Pride Pushes Te'o To Greatness

He's more than just a big man on campus.

Manti Te'o is Notre Dame's Big Kahuna.

The junior Irish linebacker is the most popular export from paradise since pineapples and the Elvis Presley Classic, "Blue Hawaii."

Here on the mainland, or any other land, the 6-foot-2, 255-pound Te'o is special.

He's a tackling machine, fueled by skill and precision. Every stop is a clinic, heavy on fundamentals.

Te'o is so good, Notre Dame football fans might be tempted to take him for granted. Opposing offenses certainly won't.

If he's not making 21 tackles, like he did last season against Stanford, Te'o's efforts risk being considered pedestrian.

In last week's win over Purdue, Te'o had eight tackles. Hardly eye-popping. But with three tackles for loss, including a sack, his performance caught the attention of head coach Brian Kelly.

"He might have had his best game against Purdue," Kelly said. "He was very detailed. He's never a guy we worry about in terms of how he's going to play. Sometimes he tries to do too much. I thought that was his most disciplined game.

"He can recognize things before they happen. That's film study. The really great players have that."

Te'o had somewhat of a challenge going into the Purdue game. Coaches didn't hesitate to remind him that last year's season-opener against Purdue may have been his worst game.

"We talked about (how bad he played against Purdue last year)," said Irish defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Bob Diaco. "He had a lot of opportunity for production that didn't happen."

"I obviously understand what kind of game I had last year," Te'o said. "It wasn't the kind of game I want to have. I was just looking to get better, make sure it didn't happen again."

While cutting his teeth as a big-time contributor within the Notre Dame defense last year, Te'o dealt with growing pains. Consistency suffered. One time he'd lay the wood. The next, he'd whiff.

"We identified liabilities in every single player," Diaco said. "The players that are really at the top of their game, it's easy to just overlook them and focus on ...

"(Te'o) had things in his scheme that he needed to clean up. In the offseason, I made a cut-up of plays of just him and gave him an opportunity to watch it. It made a pretty big impact on him. From that moment, he's made a concerted effort, not only to do the things that we're working on, but he takes a lot of time and focuses on his liabilities - angles, foot action, transition from speed to power. He's basically eradicated that from his game."

"That cut-up (Diaco) made, showed me the mistakes I made," Te'o said. "It started from my angles. I got to see what happened. When you look at it like that, you can visualize, analyze and correct it. My dad (Brian) helped me a lot, reminding me of basic tackling fundamentals.

"I'm still trying to find a balance (in tackling). I'm trying to knock somebody out every time I hit them. I'm learning, when I'm in space and it's open-field tackling, it's not necessarily smart to try to take somebody's head off.

"If there's an opportunity to take somebody out, I'll take advantage of that. If it's open-field and I need to get the guy down, I'll get the guy down."

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Manti Te'o Is Becoming the Face of the Irish

Over the years, when someone mentioned the face of Notre Dame football, offensive players usually came to mind.

In the late 80's into the 90's, names like Tony Rice, Rocket Ismail and Ricky Watters, more recently Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija, Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate.

As the 2010 season is winding down, the new face of the Irish appears to be sophomore inside linebacker Manti Te'o.

The 6'2, 245-pound former USA Today Prep Defensive Player of The Year has been the one constant over the past two seasons. Te'o is the first Defensive Player of The Year to sign with Notre Dame since Kory Minor in 1995, and has lived up to his top billing from Day 1.

Te'o started 10 games as a freshman and finished with 63 tackles, third most ever by a Notre Dame freshman, he was named a Freshman All-American by College Football News.

Although there were some concerns even during the recruiting process that Te'o would leave school after his freshman year to pursue a two-year Mormon mission, he announced that he would complete his education and deal with his religious obligations later in life.

Although Te'o was still learning a new defensive coming into the 2010 season, his natural ability carried him to the rapidly improved workhorse that we see today.

It had been duly noted that Te'o was basically playing on instinct as a freshman and with more knowledge of the defense, he could become the force that we see today.

Those predictions were correct. Te'o has 100 total tackles after 10 games this season, including a season-high 21 vs. Stanford.

With Te'o as the face of the organization, the shift to a defensive-minded team will help in the recruiting of better players on the defensive side of the ball.

Getting to line up with Te'o, Carlo Calabrese, and Prince Shembo has to sound extremely inviting to commitments such as Stephon Tuitt (6'5 260-pound defensive end), Tony Springmann (6'6, 257-pound defensive end) and four-star defensive back Eilar Hardy (6'1, 175 pounds).

Coaches Kelly and Molnar will see to it that the offense is that explosive point-scoring machine that we were looking forward to.

In a short time, the offense will take care of itself, but the long-lasting effects of Manti Te'o will live on long after he is playing on Sundays.

The scary thing is is Te'o is still a sophomore, and he is still learning. His second and third effort to finish a play is starting to become "buzz worthy." The sky is the limit for Te'o during the second half of his collegiate career.

Te'o, who hails from Laie, Hawaii, surprised many people when he chose Notre Dame over warm weather schools USC and UCLA, but his style of play has come as no surprise.

This highly decorated linebacker is exactly the type of player that the Irish need to base their future on. 

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Irish Want More From Te'o

The lessons learned have become more abstract, the critiques of his game more nuanced.

That's the aftermath of Manti Te'o's 21-tackle performance last weekend, the fifth-most stops in a game by a Notre Dame player ever.

To call the sophomore a finished product ignores the fact he's at the center of a defense on pace to smash last year's all-time high mark for yardage conceded. But to tag Te'o as anything but a revelation undersells just how good the former five-star recruit has been.

Te'o leads the nation with 54 total tackles. That puts him on pace for 162 stops in a 12-game season and would make him the most productive sophomore in Irish history. He's 20 tackles ahead of runner-up Harrison Smith, a sign that at least Notre Dame won't have a safety leading the team in stops for a third straight year.

But consider Bob Diaco immune to Manti Mania.

"He's playing good," said the Irish defensive coordinator. "He's making mistakes that need to get corrected.

He's got a long way to go. You can see how some of the things that he's doing in the game create a problem ? even with as productive as he was."

Diaco pointed to plays only a coordinator would notice, Te'o taking a misstep at the snap that sends the running back in the direction opposite Notre Dame's play call intended. Ask Te'o about his mistakes and he went small picture, pointing to his facemask penalty in the fourth quarter with the Stanford game out of hand.

Inside the Irish red zone Te'o latched on to running back Stepfan Taylor's grill, dragging him down. After the tackle Te'o looked over at the officials, making the kind of eye contact that guilty parties do.

"I shouldn't have looked at him, because right when I looked at him, he looked at me and he pulled his flag," Te'o said. "I was like, dang it, you got me. So I know now not to look at the ref when I accidentally grab a facemask."

Actually, Brian Kelly wants more facemask grabbing by Te'o, just of Notre Dame's other players. If somebody can bring the Irish defense along for the rise, it's the guy who's supposed to lead the team in tackles anyway. And for Notre Dame's it's a long, long rise considering the Irish rank among college football's dregs in most categories.

Kelly said he'll be pushing Te'o forward as an example of what he wants not just in a linebacker, but in a player. Te'o said he's willing to take on a new role if necessary, which doesn't mean he's exactly jumping at it.

"We always look at the grading of (players) relative to can they influence others around them?" Kelly said. "I think he's starting to get to that point where if his play is as consistent as it is, he then starts to influence others. That's a dynamic place to be."

While Kelly and Diaco insisted Te'o dropping running backs by the dozen is a good thing and not a commentary on Notre Dame's others defenders, balance isn't a bad thing either.

Last year's national leader in tackles was Carmen Messina, who played for 1-11 New Mexico. Of the nation's Top 10 tacklers last season, five played for losing teams. On the flip side, Alabama, Florida and Texas didn't have a single player among the nation's Top 100 tacklers. Cincinnati has two within a defense ranked in college football's top half in just one major category, scoring at No. 44.

Te'o's output is certainly a start, but Notre Dame needs some of its other defensive players to approach their star linebacker's production, even if matching him stop for stop is asking a too much.

"What we're trying to do more than anything else is talk about the difference between playing hard and playing with that will, that tenacity, that attitude of I'm going to just lay it on the line," Kelly said. "I think that's what we're looking for from Manti. That's what he delivered. If that gets modeled by other players, we're just better because of it."

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Ton of Tackles, Little Else For Te'o

Manti Te’o talked about his love of the game Saturday night, all the while trying to hide how much his heart was breaking.

The sophomore from Laie, Hawaii, had just recorded a career-high 21 tackles in a 37-14 deflating courtesy of No. 16 Stanford, Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.

It was the most tackles by an Irish player since safety Chinedum Ndukwe collected 22 in a win at Air Force four seasons ago. Clearly, Te’o took no solace in his personal quantum leap forward.

“It doesn’t matter if you have 100 tackles,” Te’o said. “If you don’t win the game, it doesn’t mean anything.”

Notre Dame’s defense held the nation’s No. 3 scoring offense to 19 points until midway through the fourth quarter, and Te’o was a big reason.

“He played with a will today,” Irish coach Brian Kelly said of his 6-foot-2, 245-pound middle linebacker.

“He had a look on his face, a toughness to him that he hasn't displayed since he's been a player here at Notre Dame. Today is one of those watershed moments for a defensive player that we can model.”

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Across the Nation: Tracking Hawaii's Athletes

Manti Te'o

» Notre Dame sophomore linebacker Manti Te'o (Punahou '09) had a team-high 13 tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup in a 28-24 loss to Michigan on Saturday.

B.J. Beatty

Aaron Tipoti

Michael Sipili

» Colorado linebacker Michael Sipili (Damien '06) finished with five tackles, including 1 1/2 for loss, and B.J. Beatty (Kahuku '06) had two tackles, including half a sack, in a 52-7 loss to California on Saturday. Defensive lineman Aaron Tipoti (Word of Life '08) recorded a tackle for the Golden Bears.

Kama Bailey

Jojo Dickson

Robert Siavii

» Idaho junior linebacker Robert Siavii (Leilehua '08) had eight tackles, three forced fumbles, two tackles for loss and a sack in a 38-17 loss to Nebraska on Saturday. Senior Jojo Dickson (Baldwin '07) had seven tackles and running back Kama Bailey (Damien '08) had five carries for 20 yards and two receptions for six yards in the loss.

Lolomana Mikaele

Bryson Beirne

» Arizona sophomore quarterback Bryson Beirne (Mid-Pacific '07) completed all five passes for 33 yards and a touchdown in a 52-6 win over The Citadel on Saturday. Senior defensive tackle Lolomana Mikaele (Damien '06) added five tackles for the Wildcats.

Semisi Tokolahi

» Washington sophomore defensive tackle Semisi Tokolahi (Hilo '09) had two tackles, including one for loss, and a forced fumble in a 41-20 win over Syracuse on Saturday. Safety Taz Stevenson (Mililani '10) recorded his first collegiate tackle on special teams for the Huskies.

Jeremiah Masoli

» Mississippi senior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (Saint Louis '06) finished 14-for-20 for 281 yards and a touchdown and ran for 27 yards and another score in a 27-13 win over Tulane on Saturday.

Sam Fehoko

» Texas Tech defensive end Scott Smith (Saint Louis '07) had three tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a 52-17 win over New Mexico. Sam Fehoko (Farrington '07) also had a tackle for Texas Tech.

Adam Sagapolutele-White

Cameron Higgins

» Weber State senior quarterback Cameron Higgins (Saint Louis '06) finished 33-for-54 for 340 yards and four touchdowns in a 50-47 four-overtime win over Northern Colorado on Saturday. Adam Sagapolutele-White (Saint Louis '09) added nine tackles for the Wildcats. Sophomore kicker Mason Puckett (Leilehua '09) was 5-for-5 on extra points and made field goals of 19 and 24 yards for the Bears, but missed a 42-yard field goal that would have sent the game into a fifth overtime.

» Pacific Lutheran senior Kyle Whitford (Punahou '07) caught the game-winning 9-yard touchdown pass to give the Lutes a 27-20 victory over Hamline (Minn.) on Saturday. Freshman Sean McFadden (Punahou '10) had 11 tackles and senior defensive back Vance Louie (Hilo '07) chipped in with nine tackles and a pass breakup for the Lutes.

» Mayville (N.D.) State freshman kicker Tyler Yamanouchi (Pearl City '10) was 4-for-4 on extra-point tries and kicked a 45-yard field goal in a 31-0 victory over Trinity Bible College on Saturday.

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Te'o Feels @ Home With Notre Dame

Manti Te'o left the beautiful vistas, the sand and the ocean of his native Hawaii for a long journey to Indiana, where he's found peace and a new home as the leader of Notre Dame's defense.

As a Mormon, there is much more to his life than just knocking down ball carriers as a linebacker. There is self-discovery, sacrifice and an inner discipline.

"Faith is a high priority up here," Te'o said of Notre Dame, a Catholic institution. "Coach Kelly said no matter what your religion, it's a very special place and you can grow spiritually here."

A highly regarded prep recruit from Punahou High School — a guy named Barack Obama attended the same school — Te'o came to Notre Dame despite the lure of places closer to home like, say, Southern California. And after an adjustment period, he made an impact last season when he started 10 games and had 63 tackles, the third-best total by a Notre Dame freshman.

"I've always said it was a hard decision for me to leave home," Te'o said. "Leave all my friends and my family and come all the way here. Usually guys from Hawaii will go somewhere near home, but for me I stepped out of my comfort zone and blazed my own trail.

"I learned that I'm more independent than I thought I was. I can depend on myself. I can clearly just be my own man. It took some time, but I had to find myself here, just be comfortable and make this my home."

After that first season when the Irish finished 6-6 in what would be coach Charlie Weis' final campaign, Te'o had another difficult decision — continue with football or go on a Mormon mission. In December, he announced he would come back to school and play for new coach Brian Kelly.

"Right now it's just all football, helping my team win," he said.

And that comfort level, both on the field and in South Bend, made staying easier. He attends a nearby Church of Latter Day Saints.

"It's been great, been my home away from home," he said. "It reminds me of home because no matter where you go, the church is the same everywhere."

Te'o will be in a middle linebacker spot in the Irish's 3-4 defense this fall and he'll be in charge of barking out defensive signals to his teammates. At 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, Te'o's physical attributes jump out, but so does his ability to take control and demand respect.

"You say, 'OK, he can do the job,'" defensive coordinator Bob Diaco said. "The guy might be heck of a player, but we're relying on him to do some of the communication. So if you get a guy out there who is a little mousey, nobody can really hear what he's supposed to do. One of the biggest things he's giving us right now is he's a demonstrative communicator."

So Te'o has shown he can do what the Irish need, both physically and mentally, and not be worn out by either responsibility. The two must mesh in the 3-4 defense.

"He's got energy and passion," Diaco said. "His wind is up. If you're looking at the full group in terms of their cardiovascular, he's one of the top guys. So he's in condition where he's not taxed."

Te'o is very aware of the history of Notre Dame and its great teams and players. Kelly has reminded his players that they carry a responsibility for both past and future.

"He just told us that tradition is important and nice, but it's nothing if we don't honor the guys who came before us," Te'o said. "I feel in order to be a great football player, you have to play for something beyond yourself. Coach Kelly has helped us realize that. We can play for something bigger than ourselves, which is Notre Dame."

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Te'o Will Be Focus of Defensive Revival @ Notre Dame

With the installation of the 3-4 defense, Notre Dame will certainly look different from a scheme perspective. It should be noted, however, that an outside linebacker will walk up to the line quite often next season to create a four-man front — making it look less like a 3-4 and more like a traditional 4-3 scheme.

The pressing question is will the Irish have enough playmakers on that side of the ball? Or, more simply, will it be able to stop the run and the pass more consistently?

Manti Te'o, one of the most highly recruited defensive players in the country in 2009, is the face of the new scheme. The 6-2, 250-pounder will man the middle linebacker spot after playing on the outside in space during his freshman campaign. Te'o, who finished with eight tackles and an interception on Saturday, played inside of a 3-4 defense while in high school, so the familiarity can only bode well for the Irish. And despite making 63 tackles in a solid first season in South Bend, Te’o is driven to become a more consistent defender. All expectations are that Te'o takes a huge step in his second season.

He’s confident in his progress under the new system, as is Kelly.

"He is, in his own mind, and our coaches and myself, living up to maybe some of the expectations that everybody had coming in as one of the top, premier high school players in the country," Kelly said. "He can be a great player. He's got a chance, and he's showing some signs of that. His recognition, his leadership, it's exciting to watch him grow. He's really growing quickly in a short period of time."

What Te'o did was accept Kelly's challenge, not fight it. And both have benefitted.

"Personally, I'm getting more comfortable as days go by," Te'o said. "I still have a lot to work on, of course, but I'm getting more comfortable and making plays in this defensive scheme."

"I think the thing that I like about him the most is - he's a mike linebacker that can stay on the field," Kelly said. "He's not a guy that you take off the field on third down. He's really good in space."

That was evident in Saturday's Blue-Gold Game, with an interception - just the first glimpse of the player Te'o wants to be this fall.

"I expect a lot from myself," he said. "And to be a leader on my team, and to help motivate my team, and just be the best defense we can be as a whole."


While Te’o garners the most individual attention, his fellow defenders will need to step up their performance, as well, after the Irish surrendered 397.8 yards per game — the worst defensive performance in school history.

It makes one wonder whether it is a good thing or a bad thing that most of the core players from last year return next season.

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Irish’s Manti Te'o Making Great Strides on Defense

Crunching linebacker assuming leadership role for Notre Dame in 2nd season

 

On a tersely cool Saturday morning, Manti Te'o absently lifted one knee after another, warm-ups for the warm-ups.

His gaze wandered and then went to Notre Dame teammate Theo Riddick. More specifically: the red beanie on Riddick's gold helmet. Technically the cap serves as a stop sign, ensuring no one will hit Riddick as he recovers from shoulder surgery. It meant something else to Te'o.

"You look like a ninja turtle," he said.

The prized sophomore-to-be linebacker then smiled slyly. The goofiness is ever-present. So is the earnestness, as evidenced by the tattoo on his left arm that honors his family and culture. So is the ability, as evidenced by Te'o obliterating a ball-=carrier on one practice snap last weekend.

Notre Dame may not have all questions answered by its spring game Saturday, but the coalescing of Manti Te'o's many parts into a formidable whole won't be an issue much longer.

"In his own mind and our coaches' and myself, (he's) living up to some of the expectations that everybody had coming in, as one of the premier defensive high school players in the country," Irish coach Brian Kelly said.

"He can be a great player. He has a chance. And he's showing some signs of that — his recognition, his leadership. It's exciting to watch him grow. He's really growing quickly in a very short period of time."

True, it was just late March when Kelly flatly said Te'o wasn't very good as a freshman. And early in spring, Te'o looked understandably hesitant relaying calls in a new defense.

And after the big practice hit last weekend, Te'o got smoked by tight end Kyle Rudolph for a touchdown catch. It isn't an awakening worth a hallelujah chorus just yet. But it's a start.

"Last year? I was just not confident," Te'o said. "One of the things this year that I wanted to improve on was my confidence, just trusting my instincts. Most of the time, I second-guess my instincts, and that's what gets me into trouble. I just have to tell my legs to move when my instincts say move."

Still, Te'o ranked fourth on the team with 63 tackles in 2009 despite not starting until October and, as Kelly said, "guessing" all year.

So the raw material was there. The next stage was taking charge of the Irish defense, a role that requires equal parts comprehension and personality.

"He's energizing, he is a positive person, he's a character with character," defensive coordinator Bob Diaco said. "He can absorb the information in the room and come out to the practice field and put it into action. And with all that said, he still has a long way to go."

How long? It may be impossible to tell, as no one is willing to set a bar in this case as Te'o continues to advance quickly exponentially.

"I don't think you can put a ceiling on any athlete, because I think it's up to them," Te'o said. "Like my dad always says, shoot for the stars. There's no ceiling. Just every day come out and do the best you can. What you put in is what you get out."

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The Sky's The Limit on Te'o Island

The dream of becoming an engineer, whenever life after football pushes itself on Manti Te'o, dissolved as quickly and as decisively as the Notre Dame linebacker's newest passion appeared.

“He hasn't declared a major yet,” said Te'o's father, Brian, “but when he came home at Christmas, he was all excited about going into sports psychology.”

Which may just come in extra handy this spring.

The sophomore-to-be from Laie, Hawaii, supplemented his classwork by jumping outside the required homework box this winter.

He absorbed former Notre Dame coaching icon Lou Holtz's autobiography, “Wins, Losses and Lessons” as well as Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice's offering, “Go Long! My Journey Beyond the Game and the Fame.” But none of that entirely prepared him for the sharp public jabs from first-year head coach Brian Kelly.

“The fact that there's a new staff - we anticipated that could happen way back when Manti was going through the recruiting process,” Brian Te'o said. “We knew if things didn't work out for the team last year, there would be a transition. And even then, Notre Dame was the place he wanted to be at.

“Now that it's here, it's like a rite of passage.”

Again.

Manti Te'o's initial splashdown from the highest-rated defensive prospect to land at Notre Dame since Holtz reluctantly walked away in 1996 was as statistically spectacular as it was aesthetically inconsistent.

His 63 tackles for the 6-6 Irish in the last year of the Charlie Weis Era represents the third-highest total ever by a Notre Dame freshman, topped only by eventual All-Americans Bob Golic (82 in 1975) and Ross Browner (68. 1973).

Fifty-seven of those 63 tackles came in ND's final seven games, after Te'o became a full-time starter in game 6 against Washington.

But when he looks back at the film, he sees more growing pains than growth. Sometimes the most jaw-dropping plays were when the 6-foot-2, 250-pounder simply outran his mistakes.

“I see a lot of hesitating,” Manti Te'o said. “I see a young man who showed his youth and wasn't used to college.”

Kelly took it more than a few steps further. Point blank, he said Te'o “wasn't very good.”

“When coach Kelly made that comment, I had to sit back and really think to myself, ‘You know that's exactly how I felt,' ” said Brian Te'o, also an assistant coach at Te'o's old high school, Punahou, in Honolulu.

“There were moments when Manti had a spectacular play and there were moments when I said, ‘What are you doing?' Now, I don't know if I would have made that comment in a press conference, but Manti knows how much he has to improve, and it was a good thing for him to hear it.”

Presumed No. 1 quarterback Dayne Crist and top wide receiver Michael Floyd hear it too. Crist, in fact, has heard his fundamentals called “as sloppy as they come,” by Kelly. Floyd was pressed to lose weight or risk sinking on the depth chart.

It's probably not an accident that the three “examples” Kelly has decided to rake in front of the media just happen to be the three players on the Irish roster this spring who came out of high school with the highest recruiting ratings.

“I am buying in,” Manti Te'o assured. “And what I'm buying into is intensity through repetition, always going hard every single play and that it will all pay off.”

Kelly has taken notice.

“(Te'o) was a true freshman,” Kelly amended recently. “He was the best guy they had. He was 240, 250. They wanted to be a little bit stronger (when the old regime decided to throw him in the lineup), but he was guessing. And that's to be expected. (Now), he's learning how to play the game and how he fits in this defense.

“And he's clearly understanding where he is in this defense. We're not an attacking 4-3 defense. This is a no-crease 3-4 defense. He understands that, so his progression is pretty good.”

He was certainly an upgrade, at least from a speed standpoint, when he usurped senior Toryan Smith from the lineup last fall. Smith ran the 40-yard dash in 5.03 seconds at ND's Pro Day audition for NFL scouts last month - slightly slower than ND's newest offensive tackle recruit, Plant City (Fla.) High School junior Jordan Prestwood (4.98) and the football equivalent of light years slower than Te'o (4.55).

New defensive coordinator Bob Diaco succinctly summed up where he believes all of this is headed.

“He has no ceiling,” Diaco said of Te'o. “The sky really is the limit.”

But there are hidden variables that swirl around Manti Te'o that make arriving there more challenging.

It starts with the distance. At 4,341 miles from South Bend to his parents' modest house on the North Shore of Oahu, Te'o is all of four miles closer to home than he is to Barcelona, Spain.

“When other kids go home for spring break or a long weekend, we can't,” said Irish receiver Roby Toma, Te'o's best friend since childhood. “They invite us to come along to be with their families, and that's very cool and generous, but it's not the same. I don't think the homesickness ever goes away, but you learn to tolerate it.”

“It's tough on this end too,” Brian Te'o said. “But we understand that this is a new chapter in Manti's life, an important chapter. And it really wouldn't have been any easier if he were in California or Utah or Washington. Once you cross that ocean, financially and logistically, it's difficult to come home.”

Also in the mix is Te'o's spiritual obligations, which include a two-year Mormon mission - perhaps when football is finished now that he decided at Christmas time to put it off at least a year.

There's the conflicting pull to the NFL, where stepping into that dream would also mean a needed financial windfall for his family.

“I'm not sure I would use the word ‘needed',” former Irish head coach Charlie Weis said. “Those people are happy with whatever they have. They feel blessed. They are the happiest family I have ever been around.”

Add to that the responsibility now of calling the defensive signals, of being tagged as a leader, and perhaps the eventual allure of maybe jumping into the NFL Draft pool early.

Manti Te'o's response to all of this was to insist on staying in South Bend over spring break to work out with Crist when his parents unveiled the surprise that they had put enough money away for a plane ticket.

Even before that, he went back to his roots, his Samoan roots. A tattoo now graces his left arm from shoulder to elbow, with intricate symbols of Samoan tradition, culture and values. He got it about the time he decided to dive into the Kelly regime instead of embarking on a two-year hiatus for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“When his mother and I watch him on the videos on the Internet doing interviews, we understand how much expectation, how much obligation that he must be feeling,” Brian Te'o said. “And we know he wants to take care of his family. He wants to feed our dreams.

“But I texted him the other day. I said, ‘Enjoy practice, enjoy playing college football, because it's going to be over before you know it. The only thing I asked of him beyond that was to promise me he would finish school and not go in an early NFL Draft.

“Our hopes for Manti is that he can focus on the here and now, just worry about being a college sophomore. It's time for his own dreams to come into focus. It's time for him to discover what they are and then to chase them down.”

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New Notre Dame Coach Expects More From Manti Te'o

New Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly didn't mince words today when he spoke about linebacker Manti Te'o: He expects Te'o to be a leader on defense who has to "get much better as a football player."

Te'o, a Punahou School alum from La'ie, was fourth on the team in tackles last season as a freshman.

"(Te'o's) got to get much better as a football player," Kelly said after the team's first spring practice in South Bend, Ind. "He wasn't very good (last year) and he understands that. He's been committed to learning. Remember, he hasn't been here a year. He's a freshman."

Kelly, who replaced Charlie Weis who was fired after last season, said Te'o and Kapron Lewis-Moore have emerged as leaders for the Irish.

"There's probably been four or five guys defensively that have said immediately, 'Coach, whatever it is, let's go get it done,' " Kelly said. "I think the rest of that leadership takes time to develop. 
But those guys (Lewis-Moore and Te'o) in particular were right there at the very first day."

Kelly said he likes the energy Te'o brings "on a day-to-day basis.

"He's got that excitement, that passion," Kelly said. "Those are the guys I want to be around.

"So I just love the energy that he brings and the passion that he wants to be a great player. If you write the prescription for a coach … Who do you want to coach? Get a guy like that. That's fun."

Kelly led Cincinnati to a 12-0 regular-season finish before taking the job at Notre Dame, which fired Weis after the Irish went 6-6 in the regular season for a second straight year. Notre Dame last won a national title in 1988.

If coach Kelly is expecting more than what was illustrated in these few highlights of Manti's freshman year, we are in for something truly special. The "Freight Train" from the 808 will be one to jump on, if your not already on the Te'o Bandwagon. "All aboard!"

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Kona Schwenke Announced for Notre Dame

Kona Schwenke, a four-star defensive end, announced for Notre Dame.

Alongside sophomores Manti Te'o and Roby Toma, he continues the recent Hawaii-to-South Bend pipeline.

Schwenke, listed at 6"4, 235, called Irish assistant Mike Elston on Tuesday about the good news.

"Notre Dame was more than I expected it to be. It was the feeling that I got from the trip that made me make the final decision to commit to Notre Dame,” Schwenke told Irish Sports Daily.

A former BYU commit, Schwenke pulled his offer after he made the coaching staff aware of his intent to visit South Bend. After his visit, he said the pulled offer just made him even more Irish in the end.

This is a much-needed pickup for Brian Kelly to close his first class with the Irish. With the loss of Blake Leuders, Notre Dame had gained one commitment from a defensive end in the past two recruiting cycles. Now, with the addition of Schwenke, the Irish depth chart looks a little deeper and trustworthy.

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Te'o, Funaki Top Voting of Readers

Who were the Hawaii's best high school football players the past decade?

Online readers decided that quarterback Inoke Funaki (Kahuku '02) and linebacker Manti Te'o (Punahou '09) are the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Decade in a non-scientific poll that started Thursday.

The two lead The Advertiser's first All-Decade high school football team. The players picked from all-state selections from 2000 to 2009.

A majority of the selections were either multiple-year picks or Offensive or Defensive Players of the Year. But we left the readers to pick the top offensive and defensive players. In some cases, post-high school success was a factor.

Eleven different Players of the Year and several multi-year selections didn't make the cut.

We picked Siuaki Livai as Coach of the Decade. The former Kahuku coach won four of the school's five state titles during the 10-year span.

We chose Funaki, former Saint Louis quarterback Micah Mamiya and Leilehua quarterback Andrew Manley as finalists for voting as Offensive Player of the Decade. Mamiya and Manley are the only two-time Offensive Players of the Year in the decade. Funaki also was a two-time first-team pick, but was Offensive Player of the Year only once ('01). But he's the only one of the trio to lead his team to two state titles.

Perhaps because he did it early in the decade, not many remember that Funaki passed for 2,446 yards and 29 touchdowns his senior year. He also rushed for 548 yards and eight TDs.

Mamiya, now of Montana Western, accounted for 37 TDs in his best season
(2007), passing for 27 and rushing for 10, while throwing for 2,267 yards.
Manley, who has verbally committed to New Mexico State, twice passed for more than 3,000 yards and combined for 35 TDs (31 passing, four rushing) in his best season (2008). His career was like a storybook because he was promoted from the JV to the varsity in the middle of the playoffs his sophomore year when Leilehua's dual-starting quarterbacks were injured in the same game. Manley would lead the Mules to the O'ahu Interscholastic Association and state title in 2007.

The Defensive Player candidates came down to two linebackers. Te'o is the most decorated high school player to come out of Hawai'i. He is the only USA Today national Defensive Player of the Year (2008) from here and the first recipient of the prep version of the Dick Butkus Award for being the best linebacker.

Blaze Soares is the only three-time first-team all-state selection during the decade ('02 to '04).

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Manti Te'o Not Leaving For Mission Yet

 University of Notre Dame freshman linebacker Manti Te'o has decided he will return to campus for the spring semester and delay his mission trip for at least one year and possibly until later in his life.

Te'o will continue at Notre Dame during his sophomore year and will be a member of the Irish football team in 2010.

"This was probably the biggest decision that I¹I've had to face in my entire life," Te'o said in a release issued by the University. "I knew the impact of my decision could have a positive influence on those who follow me and those who watch what I do. I always want to have a positive influence on them. I just thought that I was sent to Notre Dame for a purpose and that is a purpose I have to devote to."

Te'o is a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints and expects to take a mission at some point, but he's not sure when.

"I¹m not sure if I¹m going to take it after next year or later on in life," Te'o said.

There is no age limit as to when Te'o needs to take the mission.
Te'o ranked fourth on the team in 2009 with 63 tackles including 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack and added one pass breakup. He played in all 12 games and started nine contests.

The 63 tackles recorded by Te'o were the most by a Notre Dame freshman since 1975 and the third most all time by an Irish freshman (Bob Golic, 82 tackles in 1975; Ross Browner, 68 tackles in 1973).

More importantly than the success on the field, Te'o says the it's the University life that influenced him to stay at Notre Dame.

"I think it¹s the connections I have been able to make with people and the ability I have to meet people and influence them for good," Te'o said. "I think that is a big factor in it."

"The coaching change didn't¹t have a factor. Football wasn't¹t a factor. It was strictly a spiritual thing for me."

In fact, Te'o says he has to to speak in-depth about his mission trip possibilities with new head coach Brian Kelly.

"I got to talk to him on two occasions and he¹s a really good guy," Te'o said of Kelly. "We talked about football and talked about life in general.
I respect him and have trust in him and I think he¹ll do a great job leading our team."

Te'o became a full-time starter for Notre Dame in the fifth game of the season against Washington and he ranked second on the Irish with 57 tackles over the final eight games (Safety Kyle McCarthy had 64 tackles in that stretch).

Te'o recorded 10 tackles against both Washington and Stanford and totaled nine tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and one pass breakup against Boston College.

A native of Laie, Hawaii, Te'o is enrolled in Notre Dame¹s First Year of Studies program.

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Te'o to Decide on Mission Soon

 Brian Kelly has a tough job in rebuilding Notre Dame's shoddy defense.

That task would be even tougher without Manti Te'o, the former prized recruit who turned in a promising freshman season at linebacker. Te'o, who's a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, may leave the Irish after this season to go on his two-year Mormon mission.

Te'o's father told Eric Hansen of the South Bend Tribune that the decision would come after Te'o finishes final exams this week.

"I think he's probably already come up with an answer,” Brian Te'o told the Tribune. “But he promised his mom and me that he'd let us know once he touched the ground here in Hawaii.”

The elder Te'o said his son "loves it in South Bend" and will definitely return to school if he does take his mission. Te'o could also opt to go on a one-year mission or remain in school for four years, according to Hansen's story.

It's a decision that Kelly and the Irish anxiously await.

The next time Notre Dame freshman linebacker Manti Te'o plays in a game for the Irish football team could be in Dublin, Ireland, against family friend and Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo in 2012.

Or it could be next September against Purdue in the first game of the Brian Kelly Era of Notre Dame football. ... Or something in between.

Te'o is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it is tradition for members to take a two-year Mormon mission after turning 19. However, Te'o left open the possibility he may take a two-year mission, a one-year mission or make his Notre Dame experience his mission.

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Notre Dame Freshman Linebacker Manti Te'o Speaks Softly, Hits Fiercely

On a biting, drizzly Midwest afternoon, Manti Te'o practiced without a long-sleeve shirt under his football pads. Reading blocking schemes and weather forecasts has become a dual priority for a Hawaii native who is decidedly anti-freeze, so this was a curious sight Tuesday.

As Notre Dame prepared to face Washington State, that's all it was: curious. Still, you half-expected to hear how the freshman linebacker grew polar fleece on his arms, or used his intensity to self-insulate. Hyper-hyperbole regarding Te'o is epidemic, primarily because he's measuring up to some tall tales.

"He's out there trying to kill everyone he hits," Irish linebacker Brian Smith said. "It's a joy to be out there next to him."

Case in point: Where others merely tackle, Manti Te'o gleefully commits felonious assault.

Plainly, since the program's best defensive recruit in years became a full-time starter three games ago, he leads the Irish with 27 tackles in that span, registering nine stops and 2 1/2 tackles-for-loss Saturday against Boston College.

He's thriving because he knows where to direct his explosive 244-pound frame. But that, of course, is far too ordinary a description.

"I don't know how else to say it, but I always used to like linebackers who would run through somebody's face," Irish coach Charlie Weis said. "That's what Manti does."

Or, as linebacker Scott Smith put it: "I think he'd hit anybody in the mouth, any time, anywhere."

That's jarring, too, after listening to Te'o discuss his affection for his little brother and a nagging homesickness, at a register just a notch or two louder than a whisper. So the "speak softly" part, he had down; it was a matter of applying the big sticks.

For that, Te'o had to navigate some mental hiccups. It was apparent from his first tackle -- dragging down Nevada's Colin Kaepernick from behind -- that he played like a deployed torpedo. Uncertainty just had him off-target.

"As a defensive player, the number one thing is being able to pull the trigger," Weis said. "Even when you know what to do, to just let it loose and go. When he first started playing he would be a little hesitant. You would see that momentary pause before he would finish off a play.

"That momentary pause is the difference between making a play and not making a play. Now that momentary pause is starting to vanish. When he sees it, he goes."

Te'o alone isn't a cure-all for a muddled Irish defense. But when he creates a high-impact presence -- like when he decisively terminated a Boston College screen pass in the fourth quarter last weekend -- it is an energy infusion that can't be overstated.

"The last three games, he's doing things he couldn't do early in the season," Irish defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta said. "He just loves to play and make plays."

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Notre Dame Students Rally Around Te'o

There are 2,059 freshmen trying to find their way on the expansive 1,250-acre University of Notre Dame campus this fall.

And, then, there is Manti Te'o, who has already been wholeheartedly embraced by it.

"We love the guy," said Grant Schmidt, the student body president.

"He's practically a legend with the students," said Brian Hardin, the school's football information director.

To watch the student section's response to his play in yesterday's 37-30 overtime victory over Washington, where he was the second-leading tackler with 10, was to witness a remarkable Tweet-age love affair between the hard-hitting former Punahou School linebacker and students hopeful he can help revive the proud winning tradition at college football's most storied school. "We haven't seen anything like it since we've been here," head coach Charlie Weis said.

The students in Notre Dame Stadium's northwest end might not be able to pronounce his first name, but they know "Manti from Hawai'i" and have rallied around him as a symbol of what Irish defense can become.

When Te'o arrived on campus this summer, termed the school's best recruit at linebacker since Bob Crable in 1978 by a national recruiting analyst, the student paper, The Observer, headlined it, "The Manti Commeth."

Just the prospect of the 6-foot-2, 244-pound Te'o, who was heralded as the top high school defensive player in the nation last season by USA Today, coming to play beneath the Golden Dome had an energizing effect on the student body. It hatched a plan to hand out 8,000 plastic lei the November weekend he was to take his recruiting visit last year. But school officials, nervous the move could invite NCAA sanctions, scotched the plan.

No matter, the students shouted their interest in him from the bleachers even as they were lobbing snowballs at the coaching staff and players during the team's loss to downtrodden Syracuse. Yet, on national letter of intent day, students watching ESPN and on the internet were jubilant that Te'o not only reversed the trend of 11th-hour big name signing day losses but snubbed rival USC in doing it.

Then, in the season opener, Te'o laid on a couple of big, validating hits that they have come to call "the full Manti." "From his tackle on his first play, the entire student section was behind him," said Matt Gamber, sports editor of the campus paper. "He showed very quickly he belonged with his speed and big-hitting ability, and I think the fact that we haven't seen a ton of him on a consistent basis just yet only adds to the mystique, if you will, surrounding him."

From that time, fans have joined the students in clamoring for more playing time for their hero. "Increase the dosage of Manti," a letter writer to the student paper implored. "More Manti," the internet postings demand.

On a largely white campus where "Hawaiian Oasis Authentic Shaved Ice" passes for exotic, "I also believe that the fact that he is (from Hawai'i) adds a lot of allure to him," said Kevin Doyle, a student.

Notre Dame does not make freshmen available for interviews the first part of the season, but teammates say Te'o has handled the attention surprisingly well. "You'd expect someone like that, who has been told for years that he's the greatest thing since sliced bread, to be a little arrogant," said cornerback Mike Anello. "But he is the antithesis of what of what you'd expect from a kid like that. He's down to earth and has worked his tail off since he got here and I like that about him."

When it was over last night, the victory against Washington sealed, Te'o raced to the end zone and waved to family members and the student section. Already, they have become like family, too.

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Hawaiian Punch: Manti Te'o to Get First Start for Notre Dame

Toryan Smith is hobbled but will play linebacker for Notre Dame on Saturday.

But he won't start. And that opens the door for freshman linebacker Manti Te'o to make his much-anticipated first start for the Irish against Michigan.

Notre Dame spokesman Brian Hardin confirmed that Te'o, the jewel of the Irish's 2009 recruiting class, will be in the starting lineup against the Wolverines. What Hardin didn't know is the extent of Smith's injury or when it occured this week, but the senior is on the field for warmups at Michigan Stadium.

Te'o made his defensive debut in the second quarter of the Irish's season opener against Nevada and wound up recording two tackles on the day.

"He's one week closer to being on the field on a more regular basis, but I think he will play more this week than he played last week," Weis told the media on Tuesday.

Te'o made two tackles against Nevada, and broke up a pass with a devastating hit, offering just a glimpse of what the former top defensive recruit in the nation might be capable of achieving.

"I think that he will be much more ready to play this week, and I think just like everyone else, playing your first freshman game, getting some of the butterflies out is a good thing," said Weis.

"Manti is a guy the sky is the limit on."

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Te'o Hoping to be 'Man of Worth' for Irish

When Manti Te'o arrived at Notre Dame for his official visit last November, he was wearing shorts and a T-shirt.

That was the same weekend Mother Nature dumped almost a foot of snow on South bend, followed by lowly Syracuse dumping the Irish at home and fans throwing snowballs at their own players. No one would have blamed Te'o for dashing through the snow to the airport, catching the first plane back to Hawaii and never stepping foot in Indiana again.

Instead, one of the nation's most coveted recruits embraced the twin challenges of playing so far from home and helping a struggling program get back on its feet. Te'o will make his highly-anticipated college debut on Saturday versus Nevada, and though he won't start, he figures to see a lot of time at weakside linebacker. At 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds, he brings a mix of size and athleticism that the Notre Dame defense has been lacking recently under Charlie Weis.

But Te'o has even larger goals.

"Hopefully I influence a lot of people for good, whether it will be in football or just life in general," he said. "I want to influence people as an example of service to others."

It's easy to see, then, why Te'o chose the Irish, who despite their ups and downs, still hold one the biggest bully pulpits in college football. Speaking publicly for the first time as a collegian at Notre Dame freshman media day last month, Te'o sat at a table surrounded by more than 20 reporters, with eight TV cameras recording his every word.

That's a bit much for any 18-year-old to deal with, and Te'o admits he gets nervous every time he is in front of a camera. But he handled himself like a seasoned vet, which in some ways he is when it comes to heavy attention.

He was, after all, the top high school player in his state, the pride of Hawaii and the target of just about every major college program in the country. He starred at the Punahou School in Honolulu, the alma mater of Barack Obama and the top prep athletic factory in America, according to Sports Illustrated.

"There was never a ride home when I didn't answer the phone for him at least once," says fellow Irish freshman Roby Toma, Teo's best friend since childhood. "He had so much pressure on him. People were always asking him who he was going to sign with. But he always kept a cool head."

On the field, Te'o was a force of nature in high school. In one practice, Toma, a wide receiver, felt the full wrath of his teammate's power. The hit turned Toma's helmet around, leaving him trying to see out his ear hole.

Another time, Toma remembers, Punahou was milking a lead in the state championship game when it gave the ball to occasional fullback Te'o for a dive play on third and long.

"He broke nine tackles," Toma says. "On film, you see me out there blocking, and the play is still going on, but I just turned around and watched. You couldn't help but watch."

Those prodigious skills are why Te'o won the inaugural high school Butkus Award and was rated the No. 2 player in the Class of 2009 by ESPN's Scouts Inc. In an age where defenders are getting smaller and faster to go against the spread, Te'o has the bulk of a classic middle linebacker along with new-school speed.

"He's a lot like (former USC star) Rey Maualuga in that he has a natural instinct and nose for the football," said Tom Luginbill, Scouts Inc.'s national recruiting director. "He doesn't get caught up in misdirection, he knows where the ball is and it does not take him long to get there. And he's usually coming with a little bit of a bad attitude.

"He played in the Under Armour game, where there were a lot of former NFL and college head coaches. There wasn't a coach there who didn't come away saying essentially, 'Who the heck is that guy?' That's how much he stood out."

Te'o has been as good as advertised since coming to Notre Dame. Though he says he was lost his first week of camp, coaches and teammates have been effusive in praising how he has played and fit in right away.

"There's no question that he's ahead of the game," Irish defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta said.

"He's handled himself well," Weis said. "It's never easy when you come in here and you're playing your way up the depth chart quickly, as he is. There are guys who don't like it when a guy like that is breathing down your neck."

The hardest adjustment for Te'o so far is being more than 4,000 miles away from home. One of six children, he was despondent when he missed his younger brother Manasseh's third birthday this summer. His family will attend the Nevada game, but it might be the only trip they make to South Bend this fall.

"I think about them all the time," he said. "I talk to them every day. The nights I spend alone, I think about my parents, my little brother and my sisters."

Luckily, he has his buddy Toma as a reminder of home. And he's used to long travels to school.

He and Toma grew up about four houses apart from each other in Laie on the north shore of Oahu. To get to Punahou every day, they had to take a 90-minute car ride each way.

Te'o grew so homesick following his first year at Punahou that he transferred to his local school for one year as a ninth-grader. He went back to Punahou after realizing the opportunities that school provided.

"The experience I had at Punahou and learning how to adapt to new environments has helped me with my transition to Notre Dame," he said.

Te'o knows he will be under constant scrutiny in South Bend, and he hopes to use that spotlight to set an example. He was an Eagle Scout who was active in his community back home, and as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he may take a two-year mission following his freshman year at Notre Dame.

"Everybody will see what you do on the football field, but I think what matters most is who you are inside," he said. "My dad always told me, 'Don't necessarily be a man of success, but be a man of worth.'"

He wants to represent his home state and his church while leading Notre Dame back to glory. Those are tall challenges for anyone, let alone a freshman. Yet Te'o says he's prepared for anything, even another round of snow.

"I brought some pants from home this time," he said. "But I've still got to go and buy me a jacket or something."

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Freshman Manti Te'o Making an Early Impression @ Irish Camp

In case you haven't heard, there is a Pacific Islander in South Bend. Not only that, he is also a Mormon at Notre Dame.

His name is Manti Te'o.

Charlie Weis is expecting big things from him immediately for the Irish. On Sunday, local Hawaii media reported that Te'o is making such an impression that he could be starting this year.

Te'o has climbed up the depth chart and is currently listed as No.2 behind Brian Smith at outside linebacker. However, there is a chance that he could move to the middle and replace Toryan Smith.

Now that is coming from Hawaii media which is understandably going to be biased for their local kid. I would be very surprised if he actually jumped ahead of Toryan Smith.

Nonetheless, I am very excited to see Te'o play. I saw him twice in high school and he was an absolute beast.

The thing I remembered most about last year was the Hawaii Bowl. While many ND haters downplay their performance, the game was very important for many reasons. I knew when I was flying over that Notre Dame not only had to win but really make a statement.

For me the primary reason was to send a message to potential recruits. One of those kids would be at that game and that of course was Te'o. If not for the strong performance, Notre Dame probably would not have been able to steal him from USC.

This was a signing that really excited me.

That was partially because Notre Dame stole him from USC, but also because I have seen many local kids that I watched in high school leave the islands and go be successful in college football. The most notable was Kaluka Maiava who played for arch rival USC.

Te'o is the first one to go to Notre Dame, the school I rooted for all my life. For that reason, it has a little sentimental value.

I am hoping that Te'o can keep up the great work in practice. If he does, I don't expect him to start but he will be an impact player off the bench.

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Fresh face: Notre Dame

Preseason camp begins in just a few weeks, and freshmen are already reporting to campus all over the country. Which new players could make an immediate impact at Notre Dame? Here is a look at one incoming freshmen to keep an eye on when practice begins:

• Manti Te'o, LB: Pick an accolade, any accolade. Te'o was USA Today's defensive player of the year, The Sporting News 2008 high school athlete of the year, the inaugural winner of the high school Butkus Award and the No. 2 overall player on the ESPNU150. Simply put, the 6-foot-2, 225-pounder from Hawaii is a can't-miss prospect and the crown jewel of this recruiting class. He could be the kind of dominating, athletic linebacker that the Irish have lacked. And given Notre Dame's defensive lapses, it wouldn't be a surprise at all if he works his way into a starting role immediately.

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