The problem with a story like this is that people do not particularly like to think. Their first snap judgement is going to be their judgement and if their predisposed to not like one of the characters, (e.g. Notre Dame), they're going to go with what they hope and not what might be the truth. He's a liar, they're liars, blah, blah.
Notre Dame was too detailed in their support of Te'o for me to think that they're anything but convinced that he's purely the victim. Plus, they've actually investigated on their own and hired an investigator - they know what the story is.
If the kid comes out and says that he was embarrassed to admit that it was an online relationship, etc., I can buy that. I'm not a Mormon, but I have always known them and they simply do things differently - a long-distance, non-physical relationship is not that uncommon. I've seen it in action and while I find it really odd, I guess some people don't.
What I would like to know and what I expect the guy will be asked is if he tried to visit her when she was so sick. Did he try to send a card? Did he have an address? Did he ever get a card or letter from her? Any voice mails saved?
Perhaps he lied, perhaps he embellished, perhaps he was straight out involved - or perhaps he'd just that gullible. It's hard to believe, but then again, those Nigerian schemes are still around because some MF'ers are stupid enough to fall for 'em. A part of the presser that I found interesting that Manti's first reaction after receiving the call in December was to try to restart the relationship....this guy might just be that dopey.
Disclaimer - I tend to tune out as soon as any details of these players' personal lives are being discussed. I hate Rick Reilly, I hate these emotionally-contrived type stories of player's enduring hardships that are nothing more than every day life and I'm just not really interested in the players past their efforts on the field....so I never knew a thing about the the Te'o girlfriend story until I saw Sportscenter tonight. Never knew he had a girlfriend or that she died or that his grandma died. Nuthin'.
Not sure how it got past me all season, but it did...but now, if you read the above, I am a self-proclaimed expert on it because this is the internet and I have the Google.
