Manti T’eo and Lennay Kekua
While this scandal is rather inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, it was an incident that captured national headlines. Notre Dame was making a run to the national championship game and Manti T’eo was trying to take the Heisman Trophy home during the 2012 college football season when this scandal reared its ugly head.
During the 2012 season, Te’o helped lead the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to the 2013 BCS Championship Game. For most of the season, Te’o was an inspiring figure. He lost his grandmother on Sept. 11 and then his girlfriend, Lennay Kekua died.
Kekua was apparently involved in a car crash and was subsequently diagnosed with leukemia, before suddenly dying in September.
The deaths captured headlines and served as inspiration for Te’o and Notre Dame. The star linebacker finished second in the Heisman Trophy race and the Fighting Irish, though pummeled by Alabama in the BCS Championship Game, had competed for a national title.
However, as Deadspin uncovered, Kekua never existed.
The photos of the woman seemingly everyone thought was Kekua was actually another woman. According to USA Today, on Dec. 6, Te’o apparently found out about the hoax and then later informed his coaches on Dec. 26. Notre Dame’s athletic director was then apparently told the very next day.
Notre Dame investigated. Deadspin found out. And, well, then everybody found out about it.
Te’o issued a statement, just like Notre Dame did. It seemed as if the Fighting Irish believed Te’o didn’t create a publicity stunt and he was catfished.