Tommy Rees Notre Dame Man?

[goldandblue]

In light of some arguments I thought I would start a poll to see how the Irish Envy faithful feel about Tommy Rees being granted the coveted "Notre Dame Man"

 

[tko]

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yes

 

[woolybug25]

I vote "yes".

I think that designation should represent a player that made a significant impact to our program, was part of a spectacular team and was a leader.

It's not just whether they were an all-american player. Tommy was a consummate leader, even when he was benched for Golson. Instead of quitting, he exemplified the Notre Dame spirit and became a teacher/mentor for Everett. Even came in and helped us win games when the stage was too big for the young Golson.

I truly believe our program wouldn't be in the state it is in now without the contributions of Tommy Rees.

 

[BabyIrish]

I think his role and his attitude alone in 2012 are enough to grant him the title

 

[Irish Houstonian]

I think you should lay down some criteria first. Like, top 1% of all players or something.

 

[wizards8507]

I vote "yes".

I think that designation should represent a player that made a significant impact to our program, was part of a spectacular team and was a leader.

It's not just whether they were an all-american player. Tommy was a consummate leader, even when he was benched for Golson. Instead of quitting, he exemplified the Notre Dame spirit and became a teacher/mentor for Everett. Even came in and helped us win games when the stage was too big for the young Golson.

I truly believe our program wouldn't be in the state it is in now without the contributions of Tommy Rees.

Agree 100%.

That doesn't mean I won't curse him to high heaven next Saturday, because I fully anticipate doing so from section 410 of Yankee Stadium.

 

[woolybug25]

I posted this in TR's thread regarding whether he did enough enough on the field or if his "ability" was good enough to be recognized in this manner. Thought I would bring that convo over here:

The bolded is where we differ. I think that "abilities" shouldn't be the judge of the title, but rather the "impact" the player had on the team. I think it is hard to argue that Tommy had a significant impact on this program. When people look back on BK's career at Notre Dame… there will be a whole chapter on Tommy Rees.

If we only base it on ability, then guys like Aaron Lynch would be closer to the title than Tommy. That doesn't pass the smell test for me, personally.

 

[wizards8507]

Question: Why are we using the signature phrase of one of our most hated (regional) rivals?

 

[goldandblue]

Question: Why are we using the signature phrase of one of our most hated (regional) rivals?

To hell with Michigan. LOL.

 

[gkIrish]

I posted this in TR's thread regarding whether he did enough enough on the field or if his "ability" was good enough to be recognized in this manner. Thought I would bring that convo over here:

Ability was a bad word. What I wanted to say was that a significant amount of people dispute his effect on our team. In other words, a lot of people think he had a negative impact on the field in many games. Whether that's true or not is up for debate. But the fact that the debate exists is enough of a reason to prevent a special designation.

 

[gkIrish]

Here's the bottom line for me. We were 12-1 the one year he didn't start a majority of the games. While he helped in a couple of those games, our 2012 record shows that his impact was clearly vastly less important than people make it out to be.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

Question: Why are we using the signature phrase of one of our most hated (regional) rivals?

Good point, although we probably couldn't call him a "leader" or a "legend" then too.

 

[woolybug25]

Ability was a bad word. What I wanted to say was that a significant amount of people dispute his effect on our team. In other words, a lot of people think he had a negative impact on the field in many games. Whether that's true or not is up for debate. But the fact that the debate exists is enough of a reason to prevent a special designation.

That's fair. But lets consider these as fact, no?

- In BK's first year, Tommy was our best option at QB and without him, we would have had a nightmare of a season.

- We would not have gone undefeated if Tommy wouldn't have bailed out Golson a few times (I know, we wouldn't have been there without Golson, I'm not disputing that. But EG did need to get bailed out several times).

- He was a leader on this team.

- He is one of the statistical leaders in many historical Notre Dame records.

I think those are enough.

 

[woolybug25]

Good point, although we probably couldn't call him a "leader" or a "legend" then too.

I'm pretty sure that Manti's tag is "legend'. haha

 

[TDHeysus]

without a doubt yes...i'm at work and cannot 'use any criteria' but Tommy never complained, was always ready when the team needed him. Performed to his best abilities, and always gave it all he could, even while getting booed at home.

Even thru any mistakes he has made, I don't seem to remember anyone saying it was because he wasn't giving it his all, dude always went out there and put it on the line. that's something to be respected and admired.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

If he wasn't on the roster, several of the last few years would have been utter disasters. He's was the QB we needed, but not the QB we deserved

 

[gkIrish]

- In BK's first year, Tommy was our best option at QB and without him, we would have had a nightmare of a season.

I guess?

- We would not have gone undefeated if Tommy wouldn't have bailed out Golson a few times (I know, we wouldn't have been there without Golson, I'm not disputing that. But EG did need to get bailed out several times)

We actually don't know that. Who knows if Golson could have driven us down the field against Purdue or not. We were tied, right? It's not like we would have lost in regulation had Tommy not been on the field.

- He was a leader on this team.

Yes. So were all the other captains.

- He is one of the statistical leaders in many historical Notre Dame records.

Sure. But a lot of that is because he started so many games.

If you consider his off the field incident and all of his contributions to our losses, that counterbalances any career stats.

For the record, whenever we have this debate about Golson, I will be against it due to his suspension unless his on-the-field success is overwhelming (Heisman + Championship)

 

[gkIrish]

without a doubt yes...i'm at work and cannot 'use any criteria' but Tommy never complained, was always ready when the team needed him. Performed to his best abilities, and always gave it all he could, even while getting booed at home.

Even thru any mistakes he has made, I don't seem to remember anyone saying it was because he wasn't giving it his all, dude always went out there and put it on the line. that's something to be respected and admired.

Other than the booing, everything you said is true of 95% of the roster!

 

[woolybug25]

If you consider his off the field incident and all of his contributions to our losses, that counterbalances any career stats.

For the record, whenever we have this debate about Golson, I will be against it due to his suspension unless his on-the-field success is overwhelming (Heisman + Championship)

I do not, nor would I consider Golson's if he had an amazing impact on this team. Both would have overcame adversity.

For instance… Manti is a clear "Notre Dame Man", right? Well, we don't know for sure if we would have went undefeated without him, but like Tommy, one could reasonably assume that we wouldn't have. In fact, I would argue that Manti was far more replaceable for most of his career than Tommy was during his career.

With Tommy's arrest… that was far less destructive to the University than Manti's fake GF hoax. That is probably the most embarrassing scandal the team ever had. I don't hold it against him though, and it doesn't effect my view of how impactful his time was here.

 

[Pachuco]

They're all Notre Dame men to me.

If Tommy, then why not TJ Jones?

If TJ Jones, then why not Zach Martin?

If Zach Martin, then why not Kapron Lewis-Moore?

If Kapron Lewis-Moore, then why not Theo Riddick?

Why not Tyler Eiffert? Etc, etc....

I love Tommy, but man, there are many ND players worthy of the moniker "Notre Dame Man".

It shouldn't just be Manti and Nix.

 

[phork]

There is no criteria. He was fed a shit sandwich in his time here and asked for more. While not certainly an elite football guy, he is what ND is, through and through. You 7 NO voters should be ashamed.

 

[tussin]

I was under the impression that this title was a "Hall of Fame" of sorts for IE. I don't think Tommy's play is deserving of the title and he also had that run-in with the law.

Great guy, I thank him for his dedication to ND... but I don't think you can label every graduate a Notre Dame Man. I think TJ is more deserving if we give someone else the title.

 

[gkIrish]

I was under the impression that this title was a "Hall of Fame" of sorts for IE. I don't think Tommy's play is deserving of the title and he also had that run-in with the law.

Great guy, I thank him for his dedication to ND... but I don't think you can label every graduate a Notre Dame Man. I think TJ is more deserving if we give someone else the title.

That's basically how I feel.

 

[Pachuco]

I was under the impression that this title was a "Hall of Fame" of sorts for IE. I don't think Tommy's play is deserving of the title and he also had that run-in with the law.

Great guy, I thank him for his dedication to ND... but I don't think you can label every graduate a Notre Dame Man. I think TJ is more deserving if we give someone else the title.

Joe Montana would agree with you. He hates Rudy.

I'm kidding with you.

I just think that the Notre Dame Man qualification is highly subjective, unless you are just going off statistics like the Heisman.

 

[irishfan]

Here's the bottom line for me. We were 12-1 the one year he didn't start a majority of the games. While he helped in a couple of those games, our 2012 record shows that his impact was clearly vastly less important than people make it out to be.

I think he was quite important. Here are the games that he helped us win:

Purdue--most likely going to OT against Purdue with 0 momentum if not for Rees. Who knows, maybe Golson commits another turnover like the last drive and it's Purdue kicking the FG to win at the end.

Michigan--Golson was lost from the start. The D had more to do with us winning, but I don't see us winning that game with EG and Hendrix. We needed someone to play mistake-free and get a drive or two going.

Stanford--his 2 drives were a game-tying FG and a go-ahead TD in OT. In the rain. Golson already had a couple turnovers this game. Can you imagine Hendrix coming in and saving the day when Golson had his concussion?

BYU--Tommy played the whole game. Again, we're not winning the game with Hendrix in there playing 4 quarters, especially not against last year's BYU defense.

Honorable mention: Tommy playing one play against OU and converting a 3rd and long. We're running a draw there with Hendrix in the game.

IMO we're an 8-4 or 9-3 team last year if we're playing with Golson and Hendrix as our QBs.

 

[tussin]

Joe Montana would agree with you. He hates Rudy.

I'm kidding with you.

I just think that the Notre Dame Man qualification is highly subjective, unless you are just going off statistics like the Heisman.

Ha.... He's obviously a "Notre Dame Man" in real life. However, I wouldn't give him the title for the purposes of IE.

 

[KPENN]

No

Tommy Rees arrested: Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees charged with four misdemeanors after alleged altercation with police - Chicago Tribune

 

[NDPhilly]

IMO No, not even close. Was he a elite player? No, not by a long shot. Did he represent the university well? No, he was arrested for kicking a cop. Did he have some sort of ailment that he had or over came ala Danny Spond? No.

IMO "Notre Dame Man" title should be reserved for the likes of Manti and Nix. TJ and Zack Martin are much more worthy candidates.

 

[GBdomer]

Why is this even a thread? What did he do that Danny Spond didn't do? Kappy didn't do? TJ Jones or Zach Martin didn't do? I am still struggling to find a game where he flat out put the team on his back and won us a game to maybe deserve this. Maybe Purdue game last year. He lost more then he won. I am not a Tommy hater because he seemed like a great leader and very respected by his teammates. But I am not sure why anyone who graduates from Notre Dame wouldn't be a "Notre Dame man" If this kid played on any other big name program and punched a cop and had some of the games he had, what would you honestly say? Good luck to Tommy and his future.

 

[woolybug25]

IMO No, not even close. Was he a elite player? No, not by a long shot. Did he represent the university well? No, he was arrested for kicking a cop. Did he have some sort of ailment that he had or over came ala Danny Spond? No.

IMO "Notre Dame Man" title should be reserved for the likes of Manti and Nix. TJ and Zack Martin are much more worthy candidates.

Just devil's advocate here… you have no problem with Manti's fake GF hoax? It's probably the most embarrassing scandal the University ever had.

Was he representing the university well?

disclaimer - I don't hold that against Manti. Just playing devil's advocate.