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Nebraska football: 5 things to know about interim coach Mickey Joseph

Shawn Ekwall

By Shawn Ekwall

Published:

Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts surprised some Sunday by pulling the plug on the Scott Frost era.

Frost’s buyout was set to drop to $7.5 million on Oct. 1. But Alberts didn’t hesitate following the Huskers’ stunning 45-42 loss to Georgia Southern Saturday. Nebraska will shell out the $15 million owed to Frost while many in the local media thought the 5th-year coach would make it until at least October.

Alberts tabbed new receivers coach Mickey Joseph the interim coach for the remainder of the season. Joseph has Nebraska roots. He quarterbacked the 1990 team under legendary coach Tom Osborne. His recruiting pedigree is strong. He builds relationships with his players well. He demands and expects excellence.

Joseph will have full reign over the team the remainder of 2022. Is it an audition for the full-time gig? Only time will tell. But let’s take a closer look at 5 things Joseph is known for and brings to the table.

1) Former Husker QB

Joseph was a perfect match for Osborne’s option-led offense back in the late ’80s and early ’90s. He played at NU from 1988-91, directing the offense as the starting quarterback in 1990.

He understands the pressure that coaching at Nebraska brings. You’re under a microscope daily. The local media contingent is relentless. Alberts knows that in order to try and save the current season, he needs someone who gets it. Joseph does.

The 1990 season was a roller-coaster for Joseph. He led the Huskers to an 8-0 start and No. 3 ranking. Top-ranked Colorado came to Memorial Stadium on Nov. 3. Joseph and the Huskers led 12-0 after 3 quarters on a cold, rainy night in Lincoln. The Buffaloes rallied with 27 4th-quarter points to pull out the win.

Joseph suffered a broken leg in Nebraska’s final regular season game at Oklahoma, as he was tackled into the metal benches in the 1st quarter. The game turned ugly, resulting in a 45-10 loss. Keithen McCant won the starting job the ensuing season, and he went on to win Big 8 Offensive Player of the Year in 1991.

It took a special opportunity for Joseph to leave LSU. Nebraska, his alma mater, was it. He’s made an immediate impact in the locker room and with the work ethic of his receivers. They’re producing on game days, and Alberts has taken notice.

2) Past success at LSU

Ed Orgeron’s 2019 LSU team was arguably one of the best teams in college football history. Joe Burrow had an electric season and his leadership was infectious.

However, one of the biggest keys to the Tigers’ success was at receiver. Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase were both on the roster and coached by Joseph. The duo shined under Joseph’s tutelage. Joseph’s stock rose following the epic run. One look at what the pair is currently doing in the NFL is all that is needed to understand why.

Winning at that level and having been on the big stage not only put Joseph on the coaching map, but made him a target of several high-level Power 5 schools. He spent 2017-21 in Baton Rouge.

Nebraska was fortunate to snag him. And Alberts believes Joseph’s leadership tools can help right the ship over the final 9 games.

3) Brother (Vance) has NFL experience

Mickey’s brother Vance has longevity and NFL success. The current defensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals served 2 seasons as the head coach in Denver in 2017-18.

Vance Joseph has also worked with the 49ers, Texans, Bengals and Dolphins.

Coaching runs in the family for Mickey Joseph. With Nebraska leaking oil on the defensive side of the ball, don’t be surprised if Mickey leans on brother Vance for advice moving forward.

Shoring up Nebraska’s defensive mishaps is a top priority of Joseph. With his brother just a phone call away, don’t be shocked to see some immediate changes.

4) Alberts’ trust

Watching Alberts press conference Sunday, one thing was clear. Alberts believes in Joseph. He firmly believes he can turn things around and somehow flip the script of Nebraska’s season.

Alberts listed Joseph’s energy and infectious personality as reasons why he was chosen to lead the team.

The AD also knows the players believe in Joseph. He’s firm, but fair. He’s a no-nonsense guy with his wideouts. He’ll run the entire team with the same expectations.

With Nebraska’s lack of discipline in certain areas, it will be a welcome change.

5) Locker room culture

It’s no secret the current Huskers’ players had their fill of Scott Frost talk. Frost’s job status was a continuous topic of conversation in the media and among the fan base. It was impossible to ignore.

Joseph has an opportunity to erase that tense atmosphere and get the Huskers to play loose moving forward. No more Frost talk. No more outside noise. Joseph’s charismatic personality will be a breath of fresh air. Frost’s stress level the past weeks was high. You could see it in his face and in his body language. Sometimes things just don’t work out.

A fresh start for all parties was best.

Alberts hinted of immediate changes starting this week. Expect Joseph to alter the way the Huskers practice. Maybe more game-speed tackling? A bit more physicality? After watching the Huskers tackling woes through 3 weeks, it’s not if, but when changes will show up.

Joseph is the first-ever African American head coach at Nebraska. In any sport. Folks around him can’t say enough about his drive, vision and attention to detail.

Nebraska fans will find out soon, with Oklahoma coming to town Saturday, whether those traits can translate into a changed product on the field.

Shawn Ekwall

Shawn Ekwall has been a contributing writer for Huskers Illustrated and covers the Huskers and other B1G teams for Saturday Tradition. Follow him on twitter @shawn_ekwall