Fernando

“I want every kid out there who feels overlooked, underestimated, to know I was you. I was that kid, too. I was in your shoes. The truth is you don’t need the most stars, hype, or rankings. You just need discipline, heart, and people who believe in you, and you need to believe in your own abilities.” – Fernando Mendoza

If you’ve been watching the Hallmark Channel, binge-watching a Netflix series, or following the drama of political news, you may not have heard of Fernando Mendoza. May I suggest you Google him? (IYKYK)

In 2022, his stats ranked him 134th among high school quarterback prospects. He graduated from Columbus High School in Miami. He received only two college offers. The University of Miami denied him a walk-on offer. He was a two-star quarterback.

Fast forward to the National Football Championship Game on Monday night, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami, Fla.

In the fourth quarter of the game, Mendoza, the Indiana University QB, makes a snap decision to run on fourth down with five yards to go to score a touchdown. If you do not understand what this means, please have it explained to you. Mendoza was taking a HUGE risk. He ran and reached for it. The reach was beyond description.

It was as if he was wearing a Superman cape and crossed over the line to SCORE one of the biggest touchdowns in college football history. That picture went viral, even appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine.

Naysayers never gave Mendoza or Indiana University a chance in Hades of reaching the championship game, let alone winning. IU held the all-time record for most football losses (over 700).

Then, Curt Cignetti walked onto the campus in the fall of 2023. Nothing would ever be the same for Hoosiers who love football.

He won.

Yes, if you Google him, you will see … he wins. He believed in his players.

Back to Mendoza and what I have learned from him …

Focus on what you can do in the moment.

Get to know your team. It’s really not all about you.

Ignore the naysayers.

Look to your faith and focus on your God-given abilities.

Respect your parents and appreciate their belief in you.

That Monday night, Fernando Mendoza walked onto that field, a field he had been rejected from, and he showed the world, the coaches, and the powers-that-be who he was. Nothing about him said, “look at me.” He simply showed them what he could do … and the rest will go down in sports history as one of the greatest moments to remember.

He was targeted and bloodied and yet he didn’t whine to the blind referees. He simply kept playing. My opinion of the officiating? I’m biting my tongue and controlling my fingertips on my keyboard.

The other team was bigger and had several five-star recruits. IU had 0. At the beginning of the season, the odds were 100-1 for IU to reach the championship game. Cignetti and his players must not have gotten the memo. They won.

Fernando Mendoza speaks with the media following IU’s massive national championship win. (Photo by Janet Hart Leonard)

Yes, there must have been something in the air that night, Fernando. The stars were bright that night, Fernando. I could hear Abba singing ever so softly.

He held the trophy. He now wears the ring. He used his voice to give God the glory. He gave credit to his parents, coaches, and teammates. It wasn’t about him and yet it was. It was about the person he became through perseverance.

For a few hours, traffic was pretty much nonexistent in Indiana, as most eyes were on ESPN. It felt good to cheer and then celebrate. I will always remember where Chuck and I were the night the good guys won, when a mom cheered from a wheelchair and a dad sat beside his wife, making sure she could see her son from her viewpoint.

At the end of the game, Fernando spoke to the kids who had been overlooked and who had been told they weren’t good enough. He gave all who watched something to cheer about, not just a football team but a way to live their lives.

On Monday night, the underdog wore an invisible cape and crossed over the line to win the game.

Chuck and I will be eagerly awaiting a NEW Hoosiers movie in a few years. Wonder who will portray Cignetti and Fernando …

Janet Hart Leonard can be contacted at janethartleonard@gmail.com or followed on Facebook or Instagram (@janethartleonard). She is the recipient of the Reporter’s Spring 2025 Ink-Stained Wretch award. Visit janethartleonard.com.