Clark Lea - Defensive Coordinator

[SportsingHard]

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Like brother like sister

Irish Envy posters spy what appears to be a washed up stripper making bail in time to pick up the kids.

 

[BeatSC]

I loved that Rees was a fighter...both on and off the field

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Hey at least Tommy didn’t leave early for the Pros and didn’t sit out the bowl game in order to preserve himself for the NFL.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I remember when Koonja tried to convince the board that his tiny 5’6 frame could beat Bilal in an Oklahoma drill.

I thought he was always just a contrarian for the sake of stirring shit up, but that one had me thinking maybe he was just delusional

Maybe Asmar finally accepted his challenge and that's why we never hear from Koon anymore.

 

[ulukinatme]

Tommy Rees was vilified both as a player AND a coach during his time at Notre Dame.

The idea of him coming back one day as head coach gives me vibes I'd rather not think about during these happy times we're in under Freeman.

Deja vu times three.

Fans are generally stupid. There's a reason Tommy got the Bama job and is now an OC in the NFL. As a player he was limited, but fans attacked the guy doing his best and playing above his ranking instead of going after the more talented players that failed to live up to their potential. Seemed like misguided anger. As a coach he's got 2 wins against Clemson under his belt, which is more than OSU can say in the history of their program. He did pretty well despite getting an empty cupboard to work with from a skill player standpoint. We also have him to thank for landing Carr. I don't think he's the best, but he's better than armchair QBs give him credit for. He's an ND guy that stuck it out despite death threats and then later returned to help his alma mater. That's pretty commendable.

 

[ulukinatme]

"He" sure did.

I'm trying to decide if you unintentionally misspelled "Christ" in your name, or if it's a clever callback to the fact Reesus ultimately replaced Dayne Crist

 

[BeatSC]

Fans are generally stupid. There's a reason Tommy got the Bama job and is now an OC in the NFL. As a player he was limited, but fans attacked the guy doing his best and playing above his ranking instead of going after the more talented players that failed to live up to their potential. Seemed like misguided anger. As a coach he's got 2 wins against Clemson under his belt, which is more than OSU can say in the history of their program. He did pretty well despite getting an empty cupboard to work with from a skill player standpoint. We also have him to thank for landing Carr. I don't think he's the best, but he's better than armchair QBs give him credit for. He's an ND guy that stuck it out despite death threats and then later returned to help his alma mater. That's pretty commendable.

I think Tommy over achieved with his physical skillset but I also think a QB of his caliber should never see the starting lineup at ND either. Sadly we went thru quite a few lousy QBs since Lou left us. Tommy had less tools but played generally smart. If he had some wheels he could have made a difference. He guided us to our first win over USC in a long time and then a bowl win over Miami. I think he owes Brian Kelly a lot.

 

[ulukinatme]

I think Tommy over achieved with his physical skillset but I also think a QB of his caliber should never see the starting lineup at ND either. Sadly we went thru quite a few lousy QBs since Lou left us. Tommy had less tools but played generally smart. If he had some wheels he could have made a difference. He guided us to our first win over USC in a long time and then a bowl win over Miami. I think he owes Brian Kelly a lot.

True, a QB of his caliber shouldn't see the starting lineup at ND, and that's kind of my point. He played above his calling because other guys failed to step up or live up to their potential. Fans' anger was misplaced, they shouldn't have been going after the guy giving it his all, they should have gone after the 4 and 5 star guys sitting the bench.

He probably does owe Brian Kelly a lot, but Brian Kelly owes a lot to him as well. That first 2010 season was an absolute dumpster fire for various reasons, and if Tommy doesn't salvage the season by winning 4 straight then BK is probably on the hot seat early. I'd argue that if Crist remained as QB through 2011 we probably win less games which would have further put BK in a hole, and Tommy also doesn't bail us out and preserve the undefeated 2012 season. Tommy was the best we had for awhile, right or wrong. He kept things afloat during the early years. Who knows where ND would be today if BK gets fired prior to the 2017 resurgence. We could have wound up with a different coach and things play out negatively.

 

[SportsingHard]

True, a QB of his caliber shouldn't see the starting lineup at ND, and that's kind of my point. He played above his calling because other guys failed to step up or live up to their potential. Fans' anger was misplaced, they shouldn't have been going after the guy giving it his all, they should have gone after the 4 and 5 star guys sitting the bench.

He probably does owe Brian Kelly a lot, but Brian Kelly owes a lot to him as well. That first 2010 season was an absolute dumpster fire for various reasons, and if Tommy doesn't salvage the season by winning 4 straight then BK is probably on the hot seat early. I'd argue that if Crist remained as QB through 2011 we probably win less games which would have further put BK in a hole, and Tommy also doesn't bail us out and preserve the undefeated 2012 season. Tommy was the best we had for awhile, right or wrong. He kept things afloat during the early years. Who knows where ND would be today if BK gets fired prior to the 2017 resurgence. We could have wound up with a different coach and things play out negatively.

In 40+ years of watching ND football, I can't think of one player I've ever been angry with. Many have made me sad, and some have made me laugh, but I wonder what a player would have to do to make me angry. Refuse to run? Gouge an opponent's eye? Fumble at the one with no one around out of sheer carelessness/showboating?

 

[ab2cmiller]

In 40+ years of watching ND football, I can't think of one player I've ever been angry with. Many have made me sad, and some have made me laugh, but I wonder what a player would have to do to make me angry. Refuse to run? Gouge an opponent's eye? Fumble at the one with no one around out of sheer carelessness/showboating?

Jerry Tillery against USC made me angry

 

[ReesusCrist]

I'm trying to decide if you unintentionally misspelled "Christ" in your name, or if it's a clever callback to the fact Reesus ultimately replaced Dayne Crist

Having been in the stands for the entire 2011 season, including the USF debacle, I am sadly all too aware that Rees is who replaced Crist. My name is an homage to both.

 

[SportsingHard]

Having been in the stands for the entire 2011 season, including the USF debacle, I am sadly all too aware that Rees is who replaced Crist. My name is an homage to both.

My God, I survived that USF opener four years after the 2007 Georgia Tech opener, but I'm pretty sure I haven't made it back since.

2011 in review:
Leading passer: Tommy Rees, assaulted a cop
Leading rusher: Cierre Wood, convicted child abuser/murderer
Freshman RB: Cam McDaniel, "cultivating synergy" by harnessing "metaphysics" and "nanocrystals" to help separate dumb rich people from their money
Leading receiver: Michael Floyd, 3 DUI arrests
Freshman AA KR: George Atkinson III, CET/suicide
Freshman AA DE: Aaron Lynch, general trainwreck
Starting NT: Louis Nix, possible suicide (drove into a pond drunk and drowned)
All-Everything LB: Manti Teo, milked the imaginary death of an imaginary girlfriend
Starting LB: Prince Shembo, accused rapist of girl who died by suicide
Freshman DB: Josh Atkinson, CET/suicide
On deck 2012 signee: Davonte Neal, convicted murderer

[because dumb people exist, I'll point out I'm in no way equating the above]

 

[BeatSC]

My God, I survived that USF opener four years after the 2007 Georgia Tech opener, but I'm pretty sure I haven't made it back since.

2011 in review:
Leading passer: Tommy Rees, assaulted a cop
Leading rusher: Cierre Wood, convicted child abuser/murderer
Freshman RB: Cam McDaniel, "cultivating synergy" by harnessing "metaphysics" and "nanocrystals" to help separate dumb rich people from their money
Leading receiver: Michael Floyd, 3 DUI arrests
Freshman AA KR: George Atkinson III, CET/suicide
Freshman AA DE: Aaron Lynch, general trainwreck
Starting NT: Louis Nix, possible suicide (drove into a pond drunk and drowned)
All-Everything LB: Manti Teo, milked the imaginary death of an imaginary girlfriend
Starting LB: Prince Shembo, accused rapist of girl who died by suicide
Freshman DB: Josh Atkinson, CET/suicide
On deck 2012 signee: Davonte Neal, convicted murderer

[because dumb people exist, I'll point out I'm in no way equating the above]

That hurt to read. So Cam not doing a good thing? I lump him into the same category as Joe Schmidt and Tommy Rees. Someone who really shouldn’t have had to see the playing field. Kelly likes the overachieving kiss asses especially if they had a high IQ.

 

[SportsingHard]

That hurt to read. So Cam not doing a good thing? I lump him into the same category as Joe Schmidt and Tommy Rees. Someone who really shouldn’t have had to see the playing field. Kelly likes the overachieving kiss asses especially if they had a high IQ.

Yes, it hurt to write.

 

[SportsingHard]

@ulukinatme , I'm not understanding your issue here. You don't like recalling the unpleasant things?

 

[IrishLax]

Fans are generally stupid. There's a reason Tommy got the Bama job and is now an OC in the NFL. As a player he was limited, but fans attacked the guy doing his best and playing above his ranking instead of going after the more talented players that failed to live up to their potential. Seemed like misguided anger. As a coach he's got 2 wins against Clemson under his belt, which is more than OSU can say in the history of their program. He did pretty well despite getting an empty cupboard to work with from a skill player standpoint. We also have him to thank for landing Carr. I don't think he's the best, but he's better than armchair QBs give him credit for. He's an ND guy that stuck it out despite death threats and then later returned to help his alma mater. That's pretty commendable.

Winning 9 games with Drew Pyne as your QB is actually crazy. He went 8-2 with him after the team started 0-2 with Buchner and had zero WRs that would amount to anything.

 

[EvilleIrish]

Winning 9 games with Drew Pyne as your QB is actually crazy. He went 8-2 with him after the team started 0-2 with Buchner and had zero WRs that would amount to anything.

In a weird way I think you can make a case that 2022 was Marcus’s best coaching job yet.

 

[Notre Dame Joe]

Having been in the stands for the entire 2011 season, including the USF debacle, I am sadly all too aware that Rees is who replaced Crist. My name is an homage to both.

That might have been the most agitating game in program history. We still could have won the game in round III.

 

[FOTY977]

That might have been the most agitating game in program history. We still could have won the game in round III.

Tulsa up there. NC State hurricane. 2009 Tate Forcier. Northwestern at home. Several Navy losses. Northern IL had everyone SHOOK. Marshall the year prior. Hell even Cincy at home felt like they could have/should have won.

I think ‘93 BC has to hold this title given the stakes.

 

[Irish du Nord]

In a weird way I think you can make a case that 2022 was Marcus’s best coaching job yet.

I’m gonna say it was 2024 but 2022 was underrated

 

[ReesusCrist]

That might have been the most agitating game in program history. We still could have won the game in round III.

If ND loses a game, and nobody is there to see it because of two lightning delays, did it really happen?

(Sadly, the answer is still "yes.")

 

[Irish du Nord]

Tulsa up there. NC State hurricane. 2009 Tate Forcier. Northwestern at home. Several Navy losses. Northern IL had everyone SHOOK. Marshall the year prior. Hell even Cincy at home felt like they could have/should have won.

I think ‘93 BC has to hold this title given the stakes.

Cincy was a really good team and our offense was overmatched, I don’t know if we could have won that game any more than we could have beaten OSU in the National championship game last year.

 

[Bane]

Cincy was a really good team and our offense was overmatched, I don’t know if we could have won that game any more than we could have beaten OSU in the National championship game last year.

That sort of sums up BK at ND. In year 12 we "overmatched" by a G5 team. I get that Cincy team was good but that should never be the case, certainly not by year 12. I was pissed we lost but in hindsight I'm glad. I'm not sure if BK still goes to LSU if we win that game and end up in the playoffs (to get ritually slaughtered by Alabama again).

 

[Huntr]

 

[NorthDakota]

Im surprised a guy who spends so much time around young men can so casually drop a 6-7

 

[greyhammer90]

So is 67 like "the game" where it's just funny to drop it into random conversation?

You just lost the game btw.

 

[GowerND11]

So is 67 like "the game" where it's just funny to drop it into random conversation?

You just lost the game btw.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Clark Lea was great in House of Cards.

 

[ulukinatme]

@ulukinatme , I'm not understanding your issue here. You don't like recalling the unpleasant things?

Your statement is rather harsh in areas and some include pure speculation. Nobody knows the complete circumstances related to Big Lou's passing, to suggest suicide I think does an injustice to his memory. The Manti stuff was not him milking the story, the media milked the situation after he was taken advantage of by a sadistic fuck.

 

[SportsingHard]

Your statement is rather harsh in areas and some include pure speculation. Nobody knows the complete circumstances related to Big Lou's passing, to suggest suicide I think does an injustice to his memory. The Manti stuff was not him milking the story, the media milked the situation after he was taken advantage of by a sadistic fuck.

Though I disagree with essentially every word you've written here, I appreciate you explaining your point of view. I'll reserve my comment for Nix. Obviously nobody knows the complete circumstances, which is exactly why I worded it the way I did. What we do seem to know is there's a 99% chance that either 1) he deliberately drove drunk into pond and drowned, or 2) he accidentally drove drunk into pond and drowned. It seems you find one of these possibilities far more honorable than the other. I don't. That's not necessarily because I have a harsher attitude around #2. I may simply be less judgmental about a man deciding he's endured enough.

 

[ulukinatme]

Though I disagree with essentially every word you've written here, I appreciate you explaining your point of view. I'll reserve my comment for Nix. Obviously nobody knows the complete circumstances, which is exactly why I worded it the way I did. What we do seem to know is there's a 99% chance that either 1) he deliberately drove drunk into pond and drowned, or 2) he accidentally drove drunk into pond and drowned. It seems you find one of these possibilities far more honorable than the other. I don't. That's not necessarily because I have a harsher attitude around #2. I may simply be less judgmental about a man deciding he's endured enough.

I think it's pretty shitty to speak ill of the dead and make baseless speculations on his death, especially towards an alumni that had a big heart and someone most people only had kind things to say about his character. No one reported that it was a possible suicide. He was a good dude who took care of his struggling mother and was the victim of an unprovoked shooting prior to his death.