SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Manti Te’o elected to return to Notre Dame for his … freshman year?
“I told (defensive coordinator Bob Diaco), if I come back next year, I want you to coach me as the worst linebacker,” the junior linebacker said Monday, in his first media session since declaring he’d return to the Irish in 2012.
“I want you to coach me as a freshman. I don’t want you to coach me as a Butkus finalist, I don’t want you to coach me as a Lott finalist. I want you to coach me as the worst linebacker. That’s basically what he told me: ‘I’m going to have to remind you that you told me to coach you as the worst linebacker, because that’s how it’s going to be.'”
The team’s leader in tackles, tackles for a loss and sacks reiterated Monday that the decision to return mostly revolved around the value he placed on senior year memories versus the possibility of a first-round NFL payday.
Of those memories, Te’o put it bluntly: “Millions of dollars can’t buy them.”
But the on-field corollary is Te’o’s desire to set himself apart in Notre Dame lore. Hence his request to Diaco, his position coach, for the throwback coaching.
“He’s on me with every little thing,” Te’o said. “That’s what I want. By this time next year, I want to be the best linebacker and the best defensive player to ever leave this place.”
Diaco, meanwhile, just smiled about the leeway.
“Watch what you ask for,” he said. “You’ll have to ask him that question at two-a-day camp next fall.”
Decision time: Junior tight end Tyler Eifert has not received his underclassman evaluation from the NFL and probably won’t until after the Dec. 29 Champs Sports Bowl.
Still, Irish coach Brian Kelly said Eifert’s decision “is going to come here very quickly.” It is unlikely Eifert would make any call without the NFL feedback.
Staff issues: Charley Molnar won’t be part of bowl preparation due his duties as Massachusetts’ new coach. Kelly said he will make a staff addition by Jan. 4, when the recruiting period ends.
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Kelly said he would “keep things in-house if I can.” There is the option of promoting offensive line coach Ed Warinner, who has coordinator experience, or the rumored shift of secondary coach Chuck Martin to offensive coordinator.
Running backs coach Tim Hinton, meanwhile, deflected rumors about Ohio State’s interest by saying there was no contact and “I’m going to coach at Notre Dame as long as I can.”
Scheduling note: Notre Dame and Rice agreed to a 2014 game in South Bend. It will be the fourth meeting between the Irish and Owls.