Weird is the correct word.

My first inkling is that Manti found out she was fake not too long after her faked death. He was probably too embarrassed to publicly bust the story, so he sat on it for awhile. He probably got over the hump where it was OK for him to tell people what happened, and now it has shit in his lap. I don't think that he fabricated this girl to get the publics pity. I just think he was goofed on and too embarrassed to spill the beans when the time was kosher. Now he looks like an ass.

Either way, can you imagine what kind of shit flinging would be going on right now had he won the Heisman? He's probably thanking Joseph Smith that he got 2nd place. Holy shit.