Mark Whipple criticizes team for lack of belief, has eyes on winning the Big Ten West

When Nebraska interim coach Mickey Joseph said Monday he wanted his team to ‘play with fire’ against Rutgers this week, apparently his coaching staff also took the message to heart. On Tuesday, offensive coordinator Mark Whipple was in rare form, making it clear he’s not here to be the nice guy in the topsy-turvy Big Ten West.

If tough love is what the Cornhuskers need after a 2-3 start to the season — a start that got head coach Scott Frost fired just three games in — tough love is what he is delivering this week.

“I don’t know if they really think we can win every game,” Whipple said candidly questioning his team.

Here’s the reality Whipple was working toward: Every single team in the Big Ten West has already lost a conference game. At 1-1 in Big Ten play, the Cornhuskers are actually tied with five other teams atop the division standings.

Meaning there’s everything still to play for, including a spot in the Big Ten title game.

“We’re good enough, I think,” Whipple said. “OK? I’m not a genius, but we can win seven games. We can win these games. We already threw away three of them. I mean Oklahoma kicked our rear, but… that’s the expectation. Not just go to a bowl game, but win the West. You’re in first place. Act like it and play like it.”

Can Nebraska really win the Big Ten West?

For Whipple’s words to start to turn what would seem to be a dream into reality, it’ll take some belief.

It’s hard to get players who lost to Northwestern and Georgia Southern to suddenly buy into the idea they could win the division. Shoot, three players were on the team for every single one of the 22 one-score losses during Frost’s tenure.

“It takes time, but hey, I’m a realist,” Whipple said. “If we don’t get there I’m not going to be here anyway. I told them that. If we win the West, I’ll ride Mickey’s coat-tails. But it comes down to those guys playing.”

The path may not be easy, but it’s certainly there. Only one currently ranked opponent is on the remaining schedule: a road game at No. 4 Michigan on Nov. 12.

There are plenty of opportunities to build momentum, starting with back-to-back road games at Rutgers and Purdue. Joseph wants fire, and fire is what he’s getting from Whipple.

Whether that’s reflected by the players Saturday night in Piscataway remains to be seen.

“I think they’ve taken that to heart and we’ve practiced well these two days,” Whipple said. “I told them I won’t ever BS them, and I like these guys. I told them all, ‘I like you, otherwise I wouldn’t play you.'”