It was just over 3
years ago that I met Manti Te’o. It was probably 11 PM, and he walked into Nick’s
Patio, a local late-night hot spot that attracts droves of hungry undergrads.
Some football players were grabbing some late-night grub after the beginning of
the first week of preseason camp. Recognizing Manti from the über-hype, I
approached him and asked him for his autograph. I wished him the best of luck starting
his career.
When I returned to my
table, I told the people I was with that that kid was going to be great.
We didn’t have a
profound conversation or talk about football, but I could tell that anyone who
had been the talk of ESPN recruiting analysts for months and still carry
himself with humility and class would be a perfect storm for a college program.
And he has proved to be over the last 4 seasons here in South Bend. Te’o has
proved to be a star on and off the field. Te’o will garner much attention as an
almost certain first-team All American this year, but that’s not even half of
who this stout Hawaiian is. As a Notre Dame student, he has been an active
member of his dorm, community service within the athletic department, and a
devout member of his church, the church of Latter Day Saints. Notre Dame
Football Coach Brian Kelly calls him a “once in a lifetime athlete,” and
Athletics Director Jack Swarbrick says he epitomizes everything a Notre Dame
student athlete should be.
And this pillar of
the Notre Dame community has endured great heartache in the last week. As has
been well documented, his grandmother and his girlfriend both died last week.
Suddenly the anchor of a defense, and in many ways, a student body, has needed
people to lean on. And people have responded. Friends and “foes” (opposing
fans) have reached out to Te’o offering prayers and support for this loyal son
Notre Dame. And certainly, we at Play Like a Champion Today® echo those
sentiments. To be put through such a trial during a year that should be marked
by success and fun is no easy task, and Manti is dealing with it with pure
grace. When a reporter asked him after the Michigan State game that the Irish
won 20-3 could have gone better, he responded "Yeah,
I could call my girlfriend right now and talk about the game.” He continued, "but I've just got to
get on my knees, say a prayer and I can talk to her that way.”
Through this incredibly
tough time, I, an ND grad, am tempted to say that Manti Te’o is lucky to be a
Notre Dame student, and to have the love of so many peers that is a hallmark of
the this school. But getting to see how this young man reacts to adversity,
success, pain, and glory lets me know that we are the lucky ones to call him
friend, player and brother.
