Bowl Storylines

As the weekend approaches and the match up against the Scarlet Knights nears in the Pinstripe Bowl there are a few things that will play out at the season comes to an official end Saturday afternoon.

Swan Song for Tommy Rees.  For four years Irish fans have cheered and jeered number 12.  When Rees appeared as a freshman he may not have been looked upon as a physically dominant signal caller however he seemed to have enough excitement to have the Notre Dame faithful saying things like “hey he’s only a freshman he could…”  However whether you feel he got a fair shake or not he has bailed out the Irish as much as he has blew it for them.  Statistically he will rank as one of the top Notre Dame Quarterbacks of all time.  Love him or hate him The Pinstripe Bowl will be the last time he takes the field for Her Loyal Sons.  I predict he will end his career with a win.

Possibly the last game in an Irish uniform for Stephon Tuitt.  My gut says that Tuitt has already made up his mind on whether he will stay or go.  I would suspect one way or another good or bad the past two years of the Louis Nix era has influenced him.  Stay; get your degree, re-elevate your NFL stock, comeback for another championship run.  Leave; make millions now, don’t risk injury in college, don’t risk your NFL stock dropping.  It could go either way but if I had to bet I would bet Saturday will be his last game for the Irish.

A look ahead to Notre Dame’s future Offensive Line.  Out; Chris Watt, Nick Martin and Christian Lombard.  In; True freshman Steve Elmer, Redshirt freshman Mark Harrell and Redshirt Sophomore Conor Hanratty.  Yes down the line Elmer will be joined along the offensive line by fellow classmates Hunter Biven, Mike McGlinchey, Colin McGovern and John Montelus but for now we will get a bit of a sneak peek into next season.

A tryout for Cooks and Denbrock.  With the departures of Chuck Martin and Bob Diaco Kelly has moved, at least for the interim two of his other coaches into coordinator positions.  There has been and will be speculations as to what Brian Kelly will do to fill both his Offensive and Defensive Coordinator positions, stay in house or look outside the family.  Kelly has a history of promoting from within so bother Kerry Cooks and Mike Denbrock could have the inside track.