Many people probably thought it was a bit odd that embattled Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o was going to do his first on-camera interview about his fake girlfriend with Katie Couric on her afternoon weekday show.

In most cases “60 Minutes” or Barbara Walters land these landmark interviews. After all, Couric will never be confused with Mike Wallace.

However, Advertising Age is providing the answer to that question.

Shortly after Te’o's strange story about his on-line girlfriend broke his family hired Matthew Hiltzik, the CEO of Hiltzik Strategies for damage control. A New Yorker, Hiltzik is a crisis communications pro and has represented stars like Justin Bieber.

Now it has been revealed that Hiltzik also has Couric as a client. It is a win-win situation for Te’o and Couric.

“The PR executive is understood to be advising on the post-hoax media strategy, which includes a coveted, first TV interview between Te’o and another one of Mr. Hiltzik’s clients, Katie Couric,” noted Ad Age.

“Some reports have attributed the move to Mr. Hiltzik’s working relationship with Ms. Couric, but others say Mr. Te’o turned to her purely because she has wide reach.”

Sure, that’s why Couric landed the interview…