Manti Te'o

2022 - 9 - 17

Post cover — Image courtesy of "CalBearsMaven"

Notre Dame Fans React to Manti Te'o Visit in South Bend (CalBearsMaven)

The Fighting Irish legend made his first on-campus appearance in over a decade ahead of Saturday's game against California.

While some fans may choose to remember the hoax as the biggest part of his journey, Te’o will be forever remembered by Fighting Irish fans for his tenacity and dominance on the field. “But I want to make this real clear: this is not about me, this is not about one person, this is about this whole family. Te’o’s emotional return to South Bend comes amid an increased amount of interest in his history after Netflix released a documentary, titled The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist, in August.

Noie: Notre Dame still home for former Irish linebacker Manti Te'o (Notre Dame Insider)

There was no reason for Manti Te'o to let anyone outside his inner circle in, but he did Saturday back at Notre Dame Stadium, and it was pretty awesome.

Kickoff was nearly 90 minutes away, but it already had been a busy morning, a busy afternoon, a busy weekend for one of the program’s greats. When the game slowed down and he realized — even against an overmatched opponent — that he could be without peer on the football field. “I miss the Chess match that football is for me. “That’s the greatest thing about football, that’s the greatest parallel to life. On Saturday, Te’o was on campus for the fourth time since he last played his last game, when he last raced out of the north tunnel of the stadium on Senior Day, that November 2012 afternoon. Speaking to the Irish on Friday, Te’o pushed a parallel to the rough waters that engulfed him and what Notre Dame had to navigate opening 0-2. What had happened in his senior year, when finished runner-up for the Heisman Trophy and won a truckload of individual awards. For a team that entered the contest against California 0-2? The everything. The whispers. The confusion. The jokes.

WATCH: Manti Te'o makes emotional return to Notre Dame as Irish ... (CBSSports.com)

The legendary Notre Dame linebacker made the most public appearance in South Bend since his departure.

Te'o surged to superstardom for Notre Dame in his sophomore season. [Notre Dame](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/ND/notre-dame-fighting-irish/) football career amid controversy at the end of the 2012 season, linebacker Manti Te'o had not been back on the field at his alma mater in a public setting. Te'o got emotional as he and his family received a warm reception from the fans in attendance at Notre Dame. The former five-star prospect had not made a public appearance in South Bend since leading the Fighting Irish to the 2013 BCS National Championship Game. It's not about one person. It's not about me.

Everything Manti Te'o said in passionate Notre Dame football ... (On3.com)

Notre Dame legend Manti Te'o returned to South Bend to be a part of Fighting Irish game day festivities prior to taking on Cal.

You want to go far, go together. You want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. If you want to go fast, go alone. We’ll fight you in there, we’ll fight you on the road, we’ll fight you in the parking lot. But I want to know, who’s with me?

Manti Te'o Welcomed Back to Notre Dame in Emotional Ceremony ... (Bleacher Report)

The 31-year-old had a legendary career with the Fighting Irish. He won the Maxwell Award and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up as a senior in 2012, when Notre ...

We’ll fight you in there, we’ll fight you on the road, we’ll fight you in the parking lot. After leaving Notre Dame, Te'o was a second-round pick of the then-San Diego Chargers in the 2013 NFL draft. [Timothy Burke and Jack Dickey](https://deadspin.com/manti-teos-dead-girlfriend-the-most-heartbreaking-an-5976517) reported in January 2013 the woman Te'o thought he had been dating, Lennay Kekua, didn't exist and was part of an elaborate catfishing scheme. The 31-year-old had a legendary career with the Fighting Irish.

“That’s why I’m here.” @insideNDsports pic.twitter.com/xyOj0xtTWY Te'o's return comes as Notre Dame is looking to rebound from an 0-2 start.

Manti Te'o returns to Notre Dame for first time since joining NFL (Fox News)

It had been nine years since Manti Te'o had been in South Bend, but following last week's lost to Marshall, he returned to Notre Dame to hype up the crowd.

We’ll fight you in there, we’ll fight you on the road, we’ll fight you in the parking lot. "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. The horrific news was a catalyst for Te'o's Heisman-finalist season and the Irish, but it turned out she never existed. [CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM](https://www.foxnews.com/sports) "It's always good to be home," Te'o said.

WATCH: Former Saints LB Manti Te'o receives warm welcome at ... (Saints Wire)

Former Saints linebacker Manti Te'o is at peace with himself and his NFL career. On Saturday, he received a hero's welcome at Notre Dame.

He was the victim of an online catfishing scheme that did a lot to tarnish his reputation, and which became the subject of a Te’o’s career experienced highs and lows, with the linebacker earning consensus All-American honors and becoming the face of Notre Dame football before his team suffered a crushing defeat to Alabama in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game. Manti Te’o played his last down of football in the Superdome, finding a successful second life with the New Orleans Saints, but on Saturday he returned where he rose to prominence as a college star at Notre Dame.

Former ND linebacker Manti Te'o makes return to campus (WNDU-TV)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - Notre Dame athletes of the past and present were back on campus Saturday to check out this year's Fighting Irish football team, ...

Trying to be a great leader on and off the football field and try to affect people in a positive way. And I think people have really resonated with the kind of gems that were on the documentary, and that’s all I really wanted.” “It’s actually reminded me of pre-2013 of how it was, you know, just trying to be a good human being.

Manti Te'o back at Notre Dame, and finally at peace (On3.com)

Former Irish linebacker Manti Te'o was back on campus this weekend to visit with the 2022 Notre Dame team and meet head coach Marcus Freeman.

He owns and operates a trucking company to pay the bills and he also recently joined the Transcend team, a Telehealth provider that exclusively works with athletes. “Just somebody that you would literally do anything for,” Te’o said of his first impressions of the new Irish skipper. I was at peace with where my life was, and what could be for the rest of my life,” Te’o shared. And it’s good for people, and for me, to be reminded of that. “But with the opportunity that Netflix presented where they’re saying, ‘Hey, we’re telling the full story.’ I said, ‘Let’s do this.’ “I’m the same guy that I was here [at Notre Dame].

Manti Te'o gets a hero's welcome at Notre Dame on emotional return ... (Daily Mail)

Former football player Manti Te'o made his first public appearance at Notre Dame since being the victim of a high-profile catfishing scheme involving a fake ...

Seen is the woman he believed to be Kekua He told the crowd at a Notre Dame football game on September 12 that he had suffered from the loss of his girlfriend and grandmother on the same day - and was branded as a hero for continuing to play despite mourning their deaths. Te'o met the woman, who he believed to be a 22-year-old student named Lennay Kekua, online in late 2011, and the athlete quickly fell for her. It's about this whole family.' But I want to make this real clear: It's not about me. It's not about one person.

Manti Te'o

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