In this case, I don't think it is a matter of making things up but rather that people just don't remember real clearly. Simi's recruitment was bizarre from start to finish. His verbal to Callahan sort of came out of left field. Then after he decommitted, it seemed like for a while it looked like NU had no shot. Then all of a sudden, we were back in it. Then we were out of it again. And with each turn, we didn't want him, yes we did, no we didn't. Then toward the end, it seemed like we were back in it again. Bo flew out to California to meet with him. It seemed we were in the driver's seat at this point. The meeting did not go well. Simi apparently did a no show. End of recruitment. Then came the debates did Bo dump him or or did he dump NU by no-showing? Probably both.
Most people just don't have the stamina to remember all that drama and all the spin associated with each turn.