AUSTIN, Texas — Late last season, Nebraska started winning like the Nebraska of old, partly because its defense started defending like the Blackshirts of old.
Whoa, cautions Ndamukong Suh, not so fast, my friend.
The Cornhuskers seemed to snare a bit of their lost aura in 2008, winning six of their last seven games. But Suh is hardly ready to compare his defensive unit to those from the glory days.
In fact, continuing the rebuilding process is one reason why the defensive tackle returned for his senior year instead of being an almost guaranteed high pick in the NFL draft.
"I definitely want to be part of bringing back the tradition of the Blackshirts," said Suh, the Big 12's preseason defensive player of the year. "That's a tough tradition to live up to."
The Blackshirt tradition was born in 1964 when Nebraska's defensive starters began wearing black jerseys in practice. The nadir came in 2007 in Bill Callahan's final season as coach when Nebraska set school defensive records in futility for, among other categories, yards allowed (476.8 a game), points surrendered (37.9) and touchdowns allowed (60).
Under defensive-minded new head coach Bo Pelini, the respective numbers above improved to 349.8, 28.5 and 49 — better, but still not what Suh and Pelini consider acceptable.
"We're getting closer," Suh said, "but we're definitely not where we need to be. We still have room to grow."
Added Pelini: "Our level of execution on defense wasn't consistently where it needed to be last year."
Indeed, while the Huskers won nine games last season for just the second time in five years, some of their losses were stinkers. They surrendered 52 points to Missouri and 62 to Oklahoma.
But at least the Cornhuskers' improvement in 2008, especially late in a season capped with a Gator Bowl victory over Clemson, is giving their army of famously loyal fans reason for optimism. That was noticeably lacking during Callahan's four-year run, especially in 2007 when Nebraska was 5-7 and finished tied for fifth in the Big 12 North.
The Huskers — ranked 22nd in the preseason coaches' poll — are picked to claim just their second North Division title since 1999. In the Big 12 preseason media poll, they picked up 32 of 47 first-place votes, but outpointed second-place Kansas only 172 to 164.
Pelini is trying to temper expectations, though, especially since Nebraska's quarterback situation is a bit unsettled.
The leading candidate to replace Joe Ganz is Zac Lee. The junior, who arrived after one season at a California junior college, has thrown only two passes as a Husker, completing one for 5 yards.
"He's followed up his spring with a great summer," Pelini said of Lee, who completed 15 of 18 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns in the spring game. "I'm excited about what he brings to the table and what he can become as a player."
But with an untested quarterback at the controls of an offense with just four starters returning, it will be up to Suh and the defense to keep the Huskers afloat early in the season. Suh says he's looking forward to the task.
"I definitely want to be part of bringing back the tradition of the Blackshirts," he said. "We want to start being the kind of dominant team that everyone wants to hunt."
Pelini says Suh is that kind of talent.
"We're very fortunate he elected to come back," the second-year head coach said. "He just felt like he had unfinished business. He wants to be instrumental in where this program's headed."
That would be, the Huskers believe, in the right direction. But Pelini continues to caution them that they aren't to the point yet where they can legitimately be compared to the Nebraska of old.
"I know one thing: Our players don't feel like Nebraska's back," Pelini said. "But I think they're starting to understand what they can become as a football team."
Randy Riggs writes for the Austin American-Statesman. E-mail: rriggs(at)statesman.com.