[Pink.]

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - A story about Manti Te'o's girlfriend dying of leukemia, which the Notre Dame All-American credited with inspiring him as he led the Fighting Irish to the BCS title game, turned out to be a hoax apparently perpetrated against the linebacker, the school said Wednesday.

The university issued a news release Wednesday after Deadspin.com reported it could find no record that Lennay Kekua ever existed.

The university said that Notre Dame coaches were informed by Te'o and his parents on Dec. 26 that Te'o had been the victim of what appeared to be a hoax. Someone using a fictitious name "apparently ingratiated herself with Manti and then conspired with others to lead him to believe she had tragically died of leukemia," the school said.

The university said "the proper authorities" are investigating a "very cruel deception to entertain its perpetrators." Notre Dame would not say who, specifically, was investigating the case.

The week before Notre Dame played Michigan State on Sept. 15, coach Brian Kelly told reporters that Te'o's grandmother and a friend had died. Te'o didn't miss the game. He said Kekua had told him not to miss a game if she died. Te'o turned in one of his best performances of the season in the 20-3 victory in East Lansing, and his playing through heartache became a prominent theme during the Irish's undefeated regular season.

Te'o went on the become a Heisman Trophy finalist, finishing second in the voting, and leading Notre Dame to its first appearance in the BCS championship.

Te'o and the Irish lost the title game to Alabama, 42-14 on Jan. 7. He has graduated and was set to begin preparing for the NFL combine and draft at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., this week.

Four days ago Te'o posted on his Twitter account: "Can't wait to start training with the guys! Workin to be the best! The grind continues! (hash)Future"

Te'o's mother did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

THESE HOAXES are getting ridiculous.
What possible purpose did this serve???

[mengala]

[BlueNosePit]

this story has had me thinking all day. After reading the deadspin article there is little doubt that he was in on it. No way he could be so stupid. theyve been together 4 years and never met? didnt visit her in hospita nor attend funeral etc?
This was just a publicity stunt to gain Heisman recognition and sympathy most likely. Another theory ive heard is he is gay and started the gf rumor so ppl wouldnt think he was really gay, and bc a catholic school like ND wouldnt accept him if the gay rumors were true.
Im sure TMZ will get to the bottom of this in no time.

[K9Grip]

I think they had been together since the beginning of 2012, but 'met' her in 2011. Regardless, I think he's gay, nothing wrong with that, but to pull off such a huge hoax, having an obit would have helped.

Why would a college football star and Heisman trophy candidate date a girl online, when he's got 50 girls pleading for his body, at his feet?
Let's see how hard they try to push this under the rug and make him come out looking like a victim.

[Sharon]

That's sick

[AmericanIllusions]

Find this motherfucker and hit him with the ban stick from hell. Tattoo it on his forehead so no one forgets, especially him. This is why no one trust anyone anymore.

[happy]

Do you know anyone on the internet is telling the truth unless you have proof? I think not.

[icheerthebull]

Originally Posted by Pink. ↗

THESE HOAXES are getting ridiculous.
What possible purpose did this serve???

not sure but dont alot of US sports have a wage cap? if so there is a limit to what they can get paid. So why are some richer then others? higher payments from the likes of nike and rebok. 'young kid overcomes adversity' 'star dedicates win to dead GF' brings in sponsors. perhaps greed was the motivation

[petedeamon]

....And the moral of this story is: "We don't give passing grades to our athletes on the basis of their being in our sports programs." Maybe he was studying to become a Rhesus Monkey in a research hospital,,,,sigh