"The former teammate said Te'o played along with the story because he likes attention," reported local ESPN 1420 radio host Josh Pacheco on Thursday.

Angry football fans added their own commentary about why, for whatever reason, Manti Te'o, at the pinnacle of his football career, lied about a girlfriend that never existed.

"He's using this to light a fire under him more," said one caller.

Notre Dame learned of the hoax on December 26th, but said Te'o knew as early as December 6th.

The Associated Press uncovered the football star recounted the story of his cancer-ridden girlfriend, the same story by then he knew was a hoax, five days later.

And, that he had already done the same thing December 8th, talking lovingly about the passing of his fake girlfriend at a Heisman trophy ceremony in New York.

"Since I've really got hit with cancer, I mean, I don't like cancer at all. I lost both my grandparents and my girlfriend to cancer. So, I've really tried to go to children's hospitals to see children," said Te'o.

"If he was the patsy in this, you know where is the incentive for the person who conned him? And we can't find any," said Deadspin.com Assistant Editor Timothy Burke.

Deadspin.com broke the story on Wednesday, and Burke said the man accused of creating the hoax  Ronaiah Tuiasosopo had been doing the "Lennay Kekua" fake online profile for years.

Burke believes the 'story of Te'o' may have even blinded Te'o himself.