Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o experienced a tragic week off the field. His grandmother and girlfriend both died within 24 hours of each other, then a few days later he somehow found the strength to go lead the Notre Dame defense in a 20-3 win over Michigan State. Notre Dame blog One Foot Down tried to put into words what watching Te'o on the field meant:

We go to school, we go to work. We have good days and bad, good weeks and bad. Life sometimes goes our way, sometimes it doesn't. But usually, usually we get through the week just fine and ready to enjoy some Notre Dame football on Saturday. And we tune in tonight and we see Manti Te'o. A young man who had a worse week than most of us could imagine. And we see him play through immeasurable sadness. And we see him not just play, but lead--truly lead--his team into battle. And we know that the souls of his grandmother and girlfriend were with him. My thoughts and prayers go out to Te'o's and his girlfriend's families. My respect and gratitude go out to Te'o: warrior poet philosopher king.

Te'o finished with 12 tackles and a fumble recovery in the game.

For more information on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, check out One Foot Down