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Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o acknowledges the applause of fans as he leaves his final home game late in the fourth of an NCAA college football against Wake Forest game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. Notre Dame defeated Wake Forest 38-0. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
SOUTH BEND, Ind. >> Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly says linebacker Manti Te’o “should win the Heisman Trophy provided we continue to win.”
The unbeaten (11-0) Fighting Irish ascended to No. 1 in the major polls today, a day after beating Wake Forest 38-0 and the Laie native and team captain has been a big part of the effort.
At his weekly press conference Sunday, Kelly said, “The only thing I talk to him about (the Heisman) is that we have the hope that we’ll be in New York together in a couple of weeks.”
The Heisman Trophy announcement is scheduled for Dec. 8 in New York.
Kelly said, “I’ll push for him, I think he (Te’o) should win the Heisman, but he’s not really focused on that.”
Heisman Trophy balloting begins this week as Fighting Irish finish the regular season Saturday at Southern California.
Only one primarily defensive player, Michigan defensive back Charles Woodson in 1997, has won the Heisman in its 77 years.
