LINCOLN — Somewhere in the debate about a return to glory for Nebraska football, a few truths appear hard to dispute about Bo Pelini's Huskers, now 17 games into his coaching regime.

• Nebraska, though still yet to break through in big games, is more cohesive and better prepared to match up with elite teams.

• Offensively, NU strives for an identity that features balance.

• On defense, the Huskers have made major progress.

So much progress defensively, in fact, that an old topic reappeared in the spotlight this week as No. 21 NU finished preparation for tonight's 8 o'clock showdown with 24th-ranked Missouri.

Where are the Blackshirt jerseys?

After all, the Nebraska defense has looked during its past two games like the Blackshirts of old. Yet Pelini continues to withhold the fabled practice jerseys. Even as they wear red or white, NU defenders appear confident and focused, marking the most significant change among the Huskers since their last visit to Columbia in 2007.

“It's just buying into what coach tells us to do,” freshman safety P.J. Smith said. “That's the main thing. If we buy into what coach tells us to do, we feel like we could shut out everybody.

“I think we're getting back to that.”

Pelini said he'll know when the time is right to reward his first-team defenders with the traditional practice wear.

“It represents playing to a very, very high standard,” Pelini said. “Week in, week out. It's about earning the right by how you're executing and the type of football you're playing.”

Until the coach is ready, Blackshirt distribution is a non-issue at Memorial Stadium.

All of it speaks to lofty internal expectations. The Nebraska defense has allowed three touchdowns in four games and ranks in the top 40 nationally in rushing, passing efficiency and total yardage in addition to its No. 1 spot in scoring.

“We can only keep working,” said defensive leader Ndamukong Suh, an All-America candidate at nose tackle.

Pelini's handling of the Blackshirts, apparently, has fueled a deeper appreciation for the tradition.

“Basically, you have to work for it,” Suh said. “That makes it that much more valuable.”

Said NU secondary coach and former Blackshirt Marvin Sanders: “It is all-encompassing. It's not only the effort, it's the level of play. I don't think we're quite there yet, but our kids do understand the work ethic it takes.”

And that's half the battle.

“If you look at the film from last year to this year, it's night and day,” safety Matt O'Hanlon said. “People know what to do. They're in the right spots a lot more.

“I think we're starting to get that swagger everyone talks about. We're starting to get that back. It's something that you've got to build up and you've got to work on.”

Statistically, the improvement is dramatic. Nebraska's average national ranking is 19 in the four major defensive categories.

Last season it was 59. In 2007? An ugly 104.

“I remember a couple years ago, where you kind of felt like you had to score on every drive,” center Jacob Hickman said. “And now, it's like, ‘All right, the defense will keep us in the game if we can't get it done.' So we feel like we need to keep pushing to not let them down. It's a good place to be.”

But as Smith, the emerging youngster, is quick to note, “We've only had one real test.”

Tonight comes NU's second.

The Tigers have averaged 43.8 points in four victories over Nebraska since 2003.

“Virginia Tech was easy compared to this,” Smith said. “They were simple with what they did on offense. This is a real challenge.”

For his part, Suh is not happy with the defensive play.

“We've done it to a certain point,” he said, “but I don't think we've done it every single game, and I don't think we've done it every single play.”

Of Mizzou, Suh said, it's not about revenge for the Huskers after the embarrassments of 2007 and 2008.

And tonight is not about proving the NU defense is worthy of the Blackshirt label.

“They're in our way to accomplishing one of our goals,” Suh said, “and that's to win the Big 12 North. We have to go through that team to do that, so we're going to go through that team and take care of business.”

Contact the writer: 402-473-9587, mitch.sherman@owh.com

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