Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1483505
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM NOV. 12, 2022 11 UNDER THE DOME Manti Te'o has added another honor from his decorated college football career. The former Notre Dame linebacker has been voted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, the hall announced Nov. 1 in unveiling its 2023 class. Te'o, who played for the Irish from 2009-12, was chosen from a field of more than 100 nominees and eight finalists by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame selection com- mittee. The other members of the 2023 class are 2009-12 Kentucky guard Larry Warford and 1932-34 Oregon State tackle Harry Montague-Field. Te'o is a native of Laie, Hawai'i. He is sixth in Notre Dame history in career tackles (437). He was the third player in program history to lead the team in tackles three straight seasons. Te'o was one of three Heisman Trophy finalists in 2012, after recording 113 tackles and 7 inter- ceptions. That season, he won seven individual awards, including the Walter Camp Award, which goes to the nation's best player. He was a three-time All-American at Notre Dame. The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame was founded in 2013 and is located in the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie. The class of 2023 will bring its total to 45 members. Players must be retired for at least one year to be eligible for induction. Te'o last played in the NFL for the Chicago Bears in the 2021 NFL playoffs. He played for the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints and Bears during his eight-year pro career, and he finished with 307 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 2 interceptions. Te'o will be inducted on Jan. 21, 2023. — Patrick Engel FORMER NOTRE DAME ALL-AMERICAN MIKE FANNING PASSES AWAY AT 69 One of the stars of Notre Dame's 1973 national championship team has died at age 69. Former Irish defensive tackle and All-American Mike Fanning passed away Oct. 30. Fanning was a starter on the 1973 team that went 11-0 and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to clinch the national championship. He returned for the 1974 season and was named a first-team All-American by four major selectors. The Associated Press named him to its second team. The 1974 Irish ended the year ranked No. 6 and allowed only 195.2 yards per game, which led the country. Fanning ended his college career with 164 tackles. The Los Angeles Rams selected Fanning with the No. 9 overall pick in the 1975 NFL Draft, and he was named to the all-rookie team that season. His most productive pro seasons were in 1979 and 1980, when he had 8 and 10 sacks, respectively. He ended his career with 42.5 sacks in 137 games. He played eight seasons for the Rams before being traded to the Detroit Lions in 1983. He spent a year there and played with the Seattle Seahawks in 1984. Fanning is a native of Tulsa, Okla., and a retired rancher. He played football and wrestled at Tulsa's Edison Preparatory School before coming to Notre Dame. He had worked for the University of Tulsa's athletic department since 2009, starting in group ticket sales. He served as the special assistant for administration and operations from 2013 until his death. "We are saddened by the news of Mike's passing," Tulsa athletics director Rick Dickson said in a statement. "He was a tremendous football player at Notre Dame and in the NFL and carried that competitiveness and work ethic into everyday life. "He was such a likable person who worked to help TU athletics achieve success." Fanning is survived by his son and two daughters. A cause of death has not been disclosed. — Patrick Engel Fanning was a starter on the 1973 team that went 11-0 and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to clinch the national championship. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS Te'o, who played for the Irish from 2009-12, was chosen to be part of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame's 2023 class from a field of more than 100 nominees and eight finalists. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA Manti Te'o Selected To Polynesian Football Hall Of Fame