What Notre Dame OC Tommy Rees said about viral video yelling at Drew Pyne
Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has jokes. And a pretty solid poker face.
Rees was asked about the viral video of him yelling at Notre Dame quarterback Drew Pyne through a press box telephone to where Pyne was standing on the sideline in South Bend in the first half of Notre Dame’s 24-17 victory over California. It doesn’t take an expert lip-reader to decipher what Rees said — er, screamed — to the junior.
“Do your (bleeping) job! The whole (bleeping) team is counting on you!”
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Rees addressed the moment in a press conference Tuesday. He commended Pyne for being able to handle and respond to such a style of coaching. Before he did so, though, he looked at the reporter who asked the question and said, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Hence, the jokes. And the poker face.
“Certain guys need certain types of coaching in certain moments,” Rees said in all seriousness. “I’m not proud of the language I used, but I know Drew can seek out and handle tough coaching and things to kind of light a fire and create a sense of urgency. In that moment, we felt like it was the right thing for the right player.”
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Pyne was 3-of-8 for 19 yards and zero touchdowns before the chewing-out session. He went 14-of-15 for 131 yards and two touchdowns after it. He helped Notre Dame secure its first victory of the season with a go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown pass to tight end Michael Mayer.
“I respond well to hard coaching,” Pyne said after the game. “Coach Rees, I’ve known him for seven or eight years. He just wants me to be at my best. I prepared so hard, and to come out a little slow, that’s not the standard he holds me to and that’s not the standard I hold myself to. Coming out and finishing and never giving up and coming back in the second half is the standard he holds me to.”
“He responded the way we counted on him to,” Rees added. “I’m proud of him for that. Again, not proud of my language. I’m proud that Drew and I have a relationship where there is an immense amount of trust and he knows that when urgency needs to be reiterated, it can be and our players trust and respond the right way.”
The first road start of Pyne’s career comes this Saturday against North Carolina (3-0). The Tar Heels opened their season on a tear and are averaging 547.3 yards and 51.3 points per game. The former ranks fifth nationally. The latter ranks sixth. The Notre Dame offense has struggled, meanwhile, with 300.3 yards and 18.3 points per game. Those numbers rank No. 114 and No. 115 in the country, respectively.
Pyne and the Irish have their work cut out for them in Chapel Hill.
