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LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska interim coach Mickey Joseph took full duty for his workforce’s efficiency in a 49-14 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday, repeatedly saying in his postgame press convention, “That is on me.”
Joseph was promoted to interim coach final Sunday, after Scott Frost was fired following a 1-2 begin to the season. All through the week, Joseph promised he would carry extra power and enthusiasm to this system and had his gamers get again to the fundamentals at observe — whereas additionally eradicating the black shirts which might be a trademark of the protection.
However after their first offensive sequence led to a landing, nothing went proper for the Cornhuskers. Oklahoma dominated in each space, as Dillon Gabriel threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns whereas Eric Grey had 113 yards speeding and two extra scores.
The identical tackling points and missed alignments plagued the Nebraska protection, whereas the offensive line had a tricky time defending the quarterback — making it tough to achieve any rhythm on offense. Oklahoma completed with 4 sacks and 9 tackles for loss.
“That is on me, not my gamers, not my assistant coaches,” Joseph stated. “I’ve received to do a greater job, and I’ll. I’ve received to simply accept duty for it, and I’ve. We have eight video games left, and we will get able to win some video games.”
When requested what he might have executed in another way in his first week as head coach, Joseph stated, “I suppose I did not do sufficient final week to get them prepared. We have to do some particular person work, some extra drill work subsequent week, much less workforce work and get some fundamentals straightened up.”
Joseph received his gamers again to tackling once more throughout observe, one thing that had not occurred beforehand below Frost. He stated he plans to do extra tackling work throughout the upcoming open date, earlier than Nebraska will get into the guts of its Large Ten schedule.
As well as, he needs to provide youthful gamers extra reps and would think about shaking up the depth chart if these gamers are deserving of extra taking part in time. As for whether or not he plans to make any adjustments to the teaching workers, Joseph stated, “I am unable to see that proper now.”
To make sure, your entire week was difficult for Joseph and his gamers. Joseph, a former Nebraska quarterback, has been on workers for lower than a yr as receivers coach. In the meantime, gamers needed to say good bye to the top coach that recruited them. Among the many three gamers made accessible for postgame interviews, none blamed Joseph for what occurred on Saturday.
“Coach Joseph did an unimaginable job all week,” linebacker Nick Henrich stated. “Gamers have been those taking part in the sport on Saturday, so we have got to purchase into what he says and proceed to work and imagine in him, and I do know this workforce believes in him.”
Throughout Frost’s tenure, Nebraska had a behavior of shedding shut video games. Too many shut video games. Nebraska was 5-22 in video games determined by one rating or much less in his four-plus seasons as head coach. That features a closer-than-expected 23-16 loss to Oklahoma a yr in the past.
So to go from so many shut losses, to not even being shut on Saturday appeared notably distressing. Joseph stated the efficiency shocked him. Defensive again Myles Farmer stated it felt like issues have been going their means on the outset, earlier than it received out of hand.
“You are going ask me all these questions that I actually do not wish to reply,” Farmer stated. “However on the finish of the day, you are not in right here with us. You are not at observe with us. We have to maintain taking part in soccer, principally.”
The 35-point margin of victory is tied for Oklahoma’s largest since 1990. It additionally snapped a streak of 13 straight losses by single-digits for Nebraska.
Athletic director Trev Alberts, who declined a request to remark, stated throughout his press convention final Sunday that Joseph would have a chance to interview for the top teaching job.
A supply near Joseph stated he felt the coach could be given a good shot, however that the rest of the season would basically be an on-the-job audition.
With that because the backdrop, throughout the Fox pregame present exterior the stadium, followers began chanting “We would like City!” as former Ohio State coach City Meyer sat on the set.
It doesn’t matter what occurs sooner or later, Joseph needs to verify his gamers stay centered on the eight Large Ten video games remaining.
“If you happen to’re happening at this level, you ain’t meant play soccer,” Farmer stated. “You gotta hold taking part in, gotta hold your head up.”
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