It was reported earlier today that Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o’s girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, may have never existed and the story about her death from leukemia was made up to possibly spur his Heisman candidacy.
Coming off the shellacking they took in the BCS National Championship game, Notre Dame was quick to release an official statement regarding the story:
“On Dec. 26, Notre Dame coaches were informed by Manti Te’o and his parents that Manti had been the victim of what appears to be a hoax in which someone using the fictitious name Lennay Kekua apparently ingratiated herself with Manti and then conspired with others to lead him to believe she had tragically died of leukemia,” the statement read. “The University immediately initiated an investigation to assist Manti and his family in discovering the motive for and nature of this hoax.
“While the proper authorities will continue to investigate this troubling matter, this appears to be, at a minimum, a sad and very cruel deception to entertain its perpetrators.”
Personally, I don’t buy it. Manti’s father talked about her coming to visit, and other stories that have already been proven to be false make it sound like the whole family was in on it.
I’m ready to listen to Mel Kiper talk about his draft stock. That should be fun.
You can read the original story here.
