Manti Te'o Felt 'Long Day' Coming Against One College Football Powerhouse

Manti Te'o was a fantastic Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker from 2009-12. He was a rare feat in college football as a defensive player up for the Heisman during his time in South Bend. The only defensive player to have won the award was former Michigan Wolverines defensive back Charles Woodson in 1997.

Te'o finished second in Heisman voting in 2012. He recorded 437 total tackles, 34 tackles for loss, eight and a half sacks, seven interceptions, and two forced fumbles during his college career. Te'o spent time in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers (2013-16), New Orleans Saints (2017-19) and Chicago Bears (2020). He left the Chargers before they moved to Los Angeles in 2017.

Te'o retold his experiences from the 2012 national championship game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Notre Dame lost that game 42-14. Before exiting the tunnel, Te'o knew Notre Dame was in for a rough game.

Te'o talked about how former Alabama offensive linemen DJ Fluker and Chance Warmack put fear into the Fighting Irish before kickoff. Te'o and Fluker played for the Chargers together from 2013-16.

"...I do remember this very vividly," Te'o said. "My soon-to-be teammate, DJ Fluker and Chance Warmack. Come running out of the locker room, their jerseys up. Big bellies are out. They have their fours up, and I remember DJ running by and going, 'Womp, Womp!' I remember vividly the silence behind me, and I kinda glanced back at my teammates, and the eyes on them were so large. I knew at that time, I was like, 'Alright. This is gonna be a long day.'"

The win over Notre Dame was Nick Saban's third national championship at Alabama. Saban won six during his time in Tuscaloosa. The Alabama defense held the Notre Dame offense to 270 passing yards and 32 rushing yards. Former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson threw one interception during the game.

Alabama faces the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in its season opener on Aug. 31.

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