We played two teams in the top 25: Michigan and Michigan State. We should have beaten Michigan by three TDs and we blew out Michigan State. “Should haves” don’t matter much in college football, though. And more than the Michigan loss, the South Florida loss is killing us. If you look at the two other teams with two losses, they were beaten by strong teams. We can’t say that with respect to South Florida, now 0-2 in the Big East.

So, we have to hope that Michigan State beats Wisconsin. We’ve got to take care of the ball — and business — this week against Southern Cal. And we have to dominate week in and week out until we get Stanford. I know we’re on the mend but it’s an uphill climb to get to a decent bowl this year. Fortunately, we play Southern Cal at a point where we’re playing good football. Let’s get this win and move on. Go Irish!

While I think it’s a valid point that we beat USC despite the 18-year-old Rees’ mistakes (4 turnovers), it’s also clear that at this stage, Rees deserves the support of the faithful. He’s 8-1 as a starter. He’s had a few decent weeks of late and has shown an ability to put together important drives at key moments.

Many are questioning him because sitting behind him are three very good quarterbacks. Crist, as I’ve noted above, looks like he should be better. But he has not delivered. Golson and Hendix are quicker and, all things considered, appear to have more raw talent than Rees. But as we’ve seen with Crist, that is not the only arbiter for a decent quarterback. You have to know defenses, blitzes, coverage both on the line and at the receiver level. It’s a really complex job. Rees is learning it and we have to live with his mistakes.

But, I would say that Rees is steadily improving. The thought of moving him for another quarterback, who would then have to learn the coverages, the blocking schemes, the defenses, the pass routes, etc., is not appealing. Let’s try to win out.

Well Scranton Dave, I’m rooting for you to come around a little bit then! And we’re all rooting Blue and Gold, Baby! Bring on the Trojans! Come on now Tommy! Its also worth noting that last drives, and big spots under the pressure of a great opponent and the clock, define a players ability to get gutsy, to dig down and deliver. Tommy has had some very nice looking last drives – one of which was against the trojans last year and one in week 2 this year that the D gave away. The kid is cool under fire, and I dont think he feels fear out there, something Dayne looked consumed by week one.

How could Rees have done worse against Stanford last year? Did you see that game? We didn’t score until there were 6 minutes left in the game. It was a bloodbath.

Like I said above, I think Crist should be better. He certainly has a better look of a quarterback: he’s bigger, stronger, quicker (by a lot) and seems to have a cannon of an arm. But he loses. And when you have a repacement who looks worse in every way but who wins all the freaking time, you take the replacement. Rees.

And as for the “credit” for the defense, how did that defense do after Rees executed an incredible scoring drive into 116,000 in Ann Arbor?

Rees would be 9-0 as a starter but for that defensive response (but you’d still be raving about Crist’s strength).

Then again, maybe Rees will physically develop over the course of this season and next spring (he is still young) and will come out in the fall with the physical tool set to zip balls to receivers crossing the middle, throw the ball downfield with some zing over the heads of the safeties, and with at least enough mobility to make a LB miss or the strength to get the ball off with a defender draped on him. I hope so. He seems like a great kid and who doesn’t like to see the underdog win.