SOUTH BEND -- The absence of one six-letter word in the charging
document, that had Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees' name all over it
Thursday afternoon, did more to blur the 19-year-old's football future
than clarify it.
And that's a good thing if you're Rees.
Had the Irish starting QB in 16 of the past 17 ND games been formally
charged with a felony -- and there was an open window to do so -- his
arrest in the early morning hours Thursday outside an off-campus home
on Notre Dame Avenue would likely have been the start of his career's
epitaph.
At least the part of it that took place at Notre Dame.
As it stands, the junior-to-be was charged with four misdemeanors,
three of which are of the most serious, Class A variety (two counts of
resisting arrest, one count of battery), and one that is a Class C
(underaged drinking). Rees was originally arrested on, among other
things, suspicion of battery on a police officer, which would have
been a felony.
The tipping point between felony and misdemeanor can involve things
like intent and the degree to which the officer is injured. The police
document, that had Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees' name all over it
than clarify it.
And that's a good thing if you're Rees.
Had the Irish starting QB in 16 of the past 17 ND games been formally
charged with a felony -- and there was an open window to do so -- his
arrest in the early morning hours Thursday outside an off-campus home
on Notre Dame Avenue would likely have been the start of his career's
epitaph.
At least the part of it that took place at Notre Dame.
As it stands, the junior-to-be was charged with four misdemeanors,
three of which are of the most serious, Class A variety (two counts of
resisting arrest, one count of battery), and one that is a Class C
(underaged drinking). Rees was originally arrested on, among other
things, suspicion of battery on a police officer, which would have
been a felony.
The tipping point between felony and misdemeanor can involve things
like intent and the degree to which the officer is injured. The police
