IF everything holds up: Manti Te'o was duped by a guy who had a prior history of “Catfishing.” He was completely mortified. He lied to avoid further humiliation and any distractions for Notre Dame en route to the BCS Championship.
That still leaves some holes. Why did Te’o say he met Lennay Kukua at Stanford and tell his father they’d spent time together? Was he was embarrassed about meeting someone online? Quite possibly. I know people who have fudged cyber-setup stories. Didn't Te'o think it was bogus that Lennay canceled/no-showed every time they were supposed to meet? Yup. But I can personally attest to how love can distort the rational thought process. Make you think things are ok. That aaaalll the excuses are copasetic, even though outsiders looking in would scratch their heads. Especially young love. And if Te’o is as devout a Mormon as he so proclaims, and he’s a virgin, the value of the emotional bond might supersede the physical. Who are we to judge?
But ultimately, here's what it comes down to for me. I don’t subscribe to the notion "a lie is a lie is a lie." I really do try to understand the psychology behind it. Manti Te'o had an inspirational story that was embraced by Golden Domers, and lots of non-Notre Dame folks, at a time when the Irish were finally emerging from obscurity. He appreciated the support, especially with the Heisman dangling. Probably even reveled in it a little bit. And you know what? What 21 year-old wouldn't? What 41 year-old wouldn't?
And then, Te’o found out he was flat-out Punk'd. Imagine getting that phone call. “Hi. It’s your dead girlfriend.” The confusion. The anger. The embarrassment of knowing that you, one of college football’s top defensemen, just got sacked. And you were too naïve to see the oncoming blitz.
Te’o consciously chose to continue perpetuating the storyline. Don’t get in the way of the team’s run to a national title. Figure out how to handle this mess publicly when we get back from Miami, he probably thought. Does that make him a liar? Yes it does. Does it make him a liar of Lance Armstrong proportions? Did he irreparably hurt anyone? Does it make him a bad kid? In the grand scheme of things, my gut tells me… no.
