Bob Diaco has yet to even coach a game at Nebraska and the new defensive coordinator already talks about the Blackshirts like he's been around for 20 years.
After awarding the coveted practice jerseys on Monday, Diaco expressed his respect for the longtime tradition.
"It's a really exciting tradition," said Diaco. "It's pretty awesome that young people aspire to be and their goal is to carry the burden of accountability and responsibility of defending the hopes and dreams of the team, the University and the state of Nebraska."
Diaco will lead the Husker defense following a three year stint as the head coach at UCONN. And the former Notre Dame DC emphasized how much he still expects out of his defenders despite already earning the Blackshirts.
"This isn't the end for someone that has been honored with that responsibility," said Diaco. "It's the beginning. It's the beginning of a process and it's the beginning of a responsibility and accountability to work, habits, leadership, strain, pain."
Diaco will now try to make Nebraska's defensive unit one of the tops in the Big Ten.
"Things become traditions for a reason," Diaco said. "People rally behind them. Most are riddled with success and that's how they persist over time, become real. That is surely one of the really special ones in college football."
Nebraska starts the 2017 season against Arkansas State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium starting at 7 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
