Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UPON FURTHER REVIEW TODD D. BURLAGE here will endure well beyond the mo- ment ND's ambassador plays his final down sometime in January. Through all things sans statistics, Te'o understands that great influence brings even greater responsibility. The Heisman hopeful takes the time to form friendships and share the Notre Dame spirit with incoming recruits that he will never play with. He's also taught his younger team- mates that a strong work ethic, atten- tion to detail and passion are a win- ning blueprint to use and pass along well after its designer leaves campus. And once Te'o moves into his lucra- sick 12-year-old girl through letters to her parents. "Please tell Bridget that I am her biggest fan. Thank her for being an inspiration to me," Te'o wrote. A brain tumor finally beat Bridget "The Brave" Smith in early October after a three-year fight that was sup- posed to last only a couple of months. And while Te'o prefers to keep these moments private, the inspiration and kindness he brings to others is impos- sible not to celebrate and share. "Bridget's in a better place now," tive career in the NFL, not surpris- ingly, he's already committed a big chunk of his future wealth to help youngsters reach the same heights he did. Even during daily interactions, Te'o takes note. In an interview for Notre Dame media, Te'o shared a story about him suggesting gymnastics lessons to an 8-year-old tumbling ace during a Boys & Girls Club volunteer stop, only to find out classes weren't a financial op- tion. "Money should never be a reason Te'o said. "She's with my girlfriend. There's no better place to be." Te'o will get his chance next year to help countless children such as Bridget and the aspiring gymnast when he be- comes both an NFL multi-millionaire and a refreshing change of face from what pro sports have become. "I want to go to the NFL and hope- fully make a lot of money," Te'o said, "and that money would go to helping out kids." Te'o didn't have a crystal ball on why a child can't live a dream," Te'o said. "And if I can have any hand in that, to help some kid live their dream, that's what I want to do." Te'o's entire career at Notre Dame is marked by moments of kindness and perspective. My favorite remains the inspiring story from Greg Couch of FOX Sports talking about Te'o setting aside his personal grief and reaching out to a that freezing and snowy recruiting trip in November 2008, when the Notre Dame faithful were adding injury to insult with a snowball attack on the Irish sideline, accentuating an un- thinkable loss to Syracuse. But a prayer, a vision and a mission brought Te'o to Notre Dame, in spite of that forgettable visit. And everyone he's touched since is better for it. ✦ Todd D. Burlage has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 2005. He can be reached at tburlage@blueandgold.com