I don’t think Rees is further along than Quinn or Clausen, but a peak at their sophomore numbers shows that he’s not as far behind as some make him out to be. Yes the O line is better this year for him but let’s just be thankful for that as under Weis we had the worst O line in school history, so of course they’re better. I wouldn’t put the whole USF game on Crist, but I would put last years Navy game on him. And I’d say he shoulders a lot of the blame for his goal line debacle against USC. Furthermore Tommy’s not even as big as him but the kid can take some real hits and bounce back up. I think frankly he’s tougher than Crist. Physically and mentally. Crist has blown out both knees and has been injury prone his entire career. I don’t follow the logic that Rees deserves no credit for last years USC game and this years Pitt games when he led us on game winning drives in both of those games, in spite of them being 2 of his weaker performances. How many times did Montana or others lead us on last minute game winning drives? That’s been the hallmark of ND quarterbacks through all of history.

Look I’m not saying Rees is even the long term answer. It may very well be that Golson or Hendrix are the future but in the here and now I’m sorry to say Crist has had his chances time and again and Rees is the best option for this year.

First of all I never said Rees is “the answer.” I merely said that people are too hard on him and blame him for everything that goes wrong on the field. Yes, he makes mistakes like any sophomore will, and yes, he could add to his arm strength, but his successful career record shows that he must be doing something right. I think it’s quite likely Golson and/or Hendrix may start in years to come but I’m talking about This year, right now. Hendrix and Golson don’t have the game day experience to start right now. And don’t get me started again about Crist. He’s the Golden Calf of Notre Dame quarterbacks if I’ve ever seen one. So who does that leave us with for the mean time?

Second of all, who are you my high school English teacher? Who are you to tell me my points are not well thought out and I need to provide more evidence. Maybe you should play out your own thoughts more as you made Zero points, nota, zilch, except to claim “Rees is not the answer.”

As far as the USF game this year, you really put it all on Crist? i guess he fumbled at the 1 on the first drive right? I guarantee the offense would be more productive with Crist than noddle armed Rees. I also would bet that if you gave Kelly a truth syrum, he would say he regrets giving up on Crist for Rees. I dont care if Rees is only a sophomore, he has no arm strength, foot speed. or upside, and he isnt even accurate. But hey, if you guys are satisfied with 8-4, then lets let Rees stay the starter for the rest of this year and the next 2 years.

There is no excuse for Crists fumble in the USC game, but it is no worse than Rees fumble ( when nobody was near him) in the Michigan game. Before the fumble in the USC game, Crist was throwing lazers and they were accurate. The difference between Crists throws and Rees throws are like night and day. Problem is, the egomaniac Kelly recruited Rees and he didnt recruit Crist, and Kelly just last week gave us his feelings on the holdover players.

kelly has passed on 1st down starting the series alot this sason and that has opened up the opposing defences alowing runingbacks to get threw the line easier to gain more yards so its the the passing that is making the running backs to do there jobs easier just look how they strugled in the 1st half thats because the run the ball nearly every 1st down except the td pass to 80 annd the one on the last series before half thats why notre dame needs a coach that has the brains to know what works when he is calling the plays for the game if you can go back to every game when they strugle there runing the ball on 1st down to much

Is there a coach that the comment section of this board would find acceptable to lead ND? I don’t fully understand the vitriol for Coach Kelly present in a number of posts after every game. Please, what coach is acceptable to lead our team? Also, would you be willing to give that coach a pass over a probably 8-4 campaign in his (or her) second year?

It is a bit off topic, but I’m also curious why people are so up in arms over the mere idea of installing field turf instead of grass? If I am misunderstanding the plan, please tell me. I’m indifferent on the issue, but if a legitimate case can be made that a field turf field would help the program, I don’t understand the hostility based upon an idea. I haven’t done much of a study, but it seems from a cursory review of college gameday final highlights that many of the top programs are currently playing on field turf. (An admittedly weak study design / sample, yes) The question, I guess, Is what is the problem with field turf?

Negatives. I wish Tommy did not shoot himself in the foot all the time, but at least he can still run afterwards. Bad game for him, but after 1 season as a starting QB he is further along than Clausen and Quinn. Quinn’s summer in between soph and jr year is when he got the arm strength that he needed from workouts. I hope Tommy figures this out at the end of the season since you cannot put on that much arm strength when the season is in full swing. Please do not get me started on Crist. He had his chance this year and last, but still did not come through. Hendrix is the next in line, and I hope we take care of business against MD so we can get him up to speed.
I do not have much hope for 8-3 which I held till the loss against USC. 8-4 looks more likely.
Cheer, cheer for Ole Notre Dame

Yes, indeed, sir. This call and the “uncatchable ball” pass interference penalty as well. There was a block in the back on the bad call on Martin on that play that went “unnoticed”. Terrible officiating to say the least. However, they got the W. Time to move on, I reckon.