Apr 13, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke talks to offensive linesman Erik Magnuson (78) during the Spring Game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

University of Michigan head football coach Brady Hoke isn’t one to mince words. Hoke has become famous in the college football world for his no-nonsense personality, and that persona shined through on Monday.

Hoke was quoted (at a luncheon in Grand Rapids, Michigan) as saying that the University of Notre Dame “chickened out” of the longtime rivalry between the two schools. According to records, there was an opt-out clause in the contract between the two universities that allowed for the Irish to get out of the annual game by giving three years notice prior to the kick-off of that year’s game.

Just before the two teams kicked off on September 22, 2012, Notre Dame apparently exercised their right to opt out, and fans of both schools were not particularly pleased. The reason for Notre Dame’s opt-out was, of course, their imminent move to the Atlantic Coast Conference, and the 2014 game between the two schools will be the last for the foreseeable future. Michigan AD Dave Brandon made sure to reference that the decision to skip the rivalry was “Notre Dame’s and not ours”, and that was yet another reference to put the focus on Notre Dame.

Notre Dame is a team with multiple rivals (USC, Navy, Michigan State, etc.) and Michigan’s arch-rival will always be Ohio State, but that doesn’t diminish the significance of the series between two of the winningest schools in NCAA history. There are two more match-ups on tap between the two teams, and the final game on the schedule between the teams will be on September 6th, 2014 at Notre Dame Stadium.

Jan 8, 2013; Fort Lauderdale FL, USA; The coaches trophy which was awarded to the Alabama Crimson Tide was on display during head coach Nick Saban winning coach press conference at Harbor Beach Marriott Resort

We are still a few months away from the start of the 2013 college football season, but there is still plenty of interest leading up to the start of the new year.

With the excitement constantly growing as we get closer to a college football world that will include the formerly evasive playoff system, we decided to put together our own pre-season top ten rankings to give the readers an idea of what teams to watch moving forward and who could be a potential national title contender.

Who are the teams to watch out for in 2013?

Without further introduction, here is a look at our pre-season top ten.

JUST MISSED: LSU Tigers, South Carolina Gamecocks

Sept. 10, 2011; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; A student manager applies a shamrock decal to a Notre Dame helmet before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

It looks like the sons of famous musicians are starting to take over college football. First, we had P Diddy’s son join the UCLA Buins football squad as a cornerback and then there is the son of Snoop Dogg, err… Snoop Lion’s son, Cornell Broadus, who is a highly touted high school recruit. Now, we get Jesse Bongiovi, the son of rock legend Jon Bon Jovi, who plans to walk on for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Bongiovi plans to join the Notre Dame football team this fall and he is hoping to find a spot on the roster as a cornerback, according to Irish Sports Daily.

“I came up here when I was in eighth grade and I just fell in love with the place,” Bongiovi said. “The culture here, the people here, the opportunities here, they’re unreal. They’re second to none. Given the opportunity to walk on to the team and become a part of this family was an easy decision for me.”

While Bongiovi did specifically mention the cornerback position, he stated that he would be open to any position the coaching staff has in mind.

Bongiovi played high school football at Brooklyn’s Poly Prep Country Day.

There is no guarantee that the 5-foot-11, 180-pound walk-on will ever see significant playing time, but he is hopeful and appears to be doing what it takes to prepare himself for that one shot.

Notre Dame will wear a shamrock decal that features a Boston style “B” in the center. 

Brett McMurphy of ESPN sent out a tweet on Friday to share the Fighting Irish’s admirable gesture:

Notre Dame will put this decal to honor Boston on helmets for Saturday’s spring game twitter.com/McMurphyESPN/s…

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) April 19, 2013

Here is an image of the decals that Notre Dame will be wearing:

Photo via Brett McMurphy on Twitter (@McMurphyESPN)

UMASS will also be wearing helmet decals, as well as holding an event for runners at the Boston marathon who were unable to cross the finish line. You can find out more information here. Runners will be able to run a lap around the field before running across a new Boston Marathon “finish line” that will be set up at the 50-yard line. That’s an incredible gesture and one that certainly deserves more attention.

It’s great to see everyone continuing to show their support to the entire Boston community and all of those affected by the tragedy. This is why we love sports.

Jan 7, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te’o in the BCS National Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Mandatory Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

Notre Dame star linebacker Manti Te’o had all of the makings of a top twenty pick heading into the BCS National Championship against the Alabama Crimson Tide, but then everything came crashing down. Now, there are those who question whether Te’o should even be a first-round pick. Alabama’s dominant line was able to render Te’o useless and exposed the major flaws in his game.

Almost immediately after the game, a Deadspin report surfaced that showed the story of his girlfriend’s death was a total fraud, and people began to question Te’o even more.

Te’o understands that people will look at the Alabama take because it is the top team he faced during his college career, but he doesn’t want to be defined by that one game.It was the worst game he has ever had and, but Te’o wants talent evaluators to use all of his game film instead of focusing on those sixty minutes.

“It’s a little frustrating that people look at one game and say that was the closest thing to an NFL team that I had faced, not giving credit to all the other teams that I played,” Te’o told the Detroit Lions official website. “So you’re saying Stanford isn’t an NFL team; Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue and USC. [Alabama] is definitely a game I didn’t do as well as I could have, but it’s not something I felt could define my career at Notre Dame.”

When you consider everything that Te’o had on his mind heading in to the game with the story of his girlfriend about to be reported, you can understand why he may have looked unfocused and unprepared, but that shouldn’t be used as an excuse.

Te’o needs to do better than that and he needs to keep his emotions in check.

While he was dominated in the Alabama game, he was also the only player on that Notre Dame defense that Alabama was game-planning for. Their focus was to shut down Te’o and force the others to make plays, and that is exactly what they did with no one else stepping up.

Te’o can be better.

He has shown all draft season that he is dedicated to improving himself on and off the field, so an NFL general manager should feel comfortable making Te’o their first-round selection.

Apr. 21, 2012; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Gunner Kiel (5) throws in the fourth quarter of the spring game at Notre Dame Stadium. Kiel wore the number five jersey in honor of his uncle and former quarterback Blair Kiel who died on April 8, 2012. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Former Notre Dame quarterback Gunner Kiel is looking to transfer and he already has a number of schools interested in his services. He very publicly attended Cincinnati’s spring scrimmage at the end of March and now a few more teams are throwing their hats in the mix for the No. 1 quarterback from the 2012 recruiting class.

Along with Cincinnati, Kiel has received interest from MAC schools Ball State, Miami (Ohio) and Northern Illinois, along with a trio of schools from the SEC — Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Tennessee.

Of the three SEC schools Kiel has been contacted by, Ole Miss and Mississippi State are the more serious contenders to land him.

Kiel confirmed the interest he has received from these teams during an interview with ESPN.com‘s Joe Schad.

Throughout his young college career, Kiel has had some commitment issues, but it is hard to blame him for looking to get out of his gig with Notre Dame. Kiel couldn’t beat our Everett Golson last season and he would have likely sat behind the signal-caller that led the Fighting Irish to a national game appearance again this year.

By transferring, Kiel will get a chance to build a strong relationship with his quarterbacks coach in 2013 before competing for a starting job in 2014.

If he is looking for a team loaded with young talent that could be poised for a breakout, then he should strongly consider making the jump to Oxford. On offense, Kiel would have a weapon in Laquon Treadwell and a very nice line up front led by Laremy Tunsil when he got on to the field in 2014.

Where do you think would be the best spot for Kiel to succeed? Sound off in the comments section and share your thoughts with us.

Mar 26, 2013; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish former player Manti Te’o runs the 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. Mandatory Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

Earlier today we passed along the news that Stanford Cardinal tight end Zach Ertz was invited to New York for the 2013 NFL Draft but was unsure if he would attend, but we have learned the decision of one draft prospect. Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o has turned down an invitation (actually two) to attend the draft in New York.

Te’o likely realizes that his presence in New York would create an unbelievable frenzy that would take away from his special moment. Te’o is close to realizing his dream and it would be a shame to see that taken away from him with the constant media attention at the draft.  For once, Te’o has made a good decision.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network passed along the news:

#NotreDame LB Manti Te’o has turned down 2 invitations to be in New York City’s Radio City Music Hall for the 2013 NFL Draft, per sources

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 26, 2013

Te’o will likely spend his draft day at home with his family, free of any Catfishing interviews or negative press.

For a man that is getting ready to make the jump to the NFL, you can’t blame him for wanting to enjoy the moment with those who have been their by his side throughout all of his troubles.

Feb 25, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te’o prepares for on-field drills at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o has been living life under the microscope since his poor performance in the BCS national championship game and the catfishing scandal that quickly followed. At the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium, all eyes were on Te’o as scouts watched their stop clocks to see Te’o's speed.

Unfortunately for the star linebacker, who came in with a 4.82 40-yard dash time that was disappointing and put his first-round status in question.

On Tuesday, Te’o had an opportunity to improve on his 40-yard dash time at the Notre Dame Pro Day and it appears that he has done just that.

Per Bruce Feldman of CBS Sports:

Manti Te’o just ran unofficially a 4.75 40 according to ESPN at Notre Dame’s Pro Day.

— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) March 26, 2013

Other reports had him as low as a 4.68. The time is an improvement, but still is far from being an impressive number.

But when you watch Te’o play, he doesn’t need the long speed to be a valuable asset to your defense.

Te’o is an instinctual linebacker that relies on his ability to quickly read plays and he uses he football IQ to always find his way to the ball. The disappointing national championship game film remains on everyone’s minds, but that doesn’t erase what he had done in the years before.

Regardless of Te’o's 40-yard dash time, he will be a first-round pick in April’s draft.

Jan 7, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly congratulates quarterback Everett Golson (5) after a touchdown against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half of the 2013 BCS Championship game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The BCS National Championship Game did not go as planned for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and head coach Brian Kelly. Alabama dominated the Fighting Irish in every aspect of the game. Whether it was offense, defense or special teams, the Crimson Tide were getting the best of Notre Dame. Now, with an offseason to examine what went wrong, Brian Kelly is taking inspiration from Nick Saban’s squad and focusing on a certain aspect of the game.

Saban has inspired Kelly to focus on the team’s underwhelming special teams unit heading into the spring.

“Here’s what I know. Standing on the sideline for the national championship game, we’re ready to kick off and Alabama has eleven starters on kickoff return,” Kelly said, per College Football Talk. “Kickoff return. Nobody wants to be on kickoff return.

“So the emphasis for us in this spring is to really embrace their roles. I want starters to be part of our special teams units. The spring really is for us to integrate front-line guys in special teams. And that kind of decision has to come from me. So I‘ve made that, and we’re going about it in the spring to really put our best players on special teams.”

So while the national championship was an embarrassing time for the Fighting Irish, it appears that a valuable lesson has been learned and it will improve the team moving forward.

After all, you need to excel in all three phases of the game if you want to make another run at the title.

Mar 15, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Brandon Triche (20) reacts on the court against the Georgetown Hoyas during the second half of a semifinal game of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden. Syracuse won 58-55 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

We are nearing the end of the Big East conference as we know it, but that hasn’t stopped the teams at Madison Square Garden from putting on one last incredible tournament as the teams fight towards the 2013 NCAA tournament. On Friday, the two semifinal matches went down. Syracuse and Georgetown matched up in the first semifinal that took us to overtime.

It was a heated contest that ended with Syracuse taking down the Hoyas in overtime by a 58-55 score. Taking down the No. 1 seed in the tournament was exactly the boost the Orange needed on the way to the finals.

In the second semifinal match up, Louisville was able to take down Notre Dame to set up their finals meeting against Syracuse.

Louisville did exactly what they were supposed to do as the No. 2 seed in the tournament and will now face the team that knocked off No. 1 with an automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA tournament on the line.

You can get the tournament schedule and complete Big East tournament bracket here.

Here is the updated Big East tournament bracket: 

Be sure to stay tuned to FanSided.com throughout championship week as we keep you up to date with the latest conference champions and teams that earn automatic bids into the 2013 NCAA tournament field.

Apr. 21, 2012; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Gunner Kiel (5) throws in the fourth quarter of the spring game at Notre Dame Stadium. Kiel wore the number five jersey in honor of his uncle and former Notre Dame quarterback Blair Kiel who died on April 8, 2012. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are coming off of an appearance in the national championship, but it looks like they will be heading in to next season without a key member of their 2012 recruiting class.

Former top recruit Gunner Kiel — who was a five or four-star recruit depending on your preferred scouting service — plans to transfer from the program.

Kiel committed to the Fighting Irish after decommitting from Indiana.

Per Irish Illustrated:

After spending last season as a scout team quarterback the former [top] prospect from Columbus, Ind., plans to transfer, a source tells Irish Illustrated. Kiel enrolled at Notre Dame last winter after graduating from high school a semester early.

Potential landing spots for Kiel include Ball State, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois and Cincinnati.

Without Kiel, Notre Dame has last year’s starter Everett Golson, along with Tommy Rees, Andrew Hendrix and incoming freshman Malik Zaire.

Notre Dame will likely roll with Golson once again, but keep an eye on where Kiel lands. He is a talented passer with a bright future ahead of him.

To see the threat that Eifert presents, all you need to do is put on the national championship game when Notre Dame matched up against Alabama. Eifert demanded so much attention from the Crimson Tide defense that the team’s top cornerback Dee Milliner was given the assignment of shutting down the Fighting Irish star tight end.

Jan 7, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Tyler Eifert (80) catches a pass defended by Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Dee Milliner (28) during the first half of the 2013 BCS Championship game at Sun Life Stadium. Elfert was ruled out of bounds on the play. Mandatory Credit: Eileen Blass-USA TODAY Sports

“Alabama knew he was the guy they had to take away, so they put their top cover guy on him,”  one top college scout said, per the Times of Trenton referring to the decision to place Milliner on Eifert.

At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Eifert stole the show and began to pull away from Stanford’s Zach Ertz as the top tight end in the draft. Eifert has received so much praise that he is starting to be considered as the best all-round receiver in this year’s draft, not just the best tight end.

“Keenan Allen (of California) is up there,” a NFL personnel man said. “But I’ll put Eifert up there with any of them. This kid is good, real good.

“(Detroit’s Brandon) Pettigrew was pretty good coming out (of Oklahoma in 2009), but this kid is better all-around then he was. This guy is the real deal. He can run. He can catch. He runs good routes. He’s not a great blocker, but he’s getting better at it, and he’ll get even better yet.”

Last season, Eifert racked up 50 receptions, 685 yards and four touchdowns, which was a step back from his previous year’s production of  63 passes, 865 yards and five touchdowns.

“He’ll probably go somewhere in the middle of the first round, somewhere in the teens,” another scout said. “And somebody is going to get a real good player there.”

There are a number of teams in the middle to late first-round that have needs at the tight end position, so the belief that Eifert could go in the teens is not out of the question.

Mandatory Photo Credit: US PRESSWIRE

Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te’o disappointed at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine with his poor 40-yard dash time and lack of explosive athletic ability during on-field drills. While Te’o left a lot to be desired in the Underwear Olympics, he did impressive scouts behind close doors during the interview process. Te’o showed off a great understanding of the game and a strong sense of leadership, which has always been his best attribute.

Te’o will now just need to improve on his workouts times for when the scouts visit Notre Dame for the team’s Pro Day. Te’o knows that he will need to improve his times and he believes that it is obvious he will shave time off of his 40-yard dash.

“Obviously, faster than a 4.8,” Te’o said,per Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune. “We’ll see what happens.

“I think the 40 time measures what the 40 time is supposed to measure. I think that’s something that I’m going to get better. The only way from here is up, so I’m definitely going to get better at that. I think, as far as play, I think what’s on the film, that’s the play. Obviously, I can get faster in my 40.”

Te’o does have a point. Some guys are just track guys and their speed does not translate to football speed. When you watch Te’o play — minus the national championship game — he shows great instincts and is always finding his way to the ball. The quick play recognition and angles are more important for a linebacker than long speed.

I understand the concerns about Te’o's speed, but he should erase some of those questions at his Pro Day.

When April’s draft rolls around, it would be an absolute shock if Te’o is not selected in the first-round. With a load of linebacker needy teams in the bottom of round one, it is hard to find scenario that would have Te’o slipping out of the top 32 picks.

A report from the Sporting News indicates that Adidas has already informed the Louisville Cardinals that they will be receiving the new unis and the Adidas Twitter account sent out a few teaser photos that indicate the UCLA Bruins, Baylor Bears, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Cincinnati Bearcats will also get the new look.

The teams will be outfitted with the new impact camo jerseys during the NCAA tournament.

It will be interesting to see the reaction from the rabid college fanbases of the team’s that receive the uniform makeover. The reaction to Golden State’s unis were mixed, so there is no reason to believe the reaction to Adidas’ impact camo jerseys will be any different.

Early indication is that the uniforms these college programs receive will look a lot like the camouflaged jerseys from the McDonald’s All-American game:

Here are the teaser photos that Adidas sent out on their Twitter feed:

What do you think? Do you like the sleeved jersey concept or is it something that Adidas should immediately move away from after their latest experiment? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

Feb 25, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te

Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te’o did not impress scouts with his 40-yard dash time and he measured in the bottom third of middle linebacker prospects during most of the testing at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, but it is what happened behind closed doors that continues to help Te’o stay in the good graces of NFL talent evaluators.

Te’o has never been known for his impressive athleticism, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that Te’o flopped during on-field drills at the combine.

His measurables and athleticism will never wow you, but it is his football IQ, awareness and his leadership ability that make Te’o one of the top inside linebacker prospects in the 2013 NFL Draft class.

At the combine, Te’o met with a number of NFL teams and he showed them during one-on-one interviews that he is still the same kind of person they had believed prior to the unfortunate catfishing incident. Te’o reportedly impressed most of the teams he met for interviews and it has kept his draft stock in the first-round range.

ESPN’s @adamschefter on Manti Te’o: “Teams that met with Te’o came away very impressed … Teams believe he still will be a 1st-round pick.”

— Evan Silva (@evansilva) February 27, 2013

It makes perfect sense. There are too many teams in the second half of the first-round that need linebacker help — Pittsburgh, Denver, Atlanta and Baltimore to name a few — for Te’o to completely fall out of day one.

People will continue to knock Te’o leading up to the draft in April, but the reality is that the combine did not change his standing among the NFL teams. Expect Te’o to be one of the top 32 picks and the team that lands him will be very happy about the player they draft.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te’o clocked a disappointing 40-yard dash time during on-field workouts at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine. Mandatory Photo Credit: US PRESSWIRE

Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te’o was the center of attention when the linebackers performed in on-field drills at Lucas Oil Stadium at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine. Unfortunately for Te’o, his numbers did not impress scouts, but he has defended his poor performance by saying there will be improvement at his Pro Day and directing blame for the poor outing on stress.

“I was running near a 4.6, a 4.5,” Te’o said on the NFL Network, via Pro Football Talk. “Today was just a long, long day.”

Te’o clocked an official 4.82 in the 40-yard dash.

The stress Te’o blames for his performance came from his meetings with 20 NFL teams in Indianapolis and the non-stop media attention he has been receiving since news broke that the story of his dead girlfriend was a hoax.

It is a lot for a young man to have to deal with during one of the most important times of his life, but that is not an excuse.

Te’o knew he would need to perform well at the combine and that all eyes were watching. If the stress got to him, it could be a troubling sign for NFL teams.

The former Fighting Irish star will have one final chance to impress scouts at his Pro Day, so he better rest up and make sure he is stress free so he doesn’t turn in another disappointing outing.

Feb 25, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te

Linebackers took the field for on-field workouts at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday and one of the big names everyone wanted to watch was Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Manti Te’o.

Te’o ran an official 4.82 in the 40-yard dash and, while it wasn’t spectacular, it was the type of time we were all expecting. Te’o isn’t an overwhelming or impressive athlete, but he is a player that relys on his instincts. The slower time should not hurt Te’o's stock as much as some people may believe.

Here are the results of the 40-yard dash for this year’s group of linebackers:

Oct 27, 2012; Little Rock, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks tight end Chris Gragg (80) looks on during the game against the Ole Miss Rebels at War Memorial Stadium. Mississippi defeated Arkansas 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

The tight end class took the field at Lucas Oil Stadium for on-field drills during day one of the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine. This year’s class features some incredible talent at the position, including Notre Dame’s Tyler Eifer, Stanford’s Zach Ertz and San Diego State’s Gavin Escobar. While the big three headline the class in all-around talent, a few names emerged during the 40-yard dash and impressed scouts.

The big workout warrior in the tight end class was Arkanas Razorbacks’ Chris Gragg. Gragg clocked a blazing 4.50 time and continued his impressive numbers throughout the other on-field workouts.

Of course, any talent evaluator knows that the 40-yard dash does not change what was seen on tape, so don’t expect Gragg to jump any of the previously mentioned tight ends. You can also expect guys like Florida’s Jordan Reed and Cincinnati’s Travis Kelce to go off the board before Gragg.

Here are the top five tight end 40-yard dash times from Saturday’s on-field combine workouts:

Other notable times:

• Zach Ertz, Stanford: 4.76
• Gavin Escobar, San Diego State: 4.84
• Jordan Reed, Florida: 4.72

Feb 6, 2013; Auburn, CA, USA; Eddie Vanderdoes announces he will attend Notre Dame on national signing day at Placer High School. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

The top remaining unsigned player in the nation, five-star defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes, has finally made his decision. Vanderdoes announced his commitment to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Placer High School.

Vanderdoes was a former USC Trojans commit who backed out and decided to look for a new college destination.

The  6-foot-2, 310-pounder was expected to be leaning towards UCLA after decommiting from the Trojans, but a late recruiting trip to South Bend was all Vanderdoes needed to sign on with the Fighting Irish.

His decision came down to Notre Dame, Alabama, UCLA, USC and Washington.

Jan 5, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o and disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong were both extensively in the public eye to start the season and had highly publicized interviews to give their side of the story of the scandals that they were involved in. While the pair hoped their interviews could help their public image, it doesn’t seem like they made the impressive they were hoping for.

Instead, Te’o and Armstrong top Forbes’ America’s Most Disliked Athletes list. Per Forbes’ report:

The latest public surveys from Nielsen/E-Poll show Te’o and Armstrong in a virtual dead heat for the dubious title of America’s most disliked athlete (though we give the nod to Armstrong based on higher name recognition, which gives his score a bit more heft). Each appeals to just 15% of the public, according to Nielsen’s polling, which it conducts on a rolling basis with the help of E-Poll, an Encino, Calif.-based market research firm. Candidates were limited to active athletes with a minimum of 10% awareness (Armstrong is now barred from officially sanctioned events, but still competes as an athlete, hence for all practical purposes he is active).

“The Oprah interview hurt [Armstrong, he came off as pompous, arrogant and unapologetic,” says Stephen Master, senior vice president of sports at Nielsen.

As for the reasoning for Te’o being near the top:

“The story was just so creepy,” Master says. “And even when he knew he’d been duped he stuck with the story for awhile, and he’d told people he had met the woman in person.”

Te’o and Armstrong are leading the race for number one and come in ahead of the likes of Lakers forward Metta World Peace, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. It isn’t exactly the type of list that an athlete hopes to land No. 1 one.

As we prepare for National Signing Day, there are some big decisions to be made along the recruiting trail. Many of the nation’s top recruits are undecided and their choice on Wednesday could make or break a recruiting class. Let’s take a look at some of the top recruiting classes heading into National Signing Day and evaluate how the impending signings could boost or drop their ranking.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Jan 5, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; East running back Derrick Henry (2) runs for a touchdown against the West during U.S. Army All-American Bowl high school football game at the Alamodome. The East won 15-8. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

It should come as no surprise that the two-time defending BCS National Champions are leading the race to the top. It was just a season ago that the Crimson Tide were able to land immediate stars T.J. Yeldon and Amari Cooper and this year they have another all-star class loaded with superstar potential.

Some of Alabama’s prized recruits include Derrick Henry and Robert Foster, who continue the tradition of star rushers and receivers in Tuscaloosa. Alabama has also added some great defensive help with five-star linebacker Jonathan Allen. They also added Reuben Foster late Monday night.

Along with the four five-star recruits that they have already landed, the Crimson Tide are in the running to sign a few more.

Don’t expect Alabama to lose the top spot.

2. Florida Gators

The Gators recruiting class is just a notch below Alabama’s and has the potential to grow into the best of the bunch. Florida’s 2013 class should help immensely on the defensive side of the ball with 13 of their early commits landing on the defense.

Among the Gators early star recruits is the top rated cornerback in the nation, Vernon Hargreaves III.

We know the SEC is built on strong defense and Will Muschamp is setting himself up to have one of the greatest units in the conference. This Florida program was knocking on the door just a season ago and they could be poised to come smashing through in 2013.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

Urban Meyer is one of the top recruiters in the nation and he is proving that once again in 2013. Meyer has been able to keep the same recruiting areas in the northeast that Ohio State has been able to hammer in the past, but he brings the added ability to use his connections in the south and convince players to come up and join the Big Ten.

After going undefeated last season, the Buckeyes are loading up on talent once again and are ready to make another run at a perfect record.

4. Michigan Wolverines

Michigan needs to compete with the Buckeyes and they are giving it their best effort this season. Head coach Brady Hoke has been an all-star on the recruiting trail and has been able to put together a stunning class.

The biggest potential star for the Wolverines is running back Derrick Green, who could shape up to be a superstar in Ann Arbor. The Richmond, Virginia product has the potential to jump into the starting line up immediately and contribute to the offense. There is little doubt that he will live up to his five-star status.

Pair Green with four-star quarterback Shane Morris in the future and Michigan could boast a dangerous backfield for the next few years.

5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Following a disappointing performance in the BCS National Championship, the Notre Dame football team is hoping to stay on the right track and build on the level of success that they reached just a season ago. There was concern that the lack of success in the title game could hurt Notre Dame on the recruiting trail, but they have not lost any momentum and Brian Kelly was able to land a handful of five-star recruits.

Among the stars of the Fighting Irish 2013 recruiting class are linebacker Jaylon Smith, who is the top-rated linebacker in the nation, and safety Max Redfield. The two can help keep the Notre Dame defense at a top level.

6. USC Trojans

The appeal of Southern California always pays dividends on the recruiting trail and this year was no different. The Trojans were able to and five five-star recruits heading in to National Signing Day.

Max Wittek is entering his sophomore year and looked shaky at the end of last season, but the Trojans will have some added security with their incoming freshman signal-caller Max Browne, who is the top-rated quarterback recruit in the nation.

No matter what USC does on the field, they are able to secure elite talent from around the nation. It will be interesting to see how they finish off their 2013 class.

7. LSU Tigers

The LSU Tigers roster was ripped to shreds after double-digit underclassmen decided to bolt for the 2013 NFL Draft. However, in typical LSU fashion, the Tigers were able to reload and prepare themselves for another serious run in the SEC.

LSU has secured 28 recruits with 21 being four-star recruits or better and the class can just improve on Wednesday.

8. Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M is capitalizing on their success from last season and having the reigning Heisman Trophy winner sure does not hurt.

The Aggies have attracted 38 recruits heading in to Wednesday’s National Signing Day and a number of the recruits are four-star recruits. The big prize for the Aggies is five-star athlete Ricky Seals-Jones, who could blossom into a star target for Johnny Manziel.

9. Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia is sitting pretty in the top ten heading in to tomorrow, but they are still in the running for a number of the top undecided prospects. Even if the Bulldogs are unable to secure any more elite recruits, they will still finish the process with an incredible class.

Many believe that Mark Richt and company could jump into the top five if they land a few of the top undecided recruits. Georgia is a team to watch on Wednesday.

10. Ole Miss Rebels

The Rebels are the talk of the recruiting trail as they have managed to secure a number of top prospects. Head coach Hugh Freeze and company have done an amazing job at returning the Rebels to SEC relevancy. A strong showing on Wednesday will shoot Ole Miss’ recruiting class up the ranks.

If the current group of 23 commits wasn’t strong enough, Ole Miss is considered the favorite for two of the best remaining prospects — No. 1 overall recruit Robert Nkemdiche and No. 1 ranked offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Securing those two would be a huge accomplishment for the ever improving program.

Stay tuned to FanSided.com for the latest college football recruiting news and be sure to visit us on National Signing Day for up to date signing announcements on the nation’s top recruits.

Jan 7, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; (From left to right) Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly, linebacker Manti Te

Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te’o was going to be the focus of PETA’s joke at Super Bowl XLVII. The animal friendly organization was set to raise a billboard taking a shot at the star linebacker’s fake girlfriend and the hoax that has been revealed in the recent weeks.

After a request from Te’o's legal representatives, PETA has decided not to raise the billboard.

“We wish Manti Te’o well and are grateful that his recent fake relationship allowed us to call attention to the very real cruelty of chicken factory farms and slaughterhouses,” says PETA Vice President Lisa Lange. “Manti’s face has vanished from the ad, but all of our 100 percent cruelty-free vegan game-day recipes—including faux-chicken wings and sandwiches, potato skins, and more—are still available at PETA.org and are as delicious as a pick-six.”

Here was the billboard they were planning on running:

We understand that Te’o's legal team did no want to draw any more attention to the hoax, but this ad was not designed with any malice. It was meant to take a fun little shot at one of the biggest stories to rock the college football world. PETA’s mistake was using an actual photo of Te’o, instead of a cartoon version that would have still portrayed his likeness.

Notre Dame star linebacker and NFL hopeful Manti Te’o was the victim of an internet hoax that led him to believe his girlfriend was dead. News eventually broke that the news was all fake, and Te’o has been the butt of all internet jokes since the breaking news. The latest shot at Te’o comes from the folks at PETA –  People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PETA is running a campaign for faux-chicken in hopes of saving the lives of chickens who are otherwise slaughtered to be eaten as chicken wings during the Super Bowl. The company will be running this ad on a billboard by the Superdome. Last year, 1.25 billion chicken wings were consumed during the Super Bowl.

[RELATED: Manti Te'o, Katie Couric interview gets auto-tuned]

They are hoping that number significantly decreases with their faux-chicken.

Here is the text that accompanied the Te’o ad, via PETA’s official blog:

Manti Te’o may have been buffaloed by a fake girlfriend, but sometimes “fake” is actually better. That’s why PETA created this billboard urging football fans to avoid unnecessary roughness to chickens on Super Bowl Sunday by intentionally grounding real chicken wings and opting for play-action fake fowl instead:

Those animals in PETA’s “Glass Walls” video? Unlike Manti’s make-believe girlfriend, their deaths are real. Birds slaughtered for their wings and other body parts are often dropped into tanks of scalding-hot water while they are still conscious and aren’t covered by even the meager protections of the Humane Slaughter Act.

The price of chicken wings is currently skyrocketing because of higher feed costs caused by this summer’s drought, which makes now the perfect time to try vegan wings, such as Gardein Classic Style Buffalo Wings, a favorite of vegetarian and former Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams.

Poor Manti. That kid can’t catch a break, but it was a clever crack from PETA.

Luckily for Te’o, this will all be in the rear-view mirror after April’s 2013 NFL Draft where he will likely be a first-round selection, but he should still get used to the jokes because they will be coming his way in the NFL locker rooms.

Jan 5, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te

We are a few days removed from the televised interview with Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Manti Te’o and talk show host Katie Couric, but the interview is about to be relevant again thanks to an amazing auto-tuned version that has surfaced.

The song, “Why, Why, Manti?” has one of the catchiest choruses I have heard from an auto-tuned song. Honestly, the hook is still stuck in my head and I can’t stop laughing.

You have to see if for yourself.

The video features Te’o, Couric, a cameo from Al Roker and, of course, Manti’s dad busting out some smooth rhymes. In two words, this is simply amazing. Check out the auto-tuned version of Te’o's interview and let us hear your thoughts on it in the comments section:

Nov. 21, 2012; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Scott Martin (14) talks to his teammates as the take the court for the game against the George Washington Colonials at the Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame won 65-48. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Scott Martin could be watching his college basketball career coming to an end. According to the Chicago Tribune, Martin will be out of action for the next two to three weeks because of recurring pain in his knee. Unfortunately for Martin, the pain could keep him out for the rest of the season.

Last may, Martin was granted a sixth-year of eligibility from the NCAA that allowed him to play for Notre Dame this season.

On the season, Martin had been a solid contributor for the Fighting Irish. Martin has 7.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game this season. His absence will now leave Notre Dame coach Mike Brey looking to find a replacement that can take Martin’s spot in the rotation.

“Yesterday for me, I was like, how are we going to play?” Brey said. “I still don’t have those answers. I think you’ll see a little bit of everything on Saturday.

“If they have to play their way into it a little bit, the young guys, we can do that. There’s a lot of games left. If we have to learn on the fly for a while to have what need to have in February, that’s what we have to do.”

If this is the end for Martin, it is an unfortunate end to his collegiate career. There is nothing you hate to see more than a young man watching his career come to an end from the sidelines. Hopefully he will be able to suit up once again after these next two to three weeks pass.