CRAWFORD | Sleepless in Bloomington: Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman moment is here

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The turf burn wouldn't let him sleep.

Not the nerves. Not the adrenaline. Not the looming Heisman Trophy ceremony.

No, what kept Fernando Mendoza awake after Indiana's Big Ten Championship win over Ohio State was an angry patch of skin, rubbed raw on his throwing arm by the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium.

"Pretty bad," he said, lifting his right sleeve to reveal fresh bandages. "Had trouble falling asleep."

So, he found something else to occupy his mind.

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He turned on YouTube and watched Heisman speeches. About 10 of them. Just to hear what the moment felt like for others. Just to study it. To sit with it.

They weren't just speeches to him. They were a living archive. A brotherhood of belief and performance. And, very much on this night, a looming possibility for him.

"I've always had pretty good recall of the Heisman winners of my age," Mendoza said. "But it's always great to hear about great winners from the past, some of their great speeches, and just to really research the topic, because it is a present moment at hand, and I want to make the most of the opportunity, whether it's meeting people there, a potential speech or just enjoying the opportunity."

In a way, Mendoza was doing what he always does — preparing. Even if it was just to sit in a seat among finalists. Even if it meant bandaged arms, sleepless nights and late-night crash courses on legacies.

Now, Indiana's quarterback is headed to New York City with a perfect 13-0 record, a Big Ten title and a chance to add a trophy that no Hoosier has ever won.

And, yes, maybe a speech of his own.

"Pressure is a privilege"

This season, Mendoza has become a kind of folk hero in Bloomington. Heisman chants broke out. Teammates began calling him "Heismandoza." Social media lit up.

And all the while, he tried to shut it out. Tried to keep the process first. Tried not to let the noise touch the preparation.

He even worked with a sports psychologist. Not because the pressure got to him, but because he knew what pressure could do.

"It's been a huge challenge," he said. "With the pressure comes privilege … but you've got to stick with what got you here. The process. The prep. The never-ending preparation."

That part has never been a problem. His approach is meticulous. Obsessive, even.

He talks about "preparing to exhaustion." Studying so thoroughly that no outcome, win or loss, leaves regret.

"I'm going to be able to lay my head on the pillow at night sleep tight, knowing that I did everything possible in my power to prepare," he said. "And I think I've kept that process through every single game I played, knowing to not live with regrets."

That's how he got to this point. That, and a team around him he never forgets to credit.

From Yale to this

He wasn't supposed to be here.

Mendoza was once committed to Yale. During his visit there, he took a photo holding the one of the school's old Heisman Trophies.

"I think it was from the 1930s or '40s," he said. "They use it as a marketing prop."

He laughed about it. Just a kid holding history. No one thinking he'd ever be back in the conversation for real.

But then came a Power 4 offer. Then a transfer to Indiana. And a plan to learn under coach Curt Cignetti. And now, with the Hoosiers headed to the College Football Playoff and Mendoza headed to New York, that throwback photo has taken on new meaning.

"It just speaks volumes that I couldn't have done this by myself," he said. "I'm shining now, but only because there are so many stars around me."

Family, faith and the long-range goal

At the beginning of this season, Mendoza set a private goal for himself.

He didn't tell anyone. It felt like too much. Too far away.

But he'd seen a list of the preseason Heisman favorites and — surprise — his name wasn't on it.

"I prayed about it — imagine if I could just make the ceremony," Mendoza said. "Like, how cool would that be? To be able to take that with me for the rest of my life. And so now that goal has come to fruition, I'm able to share that with people. You don't want to pre-share that, but it's such a cool moment. When I thought of it, it was a little bit more of a dream, kind of a long-range goal that's farther than you think you could reach. And at this point, it's come to fruition. And it really stems back to all the amazing people that have been here in Bloomington."

Optimism, he says, is something he learned from his mother, who has battled MS. Her grace and grit in the face of uncertainty became a blueprint for how he approaches setbacks and self-doubt.

"Whatever it is — being a two-star recruit, having no scholarship offers, the transfer portal — it's about staying optimistic through it all," Mendoza said.

And when family matters got heavy this year, he said having his brother on the team and his parents nearby helped keep him centered.

"With all the challenges, I believe my family and I, we've all risen to the occasion," Mendoza said. "Similar to how the Indiana football team does on the football field."

Teammates, not stats

When the Heisman announcement came Monday night, Mendoza was surrounded by friends and teammates.

He got a lot of text messages, but he's quick to note, not as many as when Indiana won the Big Ten title.

"The Heisman is great," he said. "But the only reason I'm up for the Heisman is because we're 13-0 and Big Ten champs."

He doesn't talk about touchdown passes. He talks about Aidan Fisher's tackles. About the offensive line. About special teams.

And when he found out that Fisher and three other teammates publicly declared he was their Heisman?

"It means everything," Mendoza said. "As a teammate. As a friend. That kind of support … it's hard to put into words."

One last thing

So now, Mendoza heads to New York. He'll meet the other finalists. He'll shake hands, take pictures, soak in the moment.

And yes, he's writing a speech. Even if he doesn't give it, he has demonstrated, he believes in being ready.

Anything can happen.

He knows that better than anyone.

Because a few years ago, he was holding a borrowed Heisman at Yale.

And a few days ago, he was wide awake with a turf burn, watching speeches and wondering if he'd get a chance to give one of his own.

"I want to make the most of the weekend," Mendoza said. "I want to make the most of the opportunity … with my friends and family."

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