It was freshmen media day at Notre Dame, the one time before the start of the season when freshmen get to tell us how training camp is going.
As expected, linebacker Manti Te'o was the darling of Friday's session.
He was set up at his own table, like coach Charlie Weis and quarterback Jimmy Clausen, when the defensive players came into the interview area. Te'o was surrounded by 18 reporters, and the group didn't thin below double digits during the interview time.
Beads of sweat were forming on the freshman's forehead as he answered question after question under the lights of TV cameras.
Te'o said it has been pretty easy to ignore the hype around him and just play football, but he was little uncomfortable having his own table during the defense's time with the media.
"I've always been one to include everybody," Te'o said. "I've not been fond of excluding myself from everybody and putting myself on a pedestal. This is kind of new for me."
Te'o seemed comfortable with the attention and his voice stayed even throughout his time with the media.
He is sure to garner more attention as Weis said he expects Te'o to be playing when the season opens Sept. 5 against Nevada.
Read Monday's Journal Gazette for more on Te'o.
And here are some other tidbits from freshmen media day:
Having fun
Running back Cierre Wood lived up to his reputation as a jokester. When he had some downtime between talking to reporters Friday he started walking around and made faces at his fellow freshman while they were being interviewed.
Wood's top target was fellow back Theo Riddick. As Riddick was being interviewed by six or seven reporters, Wood lined up in Riddick's sightline and started making faces.
"That is just the way I am," Wood said of his lighthearted mentality. "If I meet you for the first time, I'm not going to be that way because I don't know you. But if I get to know you and we become friends, I will joke around with you. That is just the way I am."
He also called out tight end Tyler Eifert, who was the last player to wrap up an interview at the end of the offense's session, saying it was time to go and he was holding everyone up.
Eifert’s camp
… And speaking of the former Bishop Dwenger star, who is competing for playing time at tight end ...
Eifert said the Irish preseason camp is like nothing he has ever experienced. He said the biggest thing that has stood out is the quality of players on the practice field.
"There is no weak link out there," Eifert said. "Everybody is big, strong and fast."
Eifert said the playbook was overwhelming at first, but he has been able to get the concepts down and it is becoming easier.
