Girlfriend hoax stirs confusion

BEAUMONT - By Justin Hinton, KFDM News

Notre Dame officials stand behind Heisman trophy finalist, Manti Teo, after the sports website Deadspin reported his girlfriend, who supposedly died the same day of his grandmothers death, never existed, calling the entire relationship a hoax.

This was a very elaborate, very sophisticated hoax. Manti was the victim of that hoax, said Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick.

Teo released a statement saying he was humiliated by the entire situation, but many people arent sure whether Teo was part of constructing the relationship in the first place.

Sounded like maybe he knew about it, but at the same time, you never know who's on the other side, Evans Gawu, a sophomore at Lamar University said.

Freshman Randi Smith is baffled by the entire concept of online relationships.

I just don't understand how you could possibly fall in love with someone that you've never hung out with or been around or me, she said. I mean, it doesn't make any sense to me.

Gawu says in a world where connections can be made at the click of a button, its a lot easier.

I think that's the way the world is going because with all this technology, he said. People would rather text than actually go out and meet them.Girlfriend hoax stirs confusion