It was reported on Jan 17, 2013 that the tragic story of Notre Dame Football star Manti Te'o's girlfriend dying mid-season was exposed as a lie.
The athlete, who had excelled inspite of his girlfriend's death, was tricked in an elaborate hoax. Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick revealed this in a press conference.
Jack said that some online predators took advantage of Manti Te'o's generosity and kindness and made him believe that the online relationship is real.
Heisman Trophy runner-up Manti Te'o's faced twin tragedies, one the death of his 72-year-old grandmother and another of his girlfriend, Lannay Kekua.
An investigation found that while on September 12, 2012 his grandmother did indeed die, the tragic story of Kekua dying of leukemia was false as she did not even exist.
Jack said that on December 26, Te'o approached his coaches saying that he had got a call from Kekua saying "I'm not dead".
In an investigation by his school, Te'o found that he had been duped. Jack said that though it was real for Manti be it the pain, the grief or the affection, it was a sad cruel game. Manti said that it was painful and humiliating.
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