Tommy Rees Closes Notre Dame Win, But No Irish Quarterback Controversy

Sep 8, 2012; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tommy Rees (11) throws in the fourth quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-US PRESSWIRE

Purdue’s defense lived up to the hype, holding Notre Dame to 17 points for much of the 60 minutes Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. With the game tied, Brian Kelly thought outside of the box by thinking to the bench. Starter Everett Golson sat the Fighting Irish’s final drive and 2011 starter Tommy Rees came on.

Rees was booed early in the drive, but completed three critical passes to get Kyle Brindza in range for the game-winning field goal.

Notre Dame survived a real test from a Boilermaker bunch that has the look of a contender in the Big Ten, but does Kelly have questions about the leadership of offense moving forward? Absolutely not, he said, telling NBC’s Alex Flanagan in no uncertain terms, “Everett Golson is our starting quarterback.”

Golson was effective, completing 21 passes for 288 yards and throwing no interceptions. His celebrated dual threat ability was held in check, but the same was true for the entire Fighting Irish rush game. Theo Riddick could muster only 54 yards, and was far-and-away the most effective Notre Dame ball carrier. Only TJ Jones (8) and Robby Toma (6) accrued positive yardage, and Week 1 breakout star George Atkinson was a non-factor.

Purdue proved its defensive front seven will be a force for its conference counterparts, and for Notre Dame the Boilers’ aggression required a unique approach. Enter Rees.

Kelly’s ability to call on two quarterbacks under different circumstances gives the Irish offense a tactical edge, so long as it does devolve into controversy. He made effective use of both Tony Pike and Zach Collaros after the former returned from injury in Cincinnati’s 2009, Sugar Bowl-bound campaign.

Danny Hope, on the other hand, appears to have a full-fledged controversy afoot. Caleb TerBush returned from a one-game suspension and showed obvious field rust. Robert Marve, the Week 1 starter, was much more accurate. And yet, TerBush scored the game-tying touchdown late.

The Boilers have a crucial Big Ten match-up with Michigan coming up soon. What the Purdue offense looks like by then is a storyline to follow.