Manti Te'o - An open letter

[tadman95]

Dear Manti,

We have never met and likely never will. On the chance we do, I will proudly shake your hand and say “Thank You”. I won’t be thanking you for your efforts on the field. That would be too easy. I will be thanking you for being a good guy. Thank you for being some one I can point out to my son as a young person he can use as a benchmark to measure himself against.

You’ve lived your life the right way and I expect that to be true going forward. The last few days have been rough, and unfair, but this will make you wiser, and stronger. Time is the best judge and it is on your side, and will ultimately prove you as the person I believe you to be.

Whatever you face going forward, and some of it will not be pleasant, know that I and many others are standing behind you, proudly, with our heads high.


Sincerely,
One of Many

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Dear Manti,

We have never met and likely never will. On the chance we do, I will proudly shake your hand and say “Thank You”. I won’t be thanking you for your efforts on the field. That would be too easy. I will be thanking you for being a good guy. Thank you for being some one I can point out to my son as a young person he can use as a benchmark to measure himself against.

You’ve lived your life the right way and I expect that to be true going forward. The last few days have been rough, and unfair, but this will make you wiser, and stronger. Time is the best judge and it is on your side, and will ultimately prove you as the person I believe you to be.

Whatever you face going forward, and some of it will not be pleasant, know that I and many others are standing behind you, proudly, with our heads high.


Sincerely,
One of Many

+1 Well said

 

[alaskandomer]

Dear Manti,

We have never met and likely never will. On the chance we do, I will proudly shake your hand and say “Thank You”. I won’t be thanking you for your efforts on the field. That would be too easy. I will be thanking you for being a good guy. Thank you for being some one I can point out to my son as a young person he can use as a benchmark to measure himself against.

You’ve lived your life the right way and I expect that to be true going forward. The last few days have been rough, and unfair, but this will make you wiser, and stronger. Time is the best judge and it is on your side, and will ultimately prove you as the person I believe you to be.

Whatever you face going forward, and some of it will not be pleasant, know that I and many others are standing behind you, proudly, with our heads high.


Sincerely,
One of Many

Great idea Tadman.

Manti,

Most of us have never met you, but over the past 4 years we've gotten to know you as a humble, good-hearted young man. Over the past week+, we have been stunned by the savage assault on your character by people who know nothing of who you are. Know this though, you have two families behind you- your family in Hawai'i, and your Notre Dame family, and neither is going anywhere.

Another One of Many

 

[kmoose]

Dear Manti,

We have never met and likely never will. On the chance we do, I will proudly shake your hand and say “Thank You”. I won’t be thanking you for your efforts on the field. That would be too easy. I will be thanking you for being a good guy. Thank you for being some one I can point out to my son as a young person he can use as a benchmark to measure himself against.

You’ve lived your life the right way and I expect that to be true going forward. The last few days have been rough, and unfair, but this will make you wiser, and stronger. Time is the best judge and it is on your side, and will ultimately prove you as the person I believe you to be.

Whatever you face going forward, and some of it will not be pleasant, know that I and many others are standing behind you, proudly, with our heads high.


Sincerely,
One of Many

Reps!! I'm not an alum, but I'd like to think of myself as part of the ND family. And family supports one another!

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Great post! I agree 100%!

 

[NDohio]

Yes, yes, yes!!

 

[alaskandomer]

I've heard the Notre Dame Family defined as students, alumni, faculty, family, and friends. You've been on this board since '05. If '07 didn't drive you away, I trust that nothing will.

Reps!! I'm not an alum, but I'd like to think of myself as part of the ND family. And family supports one another!

 

[wakeuptheechoes]

Yes, indeed! While things right now may be tough and frustrating this will not always be the case, it matters not who or how many believe in you, as long as you believe in yourself. My wish for you is that you look over your shoulder and see there are many many more that wish you only the best. Many thanks!

 

[Redbar]

Could not have been said any better, thank you.

 

[BobD]

Great post Tadman!

 

[irishtrain]

Dear Manti,

We have never met and likely never will. On the chance we do, I will proudly shake your hand and say “Thank You”. I won’t be thanking you for your efforts on the field. That would be too easy. I will be thanking you for being a good guy. Thank you for being some one I can point out to my son as a young person he can use as a benchmark to measure himself against.

You’ve lived your life the right way and I expect that to be true going forward. The last few days have been rough, and unfair, but this will make you wiser, and stronger. Time is the best judge and it is on your side, and will ultimately prove you as the person I believe you to be.

Whatever you face going forward, and some of it will not be pleasant, know that I and many others are standing behind you, proudly, with our heads high.


Sincerely,
One of Many

You came to Notre Dame to make a mark-you did. Thank you for the effort on the field and off the field. We are proud of you. No matter what happens from here on out you accomplished your MISSION. Your part in getting Notre Dame pointed in the right direction will never be forgotten.

 

[Junkhead]

I might be in the minority, but I don't care about the Manti "catfish" story in the least. He is an ND legend (at least in the discussion), and this media frenzy doesn't distract from that. It's hard to believe his time at ND is over already.

 

[zemaniak]

Dear Manti,
Selfishly, thanks for being a big part/reason that has made this season the most memorable and enjoyable in a LOOOONG time

Praying that you get the fathead you deserve. I'll be among the first to purchase it and PROUDLY put it on my mancave wall next to your jerseys

You've made a whole generation of fans fall back head over heels in love with ND football

Godspeed

 

[eNDzone]

Manti:

I shook your hand after a game two tears ago. Untill today I didn't know how much of an honor that was.

I am 50 plus years old and you and your family are not just an inspiration to my children but to me also. You have taught me a lesson or two. Thanks for it all. I will be cheering for you no matter where you play in the NFL.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

If by chance Manti sees this, I have shook your hand on multiple occasions, and I like to tell of the most memorable one:

I will never forget the look of compassion in Manti's eyes at the spring game two years ago. When my friend, Patrick, Manti's biggest fan, so slaughtered his name, and got stuck tongue tied. It started, "Man-e-o, Man-e-o!" Then his voice cracked. And the pitch grew shrill. He couldn't stop himself. It seems like it lasted forever, but it probably only took a few seconds. Manti first looked at him shrewdly, and evaluated him. I started laughing, and told Manti that Pat was his biggest fan ever. To see the look in Manti's eye. The smile on his face; you knew that Manti totally understood. No razzing, or shrinking back, Manti took Patrick's hand in both of his, and said, "Manti Te'o, glad to meet you! How you doin' today, man?" I mean we talked to Manti, Zack Martin, Kappy, Ethan Johnson, and a few others for five or ten minutes, before they unlocked the gate and let the team into the stadium.

Of course the most priceless part is when all of us were walking a few minutes later and out of nowhere, in a small voice Patrick stated, "Boy, was that a Seinfeld moment!"

I am a good judge of character, and when your dad said he was proud of you, and he loved you, I understand why.