Notre Dame Football News And Notes: Rees, Holtz And Saying Goodbye To The Top 25

This is where I do my best to move on from Saturday's 23-20 loss to USF. Lets begin with the cutest little QB this side of every and all Pop Warner games -- and Lake Forest native -- Tommy Rees.

*

Rees has been named the starter for the Michigan game this Saturday night in Ann Arbor. He went 24-for-34 with 296 yards passing, two touchdowns and two picks -- all in the second half -- against USF. Dayne Crist, on the other hand, went 7-for-15 with 95 yards through the air and one pick in the first.

"We try to live in the now," [Brian] Kelly said at his weekly news conference. "The 'now' for me is winning football games. Tommy Rees gives us the best chance."

Crist is clearly the more gifted athlete, but has yet to reach his potential as the heir apparent to Jimmy Clausen. I still feel there is a good QB somewhere in there, but his clock may have run out. Crist also looks like James Van Der Beek, which I find incredibly awesome. The Beek, baby.

*

Lou Holtz will become something or another for Notre Dame. I don't really get it, just read this:

Former head football coach Lou Holtz has a new position at the University of Notre Dame: He and his wife, Beth, will serve as the school's first "ambassadors for research."

The University says the Holtzes will take a prominent role in increasing awareness of the university's mission to pursue research that aims to heal, unify and enlighten the world.

Sure, why not?

*

And in "no shit" news, the Irish have fallen out of the AP top 25. They were 16th. Sigh.

*

Twitter @ZWMartin