Notre Dame senior linebacker and recent recipient of the Lott Impact and Chuck Bednarik Player of the Week Awards, Manti Te’o, added another accolade to a growing list of honors for this season – his first Sports Illustrated cover.
Te’o is having a special season already. The kind of season that we all envisioned Te’o would have when he committed to Notre Dame 4 years ago in a move that surprised the recruiting world. Four years later, Te’o has developed into the most dominant Notre Dame linebacker in the last 20 years highlighted by back to back performances that will go down in Irish lore for years to come.
By now everyone knows the story of Te’o losing both his grandmother and girlfriend suddenly less than 24 hours apart just two weeks ago. Since then, Te’o has channeled his emotions into two of the best performances of his career while leading Notre Dame to its first 4-0 start to a season in a decade.
The only downside to Te’o gracing this week’s cover is the dreaded “Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx”. Hopefully Notre Dame resting on a bye this weekend will help mitigate any jinx that comes with being on the cover. Notre Dame fans remember all too well the “Return to Glory” cover featuring Maurice Stovall during the 2002 season – the last time Notre Dame started a season 4-0.
The last time something Notre Dame football related found itself on the cover of SI was 2006 when Brady Quinn, Tom Zbikowski, and Travis Thomas were one of the 2006 season preview covers.
For Notre Dame fans looking to purchase the cover, the Te’o cover is a regional one and might not be available in all areas.
I live in Hawaii and I am a big time Notre Dame fan even traveled to to Ireland twice to see them play, Manti Teo is a great player and I want to know how I can purchase a copy of the sports illustrated edition with him on the cover. He is from Hawaii and the magazine should have been available all over this state. He will go down as one of the greatest players to come from Hawaii.
So obviously I’m not a reader of SI but I want to pick up this issue (for myself and family) I’m in the region and everything I’ve read sounds like it’s out, but I’ve yet to see it when I’ve looked.
How can we get his cover issue in Maine?
Call the ND BookStore they might ship you one.
Here come the Irish!
Traditionally defensive players do not get much of a look for Heisman unless they do other things like return kicks or punts etc. However in what looks like a year in which there is no STANDOUT QB or Running Back on a team that may win the majority of their games or a NC Teo would certainly be in the mix. With the setbacks he has had personally and his Captaincy at UND if the Irish were to go say 10-2 or better and be in contention for a top BCS bowl game then along with the history of Heisman winners from UND you would certainly have to give him a chance to be in the final 5 in NY on award night. If he plays final 8 games this year at current level along with Jones at Georgia those 2 Def players would have to come under consideration I would think.
How does one obtain a copy of this issue if he lives outside the Midwest region?
… He’s everything that’s still right about college football
How can one purchase a sports illustrated that lives in a different region?
I think it’s unfortunate that he hasn’t gotten legitmate consideration seeing that no other player in 4 weeks has truly asserted himself in the fashion that Te’o has. Perhaps he’d be considered if we put him back to return punts… LOL.. Funny part is, he could probably do it!
Bestt LB this school has ever had.
Um, you must be in your 20’s –
Amen Frank,
Te’o by-passed the NFL this year for his love of ND. As I view it, Te’o deserves all the awards and accolades he will receive in his final season at ND! Further, I don’t think anyone at ND will be disappointed if he brings home a Heisman Trophy along the way.
Here come the Irish!
If the voters really knew what the hell football was all about Te’o would be the clear leader for the Heisman. Alas they only see offensive players as being worthy and that in itself is ‘OFFENSIVE’
Go Irish! Hooah!