Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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R Bend police officer during his arrest at an off-campus party in May. Chases, cops, chaos — it's probably still a blur. All the scrutiny, scrolling news and ock bottom arrived for Tommy Rees the moment a football career and a personal choice met a South Tommy Rees: A Player, A Coach, A Closer UPON FURTHER REVIEW TODD D. BURLAGE Twitter talk to follow could have been enough to force the strongest soul into total isolation. And given Rees' place as incumbent starting quarterback at Notre Dame, multiply any emotions and attention exponentially. A few beers and a failed rushing rash decisions, and Rees had time to wonder if a change of scenery may be the best course with his uncertain standing as a Notre Dame student and a crop of young and talented quarter- backs eager to pounce if an opportu- nity to play presented itself. The humbling option for Rees was attempt that one infamous night put Rees at a crossroads. Tough circumstances often bring Rees' 218 passing yards, one touchdown toss and one rushing score do not even begin to tell the whole story of just how much he has meant to the Irish during their 6-0 start. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA to accept his suspension for the sea- son opener in Ireland and basically become a mailroom clerk with a CEO résumé during fall camp to help im- prove the players competing for his starting job, while also getting ready if his number was ever called. Nobody knows how the quarterback derby would have ended up without the forgettable raid and arrests that night. But a regrettable situation never game management are making him more valuable this year as a backup than he was as the starter last season. Stories of selflessness are refreshing in today's "me first" world of college and professional athletics, and Rees is rattled Rees, even as the media tried to. The incident only helped define him as a valuable player/coach, an indispensable insurance policy and a steely assassin during crunch time this season. Rees' leadership and "on-demand"