Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME and one of battery, which is also a Class A misdemeanor. Rees was originally held on a felony charge after wrestling with a police officer while trying to flee from a party on Notre Dame Avenue. As part of the agreement, Rees will com- plete 50 hours of community service and write an apology letter to the officer in- volved with the scuffle. He also received a 30-day suspended sentence and 11 months of probation. "I apologize to my family, friends, the timidation charge after allegedly threaten- ing the officers twice by saying, "My people will get you," as they corralled Rees. He is due in court on Aug. 20. Rees still has two major hurdles to clear Calabrese is facing one misdemeanor in- Notre Dame community, Fighting Irish fans and the South Bend Police Department for my actions this spring. I made a poor decision, and I accept full responsibility," Rees said in a statement released by the university. "I learned a valuable lesson and witnessed first-hand that actions have con- sequences. This experience will make me a better person and I will focus on being a positive role model and citizen. "To those who supported me during this difficult time, I offer my sincerest thanks. To the people I disappointed, I am dedicated to winning back your trust and confidence." Police arrested Rees and senior linebacker during the coming weeks to determine if he will miss anytime on the football field. Res Life, the office of the university's disci- plinarians, has the ability to suspend Rees from extracurricular activities or outsource any repercussions to head coach Brian Kelly and the football program. Precedents for punishment aren't clear in this case. Res Life reportedly adopted a new, more forgiving philosophy in recent years after it was criticized for doling out harsh punishments to former Irish athletes like basketball player Kyle McAlarney, who was suspended from school for one semes- ter after he was charged with possession of marijuana. Notre Dame's most recent athlete mis- Carlo Calabrese shortly after midnight on the last day of spring semester classes in May. An officer chased Rees through a neighborhood just south of campus after arriving to check on a noise complaint. With the help of a taxi cab driver, the of- ficer caught Rees and eventually had to use pepper spray to wrestle him to the ground. During their scuffle, Rees kneed the office in the abdomen, according to the initial police report. demeanor offender, wide receiver Michael Floyd, was held out of spring practice in 2011 following his drunken driving arrest. Unlike Floyd, Rees has had no prior arrests or incidents related to alcohol in the past. If the university or Kelly does decide to discipline Rees by keeping him off the football field for any length of time it will jeopardize his chances of keeping his start- ing job with the Notre Dame offense. Rees started 16 of the last 17 games under center for the Irish. He is currently in the midst of a four-man quarterback competition enter- ing fall camp, which is scheduled to begin on Aug. 4. AUGUST 2012 14