Mickey Joseph, who was named interim football coach at Nebraska following Scott Frost's dismissal last weekend, is making a statement to his football team.

During his collegiate career at Nebraska (1988 through 1991), Joseph rushed for over 1,000 yards and threw for just over 900 yards and 14 touchdowns.

*The photo below is of a 1990 game against Kansas. It was his best game as a Cornhusker. He threw for 164 yards and three touchdowns and also ran 10 times for 58 yards in that game.

University of Nebraska Cornhuskers vs University of Kansas Jayhawks
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After spending several seasons as the wide receivers coach at Louisiana State University, where he assisted in the development of star players like Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall, Joseph came to Nebraska in the offseason. While many may think of him as an offensive mind, Joseph has put his defense on notice.

Nebraska has given up 45 points to Georgia Southern and 31 to Northwestern in their two losses this year. Unimpressed, Joseph has taken away the Blackshirts from members of the Cornhuskers' defense. This comes just ahead of Saturday's game in Lincoln against the high-powered offense of the Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma is an 11-point favorite.

According to KETV, Joseph announced on Husker Sports Nightly Thursday night that he's taken away the Blackshirts. His reasoning is, "Not to be negative, clean slate, one team, one heartbeat--when you deserve the Blackshirts, we'll give them back to you--I'm going to give them back when I think they should." Nebraska's best defenders have been recognized with a Blackshirt since 1964.

Nine Nebraska defenders were given Blackshirts before the season began. Joseph is right to make them earn them back. It would require an astronomical effort against Oklahoma on Saturday to get them back quickly.

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