Back in Black...Now What?
3 comments so far
November 12, 2008 by
Who would've thought three months ago, back when the season was close yet so far away, that the biggest day for the 2008 Nebraska defense--Bo Pelini's defense--would be a drab Tuesday afternoon in the week leading up to the Kansas State game?
Probably just about as many people as had Cody Glenn in their "Next Husker Suspended" pool, but that was only big news item #1 of the day. Big news item #2 came a bit later when the heretofore not-ready-for-Blackshirts-players were deemed ready and showed up for practice clad in black.
Not surprisingly, Carl Pelini said nothing about the former after practice and this about the latter: "I thought it was our best practice of the year, honestly."
I've spent an inordinate amount of time thinking quietly about "the Blackshirts"--the garment not the unit--all season. It was the topic du jour for a lot of jours back before Nebraska had lost a game but as it became apparent that Pelini wasn't just paying lip service to the process and the defense looked transparent against the likes of Mizzou and Oklahoma the question faded from relevance.
But I kept thinking about it. Would Pelini dangle the carrot all season? Wasn't this all just upping the pressure once the shirts were finally awarded? Was that the desired effect? They won't become the equivalent of an ice cream cone after a little league game will they? The only thing I felt fairly certain about was that, barring a total late season collapse that resulted in a losing season, Pelini would give at least the departing seniors on defense their Blackshirts in gratitude for undergoing a sea change scheme-wise and laying the groundwork for whatever was to come for the teams of the future.
Of course I was wrong. Nebraska got their Blackshirts after a game that was, on the stat sheet, unspectacular.The Huskers gave up 35 points and 422 yards of total offense to the Jayhawks last Saturday but the staff cited effort and sideline to sideline play as the reason the defense earned them this week. In retrospect, this makes perfect sense. It's something I've been seeing all season long.
In a movie full of signature moments, my favorite scene from Hoosiers has become the singular image for me of Pelini's first year and yesterday's news, both items, again reinforced this view. You'll remember the scene: In his first game, Coach Norman Dale benches hot-handed Rade for his blatant disregard of his half-time "four-pass" edict, inserting the seldom used Ollie. On the next play Strap fouls out, Rade immediately goes to check himself in and Coach Dale sits him back down, famously telling the gray-slacked ref "My team is on the floor."
But that's not the moment. The moment is just after that when the crowd, dismayed by the audacity of this interloper, begins to rouse the rabble and Coach Dale's response is simply to shake his ever-present portfolio twice towards the sky. (Watch it here at the 2:11 mark.)
That small gesture says it all. It says "I believe in what I'm doing." It says "I don't know any other way to do it and I wouldn't do it any other way even if I did." It says "Stick with me."
To my knowledge, Bo Pelini doesn't have a little black portfolio containing everything he believes in as a coach but every week I see at least four or five instances where I say to myself, "That's Bo shaking the portfolio." Discipline has been one area where that's been apparent. Redshirts have been another. Even some of our defensive lapses probably could be considered a belief in the system because this staff has, for the most part, opted to take their lumps and instill a philosophy over just bandaging the wound. Shaking the portfolio.
I questioned what was the best approach for Pelini to take with the coveted Blackshirts. I question what will happen if Nebraska gives up 500 yards this Saturday. The timing of the award was certainly curious as well, but ultimately I can question until I'm writing lengthy, self-referential blog posts about it and it won't matter: I'm not the one calling the shots, I don't have a portfolio when it comes to the direction of the Nebraska football team.
So, for a day at least, I'm just going to stop questioning and enjoy it: the defense is back in black.
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darren Nov 12 08
Excellent thoughts, Brandon.
I am also left scratching my head a little. But, I'm more thankful than anything. Those black jerseys mean a lot to the NU identity. If this helps us continue to solve the recent identity crisis, then I'm all for it.
I also think this is more illustration that the coaches are looking at and evaluating the game and the team on a much different (higher?) level than the typical fan… or blogger.
I also love that they only awarded 11. Too bad for Cody Glenn and his suspension, because he gave max effort from the start this year. It wasn't always pretty. But, you could never question the effort.
bnahusker Nov 12 08
This is another step in the right direction.
In the pass happy, gobble up yards of the Big XII conference, I'm believing that the attitude, efforts, and final scores are more important than stats. As I sat enjoying my wings, and Amber Bock during the KU game, there was never a moment of dred or wondering how the Huskers were going to lose. I had a sense that one way or another, we would score enough, and stop KU enough to win.
Much like a timely base hit in a close game is better than a 2-run homer in a blow-out baseball game (I'm looking at you A-Rod) these guys are starting to make some plays when needed.
They have earned the garment, the title, and the respect. Now we get to see how much they want to keep them, or if they lay an egg in Manhattan. I'm banking or the former.
Congratulations Blackshirts!
GBR!
Bob
Bill in Iowa Nov 12 08
Saturday I was definately left with the impression that the Huskers played their best defensive game of the season (considering the opponent had a high powered offense). I was a little surprised to see the stats, Kansas had more offensive output than I realized. However, I still think the Kansas game the defense looked the best they have looked all season, as a unit. The line and linebackers played great, and the secondary played their best game to date (although they have a lot they can improve upon).