Notre Dame senior linebacker Manti Te’o will play one of the Irish’s biggest games of this season with a heavy heart today.
School officials say that within a span of 48 hours this week, the All-American from Laie has mourned the deaths of his maternal grandmother and his girlfriend.
"He lost some people very close to him and it’s obviously taken a toll on him," coach Brian Kelly told the media Thursday night.
The 20th-ranked Fighting Irish play No. 10 Michigan State today in East Lansing, Mich., on national television, and Te’o is a team captain and leading tackler.
Te’o’s girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, died Wednesday from leukemia. A day earlier his grandmother died, family friends said.
"Our players have been there for him and have been a great support. We’ll support him," Kelly said. "He’ll be with us. He practiced. He’ll be playing (today) against Michigan State. Unfortunately, he’s gone through a very rough 24, 48 hours.
"But his support and his family at home have been great, and all of the coaches and players have been there for him. He wants to be with his teammates; he wants to be with the people that care about him. He’s a strong man and he’s going through a tough time, but he’ll rise to the occasion."
Kelly said he and Te’o, a Punahou School graduate, have discussed the possibility of the linebacker returning to Hawaii before or after the Sept. 22 Michigan game. Notre Dame has an open week following the Michigan game.
"We’ve had some preliminary conversations about it," Kelly said. "We’ve got a bye week coming up. But we’ll see how things go. We know he’ll be with us (today)."
