SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The wrenching story of Notre Dame football star Manti Te’o’s girlfriend dying of leukemia – a loss he said inspired him to play his best all the way to the BCS championship – was dismissed by the school as a hoax perpetrated against the linebacker.

Notre Dame said Wednesday night it believes Te’o was duped into an online relationship with a woman whose “death” was then faked by the perpetrators of the hoax.

The school made the statement after a lengthy story by Deadspin.com, saying it could find no record that Lennay Kekua ever existed.