Write a fun intro, throw up some news links from the college football world, highlight some football games, predict the score of the Notre Dame game, suggest a beer, and mix it all together with some humor.
That’s the usual format for the Roundup, but this week is different. In just a few hours, a young man member of the Notre Dame family had his life turned upside down. This week, Manti Te’o has to deal with not just the opposing Michigan State offense, but the deaths of his grandmother and girlfriend (or close female friend depending on who you read; however, any debates on such semantics are really meaningless in a situation like this).
So gone is my initial idea for a rant against ESPN and anyone else having severe confusion on our football independence, relevance, or whatever else might get try to generate pageviews for their particular media outlet. Instead, this week’s Roundup will be dedicated to Manti Te’o.
I can’t even imagine the emotions that Te’o is dealing with right now. I have lost someone close to me, but never could I imagine losing two in such a short period of time. Nor could I imagine doing so while being under one of the brightest spotlights in the college football world. And to top it all off, have to go and play a game against the toughest opponent that Notre Dame has faced yet.
However, I do not need to imagine what Te’o has meant to this team and this program during his time here. From his unlikely commitment to the Irish over Southern Cal after an embarrassing loss to Syracuse (a game in which he left early), to his dominance on the field, his rise as a leader, and his return to the Irish for his senior season, Te’o has given fans plenty to cheer for.
With all he has given us, a few hundred words and a few links in his time of need is the least I can do to honor him.
Stay strong, Manti. You are in the thoughts and prayers of the entire Notre Dame family, whether they are your teammates, your classmates, alumni, or subway alumni.
The Roundup
It’s always good to start at the beginning. Relive the moment when Manti Te’o signed his letter of intent for the Irish.
Related: it’s amazing just how close he was to committing to Southern Cal. Te’o was all but ready to sign on for the Trojans…until he changed his mind at the last minute.
Of course there was that other pleasant surprise. Te’o had every reason to go to the NFL, but he stayed at Notre Dame for his own.
The Te’o style of leadership: Gain respect by destroying opponents. Effective.
Want a good reason why that whole Weis guys/Kelly guys thing was overblown? He stuck up for one of “Kelly’s guys” — even though he had left he program.
Of course, Te’o probably empathized a lot with Lynch. Te’o’s time at ND was far from easy during his first couple of years.
And if he’s going to stay his senior year, he’s going to do it right. Te’o wants to win — to return Notre Dame to glory.
Need another great Te’o retrospective? One Foot Down has you covered.
Put These Games on Your Radar
#2 USC @ #21 Stanford, 7:30pm EST, FOX – Twibby’s Marquee Matchup of the Week coincidentally featuring the school that Te’o turned down for the Irish.
#25 BYU @ Utah, “The Holy War”, 10:00pm EST, ESPN/WatchESPN – Mormon kids are almost expected to go to a Mormon school, but Te’o broke the mold. As far as the game goes, it’s a ND opponent involved in one of the most underrated rivalries in college football.
Games that have zero connection to Te’o and I’m not going to try:
- #1 Alabama @ Arkansas, 3:30pm EST, CBS
- #18 Florida vs #23 Tennessee, 6pm EST, ESPN/WatchESPN
Predictions
Tex: 16 -10 Sparty – looking for another game full of defensive prowess and/or offensive struggles. Sparty barely edges us here.
Biscuit: 17 – 13 ND – Via
Bayou: 27-17 ND – This is Golson’s breakout game. Kelly lets him run every play in the book, but not every play in the game, as Tommy Rees trots out from time to time to make ND Nation wonder and to really mess with MSU’s defensive strategies. Still, it’s the Everett Golson show, and he runs, pitches and passes his way to a (*cough*) Heisman-discussion performance. Wood comes back with a chip on his shoulder and our D-line spends more time in Sparty’s backfield than Bell does.
Twibby: 24-20 Sparty
Grantland-X: 27-20 ND – My season predictions have been decent so far even if my score predictions haven’t. I had MSU taking this one before the Irish start a 7 game win streak…but f#&k that.
Closest to the Pin for Week 2: This one wasn’t even close. We all pretty much had big ND wins, but Biscuit was the only one that called a close struggle and he damn near nailed the score, joining myself at the top of the prediction pack at one a piece.
The Beer
Now, I understand Mormons aren’t allowed to drink, but Te’o is now in his fourth year at an Irish Catholic school, so I’m pretty sure he is used to the thought of the rest of us drinking. In his honor, I’m heading to Hawaii in which I’ve discovered the following brew from the Kona Brewing Company:
Fire Rock Pale Ale, a beer named after the volcanoes of Hawaii that features a unique amber color that is almost red — plus I found a picture of it being served in a Guinness glass. Much like Te’o, this was choice was destiny.
Texan by birth, Irish by choice.
First-generation Domer and a former student manager, HLS podcast host, HLS Sim creator, Extra Life streamer, and technical problem haver. You can find more non-Notre Dame related writing on his Patreon.
- Epilogue - January 3, 2022
- HLS Podcast Finale - January 2, 2022
- The Final Fiesta: Notre Dame vs Oklahoma State NCAA ’14 Sim - December 31, 2021
