Hoax may explain Te’o’s play in title game, Kelly says

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o didn't show any signs of being affected by the girlfriend hoax leading up to the BCS title game, but his play indicates it might have taken a toll, coach Brian Kelly said Tuesday.

"Hindsight is 20-20. I didn't think going into the game he was affected by it. But he didn't play his best. Alabama had something to do with that, clearly. But I really don't know," Kelly said.

"It's a lot to weigh on the shoulders of somebody. I think we can make the leap that maybe it did. But I think Manti would know for sure."

In an interview with ESPN after the news of the hoax broke, Te'o said it did not affect his performance in the blowout.

Kelly answered questions Tuesday for the first time since the Irish were beaten 42-14 by Alabama in the BCS title game on Jan. 7. He said his interview with the Philadelphia Eagles was mainly to get more information about coaching in the NFL, and his heart remains in college football. He's also working on a contract extension with Notre Dame.

Kelly said everything that has come out about the girlfriend hoax matches up with what Te'o told him when he called Kelly on Dec. 26. Kelly contacted athletic director Jack Swarbrick immediately after Te'o told him what happened.

"Obviously, we all heard the story. It just sounded so crazy that the first thing I wanted to make sure we did was get the right people on top of this immediately," he said. "That was my first thought, to find out 'What the heck is going on here.' "

Te'o had described the girlfriend, who supposedly died of leukemia in the fall, as the love of his life. But Te'o got a call from the person posing as the girlfriend on Dec. 6, to say she had not died. He continued to talk about her when questioned at the Heisman Trophy ceremony on Dec. 8. He told Kelly about the situation 18 days later.

Te'o told ESPN on Jan. 18 that Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, a 22-year-old acquaintance who lives in California, contacted him Jan. 16 and confessed to the prank.

Kelly said he wasn't sure what to think initially. Despite all that's happened, Kelly said he will still remember Te'o as one of the best teammates and leaders he has been around in 22 years of coaching.

"He showed the way how to be a great teammate. His work ethic, his commitment, all of those things," he said. "He was special to coach, and he did all the things that I think great players have to do on a day-to-day basis."