LOOK: Malik Zaire weighs in on Tommy Rees' NSFW response to Drew Pyne's slow start
Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees went viral Saturday for his expletive-filled response to quarterback Drew Pyne’s slow start to the game against Cal. That led to a response from another former Fighting Irish quarterback.
Malik Zaire, who played at Notre Dame from 2013-16, took to Twitter to defend Rees, who was caught on the NBC cameras lighting into Pyne after the Fighting Irish struggled out of the gate against Cal at Notre Dame Stadium. At the time, Rees’ offense had yet to get a first down after consecutive three-and-outs.
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“Lmao Omg Tommy is absolutely right cussing that ass out!” Zaire tweeted. “Don’t embarrass me like this!!!!”
Saturday marked Pyne’s first career start at Notre Dame as he takes over for Tyler Buchner as the Fighting Irish’s starting quarterback. Buchner suffered a shoulder sprain in last week’s loss to Marshall, and it’s next man up for Marcus Freeman’s group.
Tommy Rees has NSFW conversation with Drew Pyne after Notre Dame’s rough start
Pyne and the Notre Dame offense got off to a sluggish start early on against Cal, failing to convert on multiple third-down opportunities. At one point, Pyne headed toward the sideline and got on the phone with Rees — who calls plays from the press box — and that’s when the coach had some choice words for his quarterback.
Notre Dame is off to a rough start to the Freeman era, starting the year 0-2 with losses to Ohio State and Marshall. The latter knocked the Fighting Irish out of the AP Top 25 despite starting the year at No. 5 and keeping things close against the Buckeyes in Columbus in Week 1.
Saturday’s game against Cal presented an opportunity to right the ship, but the Golden Bears aren’t making it easy.