Sept. 16, 2012

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Notre Dame Linebacker Manti Te’o

On playing after a tragedy…

It was hard. I lost a woman who I truly love, but I have my family around me and my football family. At the end of the day, families are forever and I will see them again someday.

On football as an escape….

It is a great escape. I will be honest, throughout the game you are still thinking about it, but football allows me to be in a little realm, a little world that I know. I can honor them by the way I played.

About the win…

It was for them, for my girl and my grandma, and for all my loved ones who have passed on. They are all watching. It was a happy moment.

About the support…

My family and my girlfriend’s family has received so much love and support from the Notre Dame family. Michigan State fans showed some love. It goes to show that football is just a game that we play and have fun doing it, but at the end of the day what matters are the people around you and family.

Notre Dame Wide Receiver John Goodman

On the atmosphere after the win in the locker room with Manti Te’o and everything he has gone through…

It was great. I was definitely playing for him this week because to go through something like that is just terrible. I can’t imagine that. I feel for him and it was great that we came together as a team when it happened and got behind him.

Notre Dame Running Back Cierre Wood

On starting and finishing the game well…

We made a lot of mistakes that go unseen, but that is when the practice comes in handy. We have to go over that on Monday look at the things we did wrong and correct them and get ready for Michigan.

On head coach Brian Kelly calling it a signature win…

As a program, it was a big win, but as a team it was just another win to us. Mark it off the calendar and on to the next, which is Michigan. We will focus on them.

On lifting Manti Te’o up…

He is one of my closest friends, we’ve been cool since my freshman year. We have been close. Ever since he told me and ever since we found out, I was there for him, as was our whole team. We just kept his head up and tried to keep him as positive as we could. When he came out, he played tremendous. I have to give a lot of credit to him for playing with a lot of heart.