Mickey Joseph takes away Blackshirts; ‘Everybody’s going to have a clean slate’

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Interim Nebraska football coach Mickey Joseph said on the Huskers Radio Network on Thursday night that he’s taken away Blackshirts from the defense.

“It’s nothing negative,” Joseph said. “We talked about a new era starting. We said everybody’s going to have a clean slate. So we’re 0-0.”

Joseph said the Blackshirts will be earned at practice, and he’s “confident that they will get them back.”

The coach said the Huskers’ 45-42 loss to Georgia Southern, in which the defense gave up 642 yards, wasn’t the reason for taking away the Blackshirts away.

He wants to give every player a chance to earn one.

“We’ve gotta give other kids a chance to be able to get their Blackshirts also,” he said. “Just to say, ‘Hey, it’s a clean slate. One team, one heartbeat. We’re all gonna wear the red and white, and then when we feel like you deserve to get the Blackshirts, we’ll give them back to you.”

Despite taking them away, Joseph said the Blackshirts are definitely not going anywhere.

“It’s a great tradition here,” he said. “We’re going to keep the tradition going. But right now, we’re 0-0 with me.  So I’m gonna give the Blackshirts back when I think they should.”