offseason?
2. What will the running back rotation looking like?
Nebraska has been waiting all spring, summer and fall for one of its running backs to step up and solidify the title of the No. 1 workhorse entering the 2017 season.
Yet with the first game now less than a week away, little if any separation has occurred between sophomore Tre Bryant, junior Devine Ozigbo and junior Mikale Wilbon.
In fact, the rotation ended up getting even more complicated with the emergence of true freshman Jaylin Bradley, who certainly put himself in a position for immediate playing time with his play during fall camp.
As a result, look for the Huskers to rotate early and often in the backfield on Saturday. Most assume that Bryant will be the starter, but don't be surprised if the total workloads for each back depend primarily on down, distance and game situation.
3. Will Morgan, Reed be face any suspensions?
Star wide receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. and veteran safety Antonio Reed found themselves in the headlines for the wrong reasons earlier this summer, as they were pulled over and arrested for possession of marijuana while vacationing in Florida.
The good news for Nebraska was that all charges were eventually dropped for both players, but that doesn't eliminate the possibility that there still could be some internal discipline handed out in the way of suspensions.
Head coach Mike Riley made it seem like Morgan and Reed did everything asked of them and more to atone for their mistakes over the summer, but Riley has yet to officially announce whether either would miss any game time.
4. Is the offensive line ready to rebound?
The last two games for Nebraska's offensive line, which returns five players with starting experience from last season, were two of the worst outings the unit had in 2016.
A 40-10 drubbing at Iowa and then a dismal effort vs. Tennessee in the bowl game left some serious concern about the state of the o-line entering the offseason.
All of the reports from spring practice and fall camp were that the group had put last year's disappointing finish behind them and were determined for a bounce-back campaign this season.
We'll get a pretty good idea of how far the offensive line has actually come on Saturday, as they will face an Arkansas State defense that thrives on a disruptive pass rush.
In particualr, the Red Wolves feature one of the best pass rushing defensive ends in the country in former Freshman All-American and multi-year All-Sun Belt selection Ja’Von Rolland-Jones. The senior will be looking to add to his conference record career sack total that he set midway through his third season last year.
5. What will Diaco's debut bring?
Along with the change a quarterback with Lee taking the helm, the other major storyline for Nebraska this offseason was the transition under new defensive coordinator Bob Diaco and the move to his 3-4 scheme.
While it seemed like a fairly significant adjustment entering the spring, NU's coaches and players alike have all stated their surprise with just how quickly the defense has picked up the new system in only a few short months.
Those reports are obviously encouraging, but the reality is no one will truly know how far the defense has come under Diaco until it faces an actual opponent.
Saturday will be a major revelation for the Huskers and their fans alike, as the actual look of Diaco's defense has been kept very much under wraps thus far. The debut vs. Arkansas
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next