Notre Dame is celebrating 125 years of football this fall, and it seems like the specter of tragedy is somehow linked to Irish football.
Manti Te’o will lead the Irish Saturday despite the tragedy of losing loved ones.
From the untimely deaths of George Gipp in 1920 and Knute Rockne in 1931, to the more recent tragedies claiming the lives of recruit Matt James and videographer Declan Sullivan, the reminders of life’s fragility occur over and over.
This time, senior captain and All-American Manti Te’o will attempt to lead the Irish against #10 Michigan State at Spartan Stadium on Saturday night, just days after losing both his grandmother and girlfriend.
Coupled with the distance from many family and friends, it would seem to great a burden for almost anyone to bear. But we know Manti is a singularly strong young man — strong in his faith, strong in his values, strong in his resolve. He will summon the courage to lead the Irish.
At the same time, we are all reminded — again — that’s football is just a game, interrupted again and again by real life.
May God grant them rest.
