Tommy Rees Notre Dame Man?

[Senoj13]

Sorry that this has struck a nerve with me, but maybe put it in a different perspective. I see this in the same light as retiring a jersey. As a Yankee fan, Derek Jeter is a no brainer. Mariano Rivera is a no brainer. But would you retire the jerseys of Paul O'Neiil? Bernie Williams? Jorge Posada? Although all were great Yankees and did great things, they are not legends. The same should hold true here.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

There is no doubt in my mind that Tommy is a "Notre Dame Man." He gave his all to the school and the team in his four years. He might not have been the greatest QB stats wise or wins wise, but he did his best to make the Notre Dame Football Team the best he could.

 

[kmoose]

This is becoming the everyone gets a trophy argument. Teo is one of the best defensive players to play at ND.....EVER. When the conversation comes around to Rees on offense, he would not even get mentioned.

No, it's not becoming any such thing. And if you don't "get" the significance of what people are saying about Rees' character, then you probably don't "get" what makes ND a special place.

 

[Irish8248]

Without TR BK prob doesnt survive the heat of losing Crist, Golson, Kiel, and we would be 10 steps backwards instead of 10 steaps forward.... His play is ok, his attitude pretty solid, but his contributions -- saved us from heading back into a vicious cycle. We needed stability in order for BK to get his pieces in place. Rees gave us that stability. For that, Im thankful

 

[Bubbles]

This newb is coming in hot!

Way to come in strong with your first post and avatar. You're gonna fit in nicely!

 

[AFisch86]

There are too many different views regarding the criteria that makes one a "Notre Dame Man". Persona, performance, and end results are basically the three that come to mind for me. I don't have a list of the current members of this "class" but the obvious two that I have seen are Louis and Manti. I posted earlier that I can't put Rees in the same category as them solely on performance. I completely back that statement. Rees is apparently a great person but I expect that from a Notre Dame student. Rees came up big a few times during our national title run but honestly lost us as many games as he won for us. We will not hear of this kid again after this season so his end result will be his reputation from Notre Dame fanatics like ourselves. He won't be in he NFL, he will be another successful businessman or whatever his degree is in and go on to live a great life. For me, kids like Martin, maybe Watt, kids that get degrees from
Notre Dame AND go to the NFL are ND Men. Sacrificing fun to get a degree and being outstanding football players while doing it. Just a little rant. I apologize for it being so lengthy.

 

[kmoose]

Can't agree more about Teo. Teo was a once in a generation type player and IMO cheapens the designation by putting anyone else in the category.

And my vote still is no.

Teo is a punk, compared to Alan Page. Page was an All American, an NFL Hall of Famer, and after football rose to the position of Minnesota Supreme Court Justice. But we all know that Manti is no punk, and is a great individual.

 

[pkt77242]

There are too many different views regarding the criteria that makes one a "Notre Dame Man". Persona, performance, and end results are basically the three that come to mind for me. I don't have a list of the current members of this "class" but the obvious two that I have seen are Louis and Manti. I posted earlier that I can't put Rees in the same category as them solely on performance. I completely back that statement. Rees is apparently a great person but I expect that from a Notre Dame student. Rees came up big a few times during our national title run but honestly lost us as many games as he won for us. We will not hear of this kid again after this season so his end result will be his reputation from Notre Dame fanatics like ourselves. He won't be in he NFL, he will be another successful businessman or whatever his degree is in and go on to live a great life. For me, kids like Martin, maybe Watt, kids that get degrees from
Notre Dame AND go to the NFL are ND Men. Sacrificing fun to get a degree and being outstanding football players while doing it. Just a little rant. I apologize for it being so lengthy.

Who gives a shit if the player goes to the NFL or not? What does that have to do with being a ND Man?

 

[NDinL.A.]

1. Yes. I can't even imagine how bad we would have been this year and 2011 without him. And 2012 doesn't happen without him. He could have easily bailed like most QB's do when they lose their jobs, but he stayed and was a phenomenal teammate that was absolutely LOVED by his teammates.

2. I'm surprised this is even a topic. Yes, no, maybe...how can anyone feel passionately about an insignificant title???

 

[AFisch86]

This is my criteria of a notre dame man. I'm sorry if it's not yours. Again, if you read what I posted in the beginning there is no definition. If there was a definition and specific actions that had to be made there would be no discussion.

 

[phork]

Manti could have went anywhere in the country for football, and he prayed, traveled, and chose ND for all of the right reasons. IDK what offers Tommy had, but I'd bet money ND was a no-brainer for him, as he probably didn't have a better offer on the table. Given Manti's almost guaranteed NFL future, you could argue ND was not his best option (although I wouldn't because you never know), but he still chose us for the religion, feel, tradition, and academics.

Offers from his recruiting thread:

Offers
Notre Dame (Verbal; 7/7; Rob Ianello)
Tennessee
Stanford
Bowling Green
Central Michigan
Miami (OH)

Teo is a punk, compared to Alan Page. Page was an All American, an NFL Hall of Famer, and after football rose to the position of Minnesota Supreme Court Justice. But we all know that Manti is no punk, and is a great individual.

Engrish much understand?

 

[Irish YJ]

Started reading these posts, and ughhhhhh.

I'll preface this by saying I've never been a huge Tommy fan, wanted to see EG as a true freshman, and cussed up a storm with every INT. That said...

To me, I focus on the "Man" in Notre Dame Man. We're not saying Notre Dame All American, Notre Dame Superstar, Notre Dame Saint, Notre Dame Hall of Famer, etc..

A few of Webster's definitions of "Man"

one extremely fond of or devoted to something specified

OR

one possessing in high degree the qualities considered distinctive of manhood

We're saying Notre Dame Man. To me, being a "Man" in this context is someone who gives it his all, leads by example, and puts team above everything else. Tommy has done that. That's my translation. I realize others will create different definitions, but this is MHO.

 

[kmoose]

Engrish much understand?

I understand it just fine; someone made the statement that putting Tommy Rees in the same category as Manti Teo would somehow cheapen Manti's accomplishments, which far outweigh Rees'. Well, Alan Page's accomplishments far outweigh Manti's. So putting Manti in the same category would somehow be a slight to Alan Page? I don't think so, and I doubt many others do, either.

 

[ulukinatme]

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

This. The guy has endured boos, nasty messages on social media, and some death threats. He still comes in every week and gives 100%, despite him being the scapegoat for a number of losses the last 4 years, whether he was remotely deserving or not. We wouldn't even be bowling this season if Tommy wasn't our QB.


Plus, 2 out of 3 people voting in this thread say he's deserving of the title. Meatloaf says that ain't bad.

 

[Irish2155]

I haven't read through the thread yet but here is my $.02.

Tommy is owed as much praise as any because he kept Kelly's program on track. Although he lost 4 this year, we aren't derailed. This season could have been really horrible, but it was not. We beat MSU, ASU and USC this year.

Going forward the next 4 years we'll ultimately enjoy his real value, because the program stayed the course. Thanks to Tommy.

He throws too many damn interceptions, bad times too. Imagine what this team would have looked like without him though.

Now let's see what happens with a "real" QB at the helm. BK had a young one once, and went to the NCG. 2014 yet?

 

[phork]

I haven't read through the thread yet but here is my $.02.

Tommy is owed as much praise as any because he kept Kelly's program on track. Although he lost 4 this year, we aren't derailed. This season could have been really horrible, but it was not. We beat MSU, ASU and USC this year.

Going forward the next 4 years we'll ultimately enjoy his real value, because the program stayed the course. Thanks to Tommy.

He throws too many damn interceptions, bad times too. Imagine what this team would have looked like without him though.

Now let's see what happens with a "real" QB at the helm. BK had a young one once, and went to the NCG. 2014 yet?

Exactly. Without Tommy I doubt Kelly would still be here today. And as far as a real QB leading to the NCG, it was the defense that led the program there. Golson was in his first year and made a lot of mistakes and was even yanked in favour of Rees.

Say what you want about his performance on the field and his issue off the field. He still won a lot of games and kept this program afloat while ND still searches for a QB.

 

[Irish2155]

Exactly. Without Tommy I doubt Kelly would still be here today. And as far as a real QB leading to the NCG, it was the defense that led the program there. Golson was in his first year and made a lot of mistakes and was even yanked in favour of Rees.

Say what you want about his performance on the field and his issue off the field. He still won a lot of games and kept this program afloat while ND still searches for a QB.

It was both. Not one or the other. Both.

 

[Irish Insanity]

He couldn't out run the SBPD, why is this even a discussion

 

[rocket66]

Dumbest thread. Ever.

 

[phork]

It was both. Not one or the other. Both.

The offense did enough, either with Rees or Golson, to win games. The defense kept ND in every single game.

 

[Irish2155]

The offense did enough, either with Rees or Golson, to win games. The defense kept ND in every single game.

You are right. EG won. Tommy lost 4.

Not sure what is confussing.

 

[ulukinatme]

Dumbest thread. Ever.

I agree, only because it's a given that he's a Notre Dame man.

 

[phork]

You are right. EG won. Tommy lost 4.

Not sure what is confussing.

Uhm I am pretty sure that Rees came in the game as a reliever more than once last year. ND was 12-0, remember that?

 

[IrishJayhawk]

You are right. EG won. Tommy lost 4.

Not sure what is confussing.

The word confussing is rather confusing.

 

[ARALOU]

Tommy is ok in my book. Not the greatest but he was part of a class that won a bunch of games. Made a title run (he certainly contributed). He threw many great passes and many bad ones. Hey, that happens when you throw the ball a lot. Plus he always seemed to be rushing the play because they always used all of the play clock. Which really pissed me off more than anything. You rush to get the play off, it throws all the timing of the play off.


Having said all of that, we will get to see a QB that Kelly needs to run his offense next season.

Tommy was part of a good class that got the Irish back on the right track. IMO

 

[ND NYC]

anyone who goes to ND is a Notre Dame Man/Woman.

shame on the OP

 

[GBdomer]

anyone who goes to ND is a Notre Dame Man/Woman.

shame on the OP

34 people disagree with you.

 

[irishff1014]

I know this might come as a surprise i voted for Tommy.

But he gave it his all. He stayed when he could have left. He did help the QB that beat him out. I doubt we win as many games as we did with out him.

 

[vmgsf]

Irish 2155 "Tommy is owed as much praise as any because he kept Kelly's program on track"
and he helped keep the program afloat. I agree.

2013 had the potential for real disaster with all the injuries? How many games were Tuitt and Nix both healthy? USC? Danny Spond a huge loss because he could play the pass game very well.

This team did not get embarassed by anyone. Look at the recruiting. 2014 recruits understand the program is headed in the right direction and the future is bright.

 

[dublinirish]

i suppose the real thing is that the title "Notre Dame Man" needs to be properly defined. It means many different things to many different posters