Mickey Joseph: Nebraska still believes it can win
When you fire your coach in September, it can seem like your program is giving up on the season early. However, in the case of Nebraska, it was so early in the season that the Cornhuskers still had a chance to compete in the Big Ten West. Now, after going 2-2 and 2-1 in conference, interim head coach Mickey Joseph says that Nebraska still believes it can win.
However, while in a press conference, Mickey Joseph was asked if he needs to build the team’s confidence.
“We show them where they’re at,” Mickey Joseph said. “You know, we show them that they’re right there in the middle.”
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“Then, they’re going to play the number one team in the West this week. So, they still control their own destiny. But, you know, I think their confidence is there right now. They believe that they can win,” Mickey Joseph said.
“Just noticing on the flight home, after the Purdue game, and the look on their face–they were hurt. They were hurt. They were upset they let that game go. And I got like I said, I’ve got to do better with them. I gotta get them over that hump. But, they’re a different team. They’re a different team.
Mickey Joseph then went on to say that he saw a switch flip after the Oklahoma loss. That’s when things settled down and they started to believe in what the interim staff was doing.
Nebraska hosts Illinois, who is ranked 17th in the AP Top 25 Poll, this Saturday. The Cornhuskers are 2-2 in the conference, which is just one game behind Illinois in the Big Ten West race. However, they’re tied with Purdue, who holds the tiebreaker over Nebraska because of the head-to-head game.
Casey Thompson on Mickey Joseph
When Casey Thompson transferred to Nebraska, he did so to play for Scott Frost and possibly save Frost’s job. That didn’t work out, though, and Mickey Joseph took over as the interim head coach after just three games. Since then, Thompson and Joseph have been able to develop a strong relationship.
“I like Coach Joseph because he brings good energy. He’s very detailed and organized. He’s very intense and passionate, and he brings the best out of everyone. What I like about him is when you walk into the building, whether you’re a player or a coach, everything you do is going to be evaluated. Anybody on staff has to do their job, and he holds everybody accountable, and I really like it,” said Casey Thompson.
“I appreciate him because he pushes me. I’d rather a coach be more demanding and more aggressive and be more vocal about what they need from me instead of being passive. At the end of the day, I’m still a college student. I haven’t made it to the pros yet, and I’m not a coach. So I don’t know everything, and I need to have that hard coaching. I think coach Joseph does a good job with me, holding me accountable and the rest of the team.”