When it comes to Notre Dame football in the past decade, one name comes to mind, Manti Te'o. He has been the face of Irish nation for the past 4 years. Te'o's passion for life, football, and family have been an imprinent of what it takes to be a member of the fighting Irish. "Fighting Irish began as a slur -- a term of opprobrium. But we took it up and
made it a badge of honor -- a symbol of fidelity and courage to everyone who
suffers from discrimination; to everyone who has an uphill fight for the
elemental decencies, and the basic Christian principles woven into the texture
of our nation. Preserving this tradition, and this meaning of Irish at Notre
Dame does honor to every one of us."(New York: Doubleday, 1990)
The first aspect of Manto Te'o that stands out is his passion for family life. When a person loses two passionate people in his life in less then 24 hours, and still has the mindset and courage to step onto the football field the same weekend is tremendous. When it comes to a team sport, supporting your teammates is vital for a team to pursue perfection and chemistry. When Te'o stated “I’m human, I have my own mistakes. I have my own weaknesses. But that doesn’t exempt me from being there for somebody. I’m a knucklehead sometimes, but if I can have an impact on somebody’s life in a positive way, I’m going to do it. Te'o put those words in stone the night he stepped onto the field against the Michigan State Spartans. He helped his team defeat the Spartans 20-3 recording 12 tackles as they rolled past the Spartans.
Throughout the Irish's season Manti Te'o has battled through adversity weekend by weekend ensuring the Irish an undefeated season. Even when the Irish were underdogs Te'o had the team mindset and mentality to focus his teammates to play to there top potential. When it comes to the Heisman trophy and its Heisman Trust Mission Statement "The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust ensures the continuation and integrity of this award. The Trust, furthermore, has a charitable mission to support amateur athletics and to provide greater opportunities to the youth of our country. Our goal through these charitable endeavors is for the Heisman Trophy to symbolize the fostering of a sense of community responsibility and service to our youth, especially those disadvantaged or afflicted. All assets of the Trust beyond the expense of maintaining the annual presentation of the Heisman Memorial Trophy are reserved for such charitable causes. The Trustees, who all serve pro bono, are guided by a devotion to college football and are committed to community service and the valued tradition which the Trophy represents."(Heismantrophey.com) No one deserves the trophy more than Manti Te'o.
Manti Te'o may be a "meat head football player" in some peoples minds, but when your really look into his inner person you see a genuine college athlete. Te'o has gone out of his way to help others and his community. When Te'o heard about a dying 12-year-old Catholic girl from suburban Detroit who was suffering from a deadly brain tumor. He took time out of his busy life of football, college, and family to write the young girl's family. "Dear Mr. and Mrs. Smith." Te’o wrote an emotional letter, via email. Picture a big, strong linebacker sitting at his computer, "most likely crying," as he said, over someone else’s pain, some stranger’s pain. All he had known about Bridget, all he had been told through a mutual friend, was that Bridget's brain tumor was finally proving too powerful and that she wasn’t going to get out of the hospital again. And she loved Notre Dame football and Manti Te’o. “Obviously, going through what I’ve gone through, with my girlfriend passing away from cancer, that whole thing hit home for me,’’ Te’o said in a private moment the other day, “My whole thing was just to reach out and let them know I’m here. “Just letting them know that the heavenly father is always there. Although it may not seem like it right now, He’s always there to help. It was definitely hard to write.“And I think it helped to ease my pain, too.’’
If this doesn't paint a picture perfect college athlete/student I don't know what will. The amount of compassion and integrity that Te'o has for others is truly something else, and I feel everyone should strive to be a better person like him. Te'o has been as close as it gets to your ideal Heisman candidate, and I will really contest the real meaning behind the Heisman trophy if he does not win.
