Tommy Rees to Alabama: Fans, media react to controversial hire
Tommy Rees to Alabama has caused a big reaction on social media.
The longtime Notre Dame assistant accepted the vacant offensive coordinator job at Alabama on Friday, per multiple reports. He’s spent the last 3 seasons as Notre Dame’s play-caller.
He replaced Bill O’Brien, who left Tuscaloosa to re-join the NFL ranks.
Rees’ hiring is one that has proven to be controversial. He’s well-thought of in the coaching community and only 30 years old, but Notre Dame’s offenses — specifically in the passing game — have lacked explosiveness with Rees calling plays.
Last season, Notre Dame ranked No. 45 nationally in yards per play with 5.92. The Fighting Irish ranked No. 43 and No. 34 nationally in that same statistic over 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Those rankings seem almost certain to improve at Alabama, given the upgrade in personnel that Rees will be coaching in Tuscaloosa. For context, Alabama averaged 6.93 yards per play in 2022, which was good enough to be ranked 8th nationally.
Here’s some of the reaction — positive and negative — from fans and media to Rees’ hiring at Alabama:
I've always felt Tommy Rees was a good playcaller. Injuries forced him to call plays with one hand tied behind his back a bit last season. It's a good hire for Alabama. No idea if it'll work out.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) February 3, 2023
Good for Tommy Rees
He’s gonna absolute slaughter it at Bama…
Hope ND finds someone really good to fill his spot.
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) February 3, 2023
Bama fans made the guy with consecutive top-6 offenses public enemy No. 1.
Tommy Rees, time to thicken that skin.
— Connor O'Gara (@cjogara) February 3, 2023
Tommy Rees might not be the splash hire that Alabama fans were really wanting
But I’d argue hiring a failed TE’s coach out of New England (Brian Daboll) and a disgraced alcoholic NFL head coach (Sark) worked out pretty damn well
Y’all gotta trust Saban more
— Nick Perkins (@NPerkins96) February 3, 2023
Let’s score some points, Tommy Rees
— Adam Weil (@AdamWeil22) February 3, 2023
Yeah Tommy Rees can play call. pic.twitter.com/biYrOUMSpJ
— TC. (@GoatLatia) February 3, 2023
What I like about the move of #Alabama hiring Tommy Rees for offensive coordinator:
1. He can develop a quarterback (Ian Book, Jack Coan).
2. His offenses get players in space and its power run to set up play-action passes.
3. He is feisty and will make adjustments.
— Stephen M. Smith (@CoachingMSmith) February 3, 2023
Tommy Rees is not the splash hire that Alabama fans were expecting. They will turn very quickly when things go south. This could get very ugly.
— Big Game Boomer (@BigGameBoomer) February 3, 2023
Tommy Rees coming in to take over for Bill O'Brien. pic.twitter.com/Sc4yBOLVBq
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) February 3, 2023
The real reason Saban hired Tommy Rees as his OC.
pic.twitter.com/XFJiWXMf2r— Alex Ansted (@AlexAnstedCFB) February 3, 2023
Now this is the energy I want Rees bringing pic.twitter.com/cNFSqFwCL8
— Barstool Bama (@BarstoolAlabama) February 3, 2023
February 3, 2023
The day Nick Saban’s Alabama dynasty died https://t.co/skHRqik4nb
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) February 3, 2023
Tommy Rees will be fine at Alabama, and Alabama will be fine with Tommy Rees.
— Barrett Sallee ?? (@BarrettSallee) February 3, 2023
1st Brian Kelly to LSU, now Tommy Rees to Alabama.
Notre Dame becoming a solid farm program for the SEC. https://t.co/Pt0inEjuQm
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) February 3, 2023
First, long time Notre Dame commit Peyton Bowen signs with Oklahoma.
Now, Jeff Lebby turns down Saban, causing St. Nick to hire Notre Dame OC Tommy Rees away from the Irish.
Ouch.
— Travis J Davidson (@TravisSkol) February 3, 2023
My take on Tommy Rees is that I didn’t even know there was a coach named Tommy Rees until yesterday so I’m just going to take the wait and see approach
— Wesley Gullett (@WesleyGullett) February 3, 2023
