The Manti Te'o Scandal by peyton richardson

             I read on an article on Espn.com College football had an interesting week a few days ago when Notre Dame's star linebacker Manti Te'o claimed that his grandmother and girlfriend had died the previous day. The big controversy is if Manti really had a girlfriend that died.  Many people claim Manti never even had a girlfriend that could have died in the first place.  In an interview on Espn Manti said "I had a hoax played on me and I was truly heartbroken when I found out the news". I personally think Manti really had a hoax played on him even though most people think it was a big hunk of balogna.  I don't think a potential heisman trophy winner and future NFL player would lie to the press and sacrifice his reputation if he was lying.

           Although Most will agree that Manti made up this whole "internet girlfriend scandal" in order to get more attention and pity for the heisman race.  I don't think he did, there is plenty off evidence that points otherwise.  An acquaintance of Te'o confessed to orchestrating a hoax that lured Te'o into an online relationship with a nonexistent woman.  What I personally hate is the fact that an Espn reporter said "Manti would have most likely been a first round pick in the 2013 NFL draft, but this scandal will indefinately change that".  Regardless if it was a hoax or a lie, I don't think things you say should affect your football performance. Manti is a tremendous football player and in my opinion he shouldn't be punished on the field for something he said in an interview. http://search.espn.go.com/manti-te-o/