One thing is for certain, the Manti Te’o statement via SportingNews is real. We think?

“This is incredibly embarrassing to talk about, but over an extended period of time, I developed an emotional relationship with a woman I met online. We maintained what I thought to be an authentic relationship by communicating frequently online and on the phone, and I grew to care deeply about her.

“To realize that I was the victim of what was apparently someone’s sick joke and constant lies was, and is, painful and humiliating. It further pains me that the grief I felt and the sympathies expressed to me at the time of my grandmother’s death in September were in any way deepened by what I believed to be another significant loss in my life. I am enormously grateful for the support of my family, friends and Notre Dame fans throughout this year. To think that I shared with them my happiness about my relationship and details that I thought to be true about her just makes me sick.

“I hope that people can understand how trying and confusing this whole experience has been. In retrospect, I obviously should have been much more cautious. If anything good comes of this, I hope it is that others will be far more guarded when they engage with people online than I was. Fortunately, I have many wonderful things in my life, and I’m looking forward to putting this painful experience behind me as I focus on preparing for the NFL draft.”

(photo via ESPN)

Don’t worry Notre Dame, you still have Regis. (via NY Post)

Via the Notre Dame Equipment twitter feed a photo of the helmet Notre Dame will wear for their “Shamrock Series Game” versus Maryland this weekend. Yikes! It’s safe to say that if Rudy Ruettiger had to wear this shamrock design he would’ve opted for another school. Okay maybe not, but it’s still pretty cheesy. Pro tip, Notre Dame: Stick with the solid gold helmet.

With the NCAA Tourney beginning [for realsies] this year on St. Patrick’s Day, is it a sign from the Irish Gods that it just might be the Fighting Irish’s year? If not, this pic is a nice default way of saying — Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!