Notre Dame official explains not disclosing hoax

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - A Notre Dame spokesman says the university decided against disclosing the hoax against Manti Te'o immediately after an investigation commissioned by the school confirmed it because they didn't think it would be in the best interest of the teams playing in the BCS championship game or the individuals involved.

University spokesman Dennis Brown tells the South Bend Tribune in a story Sunday that some school administrators thought they should release what they knew about the hoax when they became aware of it.

The hoax about Te'o's "dead" girlfriend became public Wednesday when it was reported by Deadspin.com. Athletic director Jack Swarbrick said after the news broke that Te'o and his family had intended to disclose the hoax, saying he believed they intended to do so on Jan. 21.