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Irish Eyes are Glaring: A New Role for Tommy Rees at Notre Dame

He started the season as the back up quarterback, but now the former Lake Forest High star is the man on campus everyone wants to talk to.

It’s been almost an hour since the final whistle blew, the perfunctory sound in Notre Dame’s convincing 31-13 win over Michigan State on Sept. 17.

Inside the school’s massive media room, a dozen reporters crowd around the podium, waiting impatiently -- we have deadlines after all! -- for the Irish starting quarterback to arrive.

Emerging through a side door is the star of this reality show, wearing a white dry-fit long sleeve t-shirt and navy blue sweat pants.

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As he stands behind the podium, the camera lights turn on, microphones raised to below his chin. Like a politician at a fund-raiser, he stares straight ahead, only moving his head in the direction of the first question.

It might be just another press conference for whomever is occupying the most talked-about position in college sports, but this moment is another step in the evolution of Tommy Rees.

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Stopping Sparty

It may have been the most important drive in Tommy Rees’ career at Notre Dame. 

Playing at Michigan on Sept. 12, he fumbled deep in Wolverine territory in the fourth quarter, the Irish driving for a potential game-icing 10-point lead. The turnover -- his third on the day -- was the catalyst for Michigan’s ensuing go-ahead touchdown.

Playing in front of a Greek Coliseum-like crowd of 115,000, Rees rallied his team, seizing the lead back for the Irish on a touchdown pass with just over a minute remaining. Although Michigan would win the game miraculously, the 19-year-old sophomore knew that drive had re-solidified his starter’s job, .

He also knew the next game would provide home-field comfort.

“(Michigan game) was a pretty awesome atmosphere,” said Rees. “I love playing at home, I love being here with our fans and our crowd. Playing here at Notre Dame is a privilege.”

And so he started his sixth game as the Fighting Irish starting quarterback last Saturday against Michigan State. It started out well, with the Irish scoring on their first drive. Rees looked comfortable, completing both of his passes to receiver Michael Floyd, whose unique skill and freakish size -- 6-foot-3, 225-pounds, more fitting for a linebacker than a pass catcher - -is for a quarterback what a fresh coat of paint is to a fence post, his best friend.

Rees’ diminutive stature and Huck Finn-boyish looks has made him a frequent subject of “can he be a leader” debates surrounding the program. If you went strictly on record, there would be no debate, as Rees is 5-1 as the Irish starting quarterback.

Floyd, who in four years has caught passes from Jimmy Clausen, Dayne Crist and now Rees, says the question should be reframed.

“He plays a good role. We don’t expect Tommy to be vocal guy,” said Floyd, predicted by many to be a 2012 first-round draft choice. “I put that on my hands to do that job. We just want to make sure Tommy gets the ball and does the right things and eliminates mistakes.”

Rees detractors -- and there are many amongst Irish fans - -will reframe the debate around Floyd’s last comment. Consider this -- in 10 quarters of play this season, Rees has turned the ball over seven times (five interceptions, two lost fumbles).

This burgeoning demon reared its ugly head in the first quarter against the Spartans when Rees fumbled and threw an interception on back-to-back drives. The “oh, here we go again” chorus inside Notre Dame stadium was as loud as the pre-game one for “God Bless America.”

Good Tommy, Bad Tommy

It's not just the in-stadium chatter that can resonate. The influx of social media sites such as Twitter provide broadcast platforms for anti-Rees sentiments.

For example, Rees' turnovers Saturday occurred over a 10-minute span. During that time, here are "tweets" that were posted from fans watching the game:

@quentin_hayes: Tommy Rees is on bum status now

@bankrupt_bookie: Tommy Rees reminds me of AJ Soprano

@mferrando7: I can't stand Tommy Rees right now

These stream of conscious tweets are not atypical for fans of any Divison 1 football program. The relationship between a college program's starting quarterback and its fan base is fickle at best, nasty at its worst. The difference is the sheer volume of interest at Notre Dame. Just Google Tommy Rees and you'll know what I mean.

Tweets or no tweets, just as he did against Michigan, Rees (who's Twitter handle is @t_rees11). responded. With Notre Dame holding on to a precarious 21-10 lead early in the third quarter, he threw the ball to four different receivers, culminating in a 26-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver TJ Jones.

It was a classic Rees pass, thrown over Jones’ back shoulder, a perfect spiral placed in the only spot it could be caught. The touchdown effectively put the game out of reach.

“We worked all week on beating our guys deep and being over the top and he’s (Jones) done a great job being a big play guy for us,” said Rees. “I just have to get him the ball.”

Which is something Rees has done well his entire football life. The names may have changed -- Connor Moutvic, Bo Dever, Floyd, Jones -- and the coaches -- Chuck Spagnoli, Brian Kelly -- but Rees’ remarkable consistency is his legacy up to this point.

As for Irish Nation? The are consistent only in their inconsistency. After Tommy's touchdown to Jones, the social media see-saw had swung back around:

@ryand_flip: I love you Tommy Rees!

@ichiphop: Tommy Rees: Mr. Heisman!

Such is the life of a Notre Dame quarterback.

What Lies Ahead

At Notre Dame, nothing is promised. Everything must be earned. You are reminded of this in the post game press conference when Rees’ current coach is asked to summarize his play.

“I thought he managed the game well. Obviously the turnovers,” said Kelly, who is as demanding on quarterbacks as Steve Jobs is on middle managers. “The interception is one of those things through game panning and game film study he knew he made a mistake. This is still about repetitions, still about learning and experience.”

When you clump Kelly’s Patton-like expectations, Rees’ steady hand numbers -- 18-of-31 passing, 161 yards -- and the Irish victory, all that is guaranteed is a start in the next game (Saturday at Pittsburgh).

That’s enough for Rees, who in one year has experienced a topsy-turvy existence in South Bend: from back up, to starter, to back up and now again, to starter.

Rees wants everyone to know he’s handling the changes just fine.

“Just growing within the offense and certain game situations and preparing week-to-week,” said Rees, when asked about the difference between this year and last. “You have to come out with same work ethic and focus as you never know when your time will be.”

And with that, Tommy Rees walks away from the podium and exits through the same door he came in a few minutes before. Although the cameras are turned off, he knows better than anyone the bright lights never go away when you are the starting quarterback at Notre Dame.

Video: Tommy Rees at the podium after leading the Irish to victory.

Video: Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch with a one-on-one interview with Rees.

Photo Essay: A day with Tommy Rees in South Bend.

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