Tag: Tommy rees

Tommy Rees emerges as candidate to replace Nick Saban

Alabama head coach Tommy Rees?

When Nick Saban shocked the college football world by announcing his retirement on Wednesday it was a matter of minutes until national writers mentioned Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman as a potential candidate.

As it turns out it is a former Marcus Freeman assistant that is the actual candidate.

Tommy Rees, who left his post as Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator almost exactly a year ago, has reportedly interviewed for the opening.  The following is from a report on Football Scoop:

Among those emerging as serious contenders along the lines of earning interviews: Washington coach Kalen DeBoer, Florida State coach Mike Norvell and incumbent Tide offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.

Just 31, Rees is the youngest among the Tide candidates. He’s also a former Broyles Award finalist, an ex-Notre Dame quarterback and long considered among the sharpest young offensive minds in football. His father, Bill, is a legendary collegiate and NFL personnel expert.

Rees owns NFL experience, and he’s burnished his coaching chops with offensive coordinator stops at two of the most high-profile spots in all of football: his alma mater, Notre Dame, from 2020-22, and this past season at Alabama. He helped Jalen Milroe engineer a remarkable turnaround at quarterback for the Tide, which upended Georgia in the SEC Championship and took Michigan to overtime in the CFP before losing to the top-seeded Wolverines.

I would be shocked if Rees ends up getting it but the fact he’s already interviewed for the opening is more of a chance than I would have initially given him.

Guys like Dan Lanning at Oregon and Steve Sarkisian at Texas have carved their own programs out while a guy like Rees certainly hasn’t seeing as he’s never been a head coach.

I still think until we actually hear Lane Kiffin take himself out of the running that he’s the man to beat but the fact Rees is seemingly still being considered certainly is a wild card I didn’t see as a possibility.

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Social media speculates on Tommy Rees following Nick Saban’s retirement

What happens to Tommy Rees now?

It was only a year ago that Tommy Rees left Notre Dame to become the offensive coordinator on Nick Saban’s Alabama staff.

Fast forward to today. Nick Saban has retired and the future of Tommy Rees has become a question across college football. The up-and-comer played quarterback at Notre Dame and eventually became the quarterbacks coach and play-caller for the Fighting Irish.

What does the future look like for Tommy Rees?

Does he stay on the new head coach’s staff in Tuscaloosa?

Does he join Brian Kelly’s staff at LSU?

Does he find a way into the NFL?

Social media was abuzz about Rees following the Saban retirement news.  Here are some of the best reactions.

Oklahoma’s five-star quarterback who almost chose Notre Dame

The dorm life at Notre Dame isn’t for everyone…

Oklahoma rising-sophomore quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] enrolled early and will enter 2024 as the starter in Norman.

Arnold was ranked a five-star quarterback and a top 10 player nationally in the 2023 recruiting class by 247Sports. He was heavily pursued by [autotag]Tommy Rees[/autotag] and Notre Dame.

Notre Dame almost landed Arnold, too, but something very specific about the campus didn’t sit well with him. Arnold was on the “Red Dirt Rambles” podcast and shared just how close he was to wearing blue and gold.

“If I wasn’t here, I’d probably be at Notre Dame right now,” Arnold said. “If (Jeff Lebby) didn’t get hired here or if it were a different coach other than Coach (Brent Venables), who knows where I’d be right now?”

Teammate and wide receiver target Nic Anderson co-hosts the podcast and shared how close he was to going to Notre Dame as well.

“I almost went to Notre Dame, but their dorms scared me away,” said Anderson, who also mentioned not being a fan of their public bathrooms. “That’s what scared me because I’m low key a germaphobe. … But it didn’t end up being the determining factor.”

Arnold started the Alamo Bowl in December against Arizona. He had ups and downs, completing 26 of 45 passes for 361 yards and two touchdowns while also throwing three interceptions in the loss.

After Arnold turned down Notre Dame, the Irish staff turned their focus elsewhere for a quarterback in the class, ultimately getting a commitment from [autotag]Kenny Minchey[/autotag].

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Notre Dame dropped recruiting ball on Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy

Would probably like to have this one back…

It has been said that one man’s trash can be another man’s treasure.

Perhaps that is the perfect way to describe Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy who was a Notre Dame recruit roughly a half-decade ago.

McCarthy originally played his high school football at Nazareth Academy in the Chicago suburbs (same school as Notre Dame great Julian Love) before spending his senior year at IMG Academy in Florida. He was right in Notre Dame’s back yard and seemed to love the school.

McCarthy made several reported trips to Notre Dame during his high school career as a recruit but never received a scholarship offer. Instead, Brian Kelly and Tommy Rees put their quarterback recruiting chips in the basket of Tyler Buchner in the 2021 class.

McCarthy wound up at Michigan and has his team playing for a national championship. He very well could enter the NFL draft and make a handsome amount of professional money.

If you can stomach it Notre Dame fans, below are a few quotes from McCarthy himself about the excitement of being pitched by Notre Dame back in the day and what might have been.

Michigan-Alabama: Social media reacts to Tommy Rees’ fourth-and-goal call

Tough one for Tommy…

Few, if any College Football Playoff games all time came with the hype that No. 1 Michigan against No. 4 Alabama in the Rose Bowl did this season.  And as it turned out, the game lived up to the hype, going into overtime before being decided.

Michigan scored on its possession of overtime, and then Alabama moved the ball inside the Wolverines 5-yard line before stalling. The Crimson Tide faced a fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line when quarterback Jalen Milroe ran a keeper. He was met and stopped in the backfield to secure the Michigan win.

A look at the replay shows a low snap and an offensive line from Alabama that was manhandled on the play (and for much of the game).  However, that didn’t stop college football fans on social media from being ticked at former Notre Dame quarterback and play-caller Tommy Rees, who is now Alabama’s offensive coordinator. Check out some of the best/worst social media had to offer below:

Fans demolished Alabama for its horrific fourth-down play call that lost the Rose Bowl

What was that?!?!

The Alabama Crimson Tide lost out at a chance to play for another national title with one of the worst play calls you’ll see this college football season.

On as crucial a fourth-and-three as you can possibly face in football, Alabama had to get three yards into the end zone to tie up the Rose Bowl with Michigan to keep overtime going.

Well, rather than do something even remotely innovative, Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees called a play where quarterback Jalen Milroe ran right into a host of Michigan defenders for an easy stop.

Milroe had no chance as he was immediately tackled, as Alabama basically gifted Michigan its national championship berth with the call.

A low snap for Alabama didn’t help matters, but this still just boggles the mind for your play call in such a critical moment.

As you could imagine, college football fans ripped Alabama for such a baffling decision with one of the best scrambling quarterbacks in the country.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN.

Social media goes wild over what Bill O’Brien told Jalen Milroe

Bill O’Brien told quarterback Jalen Milroe that he should consider switching positions… social media shares hilarious reactions

Bill O’Brien has had success at both the collegiate level and in the NFL as a head coach and coordinator. However, Alabama fans were not too fond of him during his two years in Tuscaloosa as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator. Now, they have another reason to not be his biggest fans.

During media availability ahead of the College Football Playoff Rose Bowl semifinal, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe went public with a bombshell a statement: O’Brien told Milroe that he should consider switching positions.

The starting quarterback for the Tide during O’Brien’s tenure at Alabama was Heisman winner and first overall pick in the NFL draft, Bryce Young. Milroe was serving as QB2 for the team and appeared in games after, even starting against Texas A&M one week while Young was out with a shoulder injury.

It appears that O’Brien strongly doubted what Milroe, who finished No. 6 in the final 2023 Heisman voting, could do at the helm of an offense. Now, Milroe has Tommy Rees calling the offense for the Crimson Tide and he has flourished as a passer and leader.

Fans were quick to take to social media to share their thoughts on what O’Brien said to Milroe.

Everything Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees ahead of Rose Bowl

Quotes from Tommy Rees ahead of Alabama’s Rose Bowl matchup against Michigan

On Thursday, Alabama football offensive coordinator Tommy Rees met with the media ahead of the Crimson Tide’s College Football Playoff semifinal matchup against the Michigan Wolverines on New Year’s Day in Pasadena.

This was Rees’ first press conference since his media availability before the 2023 season began.

Rees took some early season heat from fans and analysts around the country for the Crimson Tide’s struggles, but those negative opinions quickly faded once Rees got comfortable in the Alabama system with Jalen Milroe as his quarterback.

Below is everything Coach Rees had to say ahead of Monday’s matchup against No. 1 Michigan for a chance to advance to the national championship.

Notre Dame Football: 7 Reasons to Love Mike Denbrock Hiring

We don’t like it, we love it.

Notre Dame football and Marcus Freeman decided to swing for the fences with their new offensive coordinator search and it appears they connected, launching the pitch out of the ballpark.

Although it hasn’t been made official yet, reports from multiple outlets are out that Notre Dame is set to hire Mike Denbrock from LSU for the same role.

For Denbrock, its a return to his Midwest roots but also Notre Dame where he has had two previous stops.

Notre Dame fans were thrilled upon hearing the news, taking to social media and celebrating in the same way they would following a big win on Saturday.

So why are they so excited?

Here are 7 reasons to love Notre Dame’s hire of Mike Denbrock.

Notre Dame football: 11 offensive coordinators candidates to replace Gerad Parker

Who do you want to be Notre Dame’s next offensive coordinator?

Paint it any way you want it, but Notre Dame football landed great news on Monday.  Offensive coordinator Gerad Parker was named Troy’s new head coach.

No, it’s not ideal that Notre Dame will now be on their third offensive play caller in the past four seasons, but its a spot the Irish coaching staff could upgrade and now they’re forced to.

Reports are out from various outlets that Marcus Freeman has his eyes on a certain external candidate.  Who exactly that is may be remains to be seen.  And just because Freeman may have his eye on someone doesn’t mean that its all a race for one guy.

So who are some names to keep an eye on in regards to Notre Dame’s next offensive coordinator?  We’ve compiled 11.