'09 HI LB Manti Te'o (Notre Dame Man)

[ShakeDown]

Why is it 720 by 266? 851 by 315 is the size of a Facebook cover photo.

I didn't do the re-sizing brotha, just copied the image url from a post Manti retweeted.

I'm sure TP or someone can provide a more high quality version.

 

[IrishFBfanatic]

The full quality one is 851x315. It's on the turning point page. Manti must have resized it when trying to make it his cover.

 

[Buster Bluth]

I'm not saying you did it, I'm just wondering why it wasn't made that way.

 

[IrishFBfanatic]

It wasn't made that way....

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Good read from Inside the Irish. Gotta love Manti. Too bad more players don't exhibit that kind of heart.

“This was a tough decision, and I found myself praying about it often,” Te’o said back in December. “Ultimately, I really want to experience my senior year at Notre Dame. The happiest moments so far in my life have come when I am spending time with people I love. I wanted to spend another year with my teammates and the coaches on our team. I don’t think any sum of money can replace the memories I can create in my senior year.

“Graduating from Notre Dame is really important to me. Many people encouraged me to go to the NFL because I could always earn my diploma later in life. If I did that, though, I would not have the chance for the same experiences that are ahead of me in my senior year, and I would not have finished at Notre Dame with the guys I started with and care so much about. When I weighed all the factors that went into this decision, it just felt right to stay at Notre Dame.”


Te’o overcomes doubts to fulfill promise with the Irish | Inside the Irish

 

[Pachuco]

Bumping this, because in the midst of all the recruiting threads, we have the greatest LB in the nation to appreciate at ND one last year. Mr. Te'o is primed to step into his brightest spot yet and fulfill some expectations he's set before himself.

As a fan of Notre Dame football, I'm less worried about season outcomes, and more excited and grateful for another opportunity to see our players face the challenge of the occasion and play with heart. At the end of the day, it's still football, and heart can make a good team great.

A little over 2 months until kickoff. Lead the way, Manti. This is your last summer in Blue & Gold. We got your back, brother!

 

[beryirish]

don't scare me like that

 

[magogian]

Seriously, I half expected to read that he had an injury or something

 

[Pachuco]

don't scare me like that

Haha. My fault, dawg.

In the recruiting shuffle, I was seeing threads of all these younger cats who haven't played a down of CFB yet. Made me think of the ones who have already hit the gridiron for ND and are leaving after this year.

I hope recruits, committed and otherwise, really see Manti play this year. That guy IS Notre Dame.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I second this bump.

This young man is primed to have a year for the record books. I keep on seeing him post Tweets such as, "getting better" etc.

If Manti says he's getting better, then he's getting better. Which an improved Manti is scary to think about.

Manti is the leader ND needs.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Manti is a very unusual combination of great pride and great humility. Rather remarkable young adult to say the least. Manti wants to be the best linebacker around, and wouldn't mind others thinking that too.

Coach has been completely aware of that. When forced to say something about the Te'o/Kuechley linebacker pairing before the BC game, Kelly was put into a real bind. He said: They are both great football players and people. Manti is stronger. Luke is a bit more flexible ... but Manti might want to argue that. Thus Kelly pulled off another amazing "political" comment which was honest at the same time [everybody knew that Kuechley's "flexibility" was why he was better in pass coverage], while being loyal to his guy.

Right alongside this, you hear the mentioned tweets and comments in interviews from Manti admitting that he needs to work on some things to get better. He is talking about the ability to turn rapidly and get back into proper protection zones, and then rapidly shift directions again to get to the ball in flight. That's why, for one thing, he decided to drop weight and pick up speed and quickness.

Manti is an absolute gem in all this. Pride to be the best. Humility to accurately assess who he is. Legend in the making.



p.s. leadership was brought up. Manti is one of those quiet charismatic leaders. This is usually more effective off the field than on. He is becoming more emotive on the field to my eye/ear but not a get-after-the-team guy yet. (He's too "nice"). His confidence as a person who speaks up spontaneously is growing though [you can see this in the off-the-field films] and maybe this will be the year for true on-the-field verbal action.

I'm hoping for Manti, but I'm counting on people like ZMartin and hopefully Cave on offense, and maybe Cierre will become a little less the sideline clown and occasionally get aggressively vocal. Our QB won't be ready for this yet whoever he is.

On defense, we need KLM, as senior citizen with street cred, Big Lou, with enough personality to play any role and a huge desire for everyone to work their butts off to win, and Jamoris as the deepback leader to be these guys. If Manti also becomes verbally aggressive, we're set on leadership, despite losing guys like Harrison and Jonas and in his own way Cwynar. Lynch's loss of on-field fire will ultimately hurt a bit, as I am almost sure that he would translate that into verbal incitement-to-riot in his teammates as he matured --- but that ship sailed. We are still loaded with on-field, in-game leadership potential, but I'd like to see it explode out more.

 

[NDdomer2]

Manti Te'o @MTeo_5

I've never been more prepared for a season not because I'm in the best physical shape of my life but because spiritually I'm just as strong!

 

[FLDomer]

Quick question, while I was watching the interview on und.com and bout half way through, Manti scratches his nose and it looks like he is wearing a ring on his left hand....so I guess my question is, is Manti hitched??

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Manti is a very unusual combination of great pride and great humility. Rather remarkable young adult to say the least. Manti wants to be the best linebacker around, and wouldn't mind others thinking that too.

Coach has been completely aware of that. When forced to say something about the Te'o/Kuechley linebacker pairing before the BC game, Kelly was put into a real bind. He said: They are both great football players and people. Manti is stronger. Luke is a bit more flexible ... but Manti might want to argue that. Thus Kelly pulled off another amazing "political" comment which was honest at the same time [everybody knew that Kuechley's "flexibility" was why he was better in pass coverage], while being loyal to his guy.

Right alongside this, you hear the mentioned tweets and comments in interviews from Manti admitting that he needs to work on some things to get better. He is talking about the ability to turn rapidly and get back into proper protection zones, and then rapidly shift directions again to get to the ball in flight. That's why, for one thing, he decided to drop weight and pick up speed and quickness.

Manti is an absolute gem in all this. Pride to be the best. Humility to accurately assess who he is. Legend in the making.



p.s. leadership was brought up. Manti is one of those quiet charismatic leaders. This is usually more effective off the field than on. He is becoming more emotive on the field to my eye/ear but not a get-after-the-team guy yet. (He's too "nice"). His confidence as a person who speaks up spontaneously is growing though [you can see this in the off-the-field films] and maybe this will be the year for true on-the-field verbal action.

I'm hoping for Manti, but I'm counting on people like ZMartin and hopefully Cave on offense, and maybe Cierre will become a little less the sideline clown and occasionally get aggressively vocal. Our QB won't be ready for this yet whoever he is.

On defense, we need KLM, as senior citizen with street cred, Big Lou, with enough personality to play any role and a huge desire for everyone to work their butts off to win, and Jamoris as the deepback leader to be these guys. If Manti also becomes verbally aggressive, we're set on leadership, despite losing guys like Harrison and Jonas and in his own way Cwynar. Lynch's loss of on-field fire will ultimately hurt a bit, as I am almost sure that he would translate that into verbal incitement-to-riot in his teammates as he matured --- but that ship sailed. We are still loaded with on-field, in-game leadership potential, but I'd like to see it explode out more.

I agree. I see Tyler Eifert being a big offensive leader, and Theo Riddick, with Braxton Cave. On defense I see KLM becoming more vocal with Zeke and Jamoris. But Manti will be the big Kahuna.

 

[HawaiianIrish]

Quick question, while I was watching the interview on und.com and bout half way through, Manti scratches his nose and it looks like he is wearing a ring on his left hand....so I guess my question is, is Manti hitched??

It probably was a CTR (choose the right) ring..

 

[GreatGolson]

this kid is mediocre at best. I dont even see why we offered him.

From 2009.... i think hes done alright

 

[HawaiianIrish]

Amazes me how fast time has flew..... It seems like just yesterday Manti was laying out Nevada RB's. Now he is the best LB in college football, and even a better person off the field.

 

[D-BOE34]

Quick question, while I was watching the interview on und.com and bout half way through, Manti scratches his nose and it looks like he is wearing a ring on his left hand....so I guess my question is, is Manti hitched??

I saw this in the compliance video. I didn't ask because I just assumed he was. Curious myself on the real answer though.

 

[NDinFL]

Amazes me how fast time has flew..... It seems like just yesterday Manti was laying out Nevada RB's. Now he is the best LB in college football, and even a better person off the field.

You said my friend!

I remember his first series against Nevada when he layed out that RB....

Where does the time go?

 

[BobD]

Dear Manti,

Please squash this guy like a bug for me.

Thank you, BobD

 

[yankeeND]

Dear Manti,

Please squash this guy like a bug for me.

Thank you, BobD

If it would please the court I'd like to second that motion

 

[johnnykillz]

If it would please the court I'd like to second that motion

All who oppose?

 

[clashmore_mike]

All who oppose?

*crickets*

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Deafening fukkin' silence. (Deadwood)

 

[johnnykillz]

*crickets*

And all in favor?

 

[Bogtrotter07]

AYE!

 

[johnnykillz]

So it is written, so shall it be done.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Faugh a Ballagh

 

[NDdomer2]

On the topic of leadership:

Notre Dame football: Te'o the clear voice for ND - southbendtribune.com

“I kinda went out of my way to be vocal,” Te’o said. “For my teammates, they could see right through it. That’s not me.”

“I’ve learned when to talk, when not to talk,” Te’o said. “Some people think that being a leader is always being vocal. A great leader is the one that knows when to talk and when to keep his mouth shut.

“I know when to do that. I know how each of my teammates is going to respond. I’ve built a relationship with each individual. I know how he functions. I know what makes him go. I know what irritates him.”

 

[beryirish]

I hate that picture of Drob trying to stiff arm Manti. Michigan fans use that picture and compare it to the Heisman....when in reality Manti tackled Drob and on top of that I think it was for a loss. Just bugs me.