Manti Te'o is officially a member of Notre Dame

[Omaha 680]

I don't know if I feel bad for him yet, but you are right that he is going to be a punch line for a long time.

I feel sorry for him if this was cooked up by someone else and then he was pressured to go along with it by everyone around him after the story broke. Obviously, the right (and smart) thing to do would be to just deny the news reports and say you don't know how the rumor got started but your girlfriend didn't die.

But that might be hard for a 21 year old superstar to do if his coaches and family are telling him to do the opposite.

[Donuthole]

They kept it quiet long enough to serve their needs. It will be a Teo story with the draft but not an ND story at this point.

Did they? Manti played in the BCS Championship about the way I would expect someone who knew this shitstorm was coming to play.

[Cutty]

One of the more disturbing things about this is why in the world Sports Illustrated, Pete Thamel and a host of other so called journalists didn't even bother to fact check any of Teo's story.

[Omaha 680]

One of the more disturbing things about this is why in the world Sports Illustrated, Pete Thamel and a host of other so called journalists didn't even bother to fact check any of Teo's story.

LOL. You expect journalists to do actual research and reporting?

[DU Ute]

Teo is gay. This was just an elaborate cover story that got out of control.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

LOL. You expect journalists to do actual research and reporting?

No kidding. They get all of those eyes clicking the links for the heart warming story. Now they get all of those x2 as the pieces fall apart. Being a journalist today is no more risky than being the weatherman. Just report the facts as you know them to be and never having to worry about the apology the next day.

[BigPiney]

Q. How hard was it being focused on football but knowing that there is a bigger picture

Manti Te'o: Yeah, it was definitely hard. That has to be the hardest thing that I've had to do so far; to be able to operate, and to be able to try to continue with my daily routine, but knowing that I just lost two women that I truly loved. That was the hardest thing. And the other hardest thing was my girlfriend's service was the day of Michigan's game. And I remember when I found out I knew when they were going to close the casket and all that stuff, and it was during walk thru. And I remember I asked Coach Diaco, "Coach, what time is it?" And he said, "It's 12:01." And that would be 9:00, 9:01, California time and 9:00 is when they closed the casket for my girlfriend, so I had a moment then. But I've never felt so strong; especially strong, and I never I could never thank the student body and the fans around the world for their all love and all their prayers and support. I truly felt all of that and it's helped me to get through these past three weeks and I'm truly grateful and I'm truly humbled, and I said I can't thank them enough.

http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/100412aaa.html

How was he duped?

[Cougarmandias]

http://m.deadspin.com/5976517/manti-...ium=socialflow

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It takes real talent, Heisman level talent, to publicly embarrass two major faiths with just one athlete.

This is turning into one of my worst years as an Irish fan.

[Cutty]

The problem with the duped defense is he's been quoted saying they first met at Stanford after a football game. That would mean face to face, which isn't possible.

He's just digging himself deeper.

[Green Monstah]

http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/s...100412aaa.html

How was he duped?

So, is his motivation simply sympathy to garner Heisman votes?

So freaking bizzarre.

[Cougarmandias]

Now Notre Dame is claiming Teo was the victim of the hoax.

Wow.

Which removes any remaining doubt that there was a hoax. But that Manti was the victim and not a co-perpetrator, uh uh uh, not so fast.

His public statements about meeting the girl and calling her on the phone every night are inexplicable unless he was in on it.

[Blueintheface]

The problem with the duped defense is he's been quoted saying they first met at Stanford after a football game. That would mean face to face, which isn't possible.

He's just digging himself deeper.

Plenty more than just that instance. I'm still withholding judgment until we hear from Manti.

[falafel]

http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/s...100412aaa.html

How was he duped?

That's what I want to know. If this girl never existed, how could he have been duped into believing (1) that they were dating and that he loved her, and (2) that she died?

[Indy Coug]

The problem with the duped defense is he's been quoted saying they first met at Stanford after a football game. That would mean face to face, which isn't possible.

He's just digging himself deeper.

Did ND say the hoax involved there being no girl at all, or just that he was led to erroneously believe that the girl had died?

[SCcoug]

"Dead" "girlfriend" tweets this out a few minutes ago:

I miss you too snugglebunny RT @MTeo_5 @LennayKay I miss you!

https://twitter.com/LennayKay/status/291667906012524545