Notre Dame fans on-hand for Saturday’s game against California were treated to a special moment with the return of former star linebacker Manti Te’o to campus.
Making his first public appearance at Notre Dame in over a decade, Te’o received a warm welcome at every stop as he looked to lend his support to his alma mater ahead of the matchup.
The Fighting Irish honored Te’o, a Heisman runner-up during his legendary senior season in 2012, with a shout-out on the jumbotron before the game and sent the crowd into a frenzy just prior to kickoff.
Te’o’s emotional return to South Bend comes amid an increased amount of exposure in his story after Netflix released a documentary, titled The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist, in August.