Mendoza For Heisman? It's Unanimous Among His Indiana Teammates

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Center Pat Coogan arrived at Indiana around the same time that quarterback Fernando Mendoza did. For an Indiana program that just had a school-record 11-win season and was desperate for more, Coogan and Mendoza were the stars of their transfer portal class.

There's no question that their individual successes has led to team success as well. Coogan, a four-year starter at Notre Dame, has helped solidify the Hoosiers' front, and they have one the best offensive lines in the game.

And Mendoza? The California transfer is 13-0 and has been the best player in the country all year. He's thrown for 2,970 yards and 33 touchdowns, and he's run for another 240 yards and six touchdowns. He was named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy on Monday night, and he's the odds-on-favorite to win the award when it is announced on Saturday night in New York.

Coogan and fellow teammates Elijah Sarratt and Aiden Fisher met with the media on Monday, and they were unanimous in their belief that Mendoza should win the Heisman. They don't have votes, of course, but they have opinions.

And they also have a lot of respect for their quarterback and leader.

"He’s absolutely the Heisman, and I’ll campaign for him myself,'' Coogan said. "We all see how talented he is, we all see the arm talent he possesses to put the ball in the perfect spot like we saw third-and-6 with Charlie (Becker) in the fourth quarter, throwing it in the perfect spot, just all game long.

"The kid is tough as nails, and that’s the unspoken part about him, and what really separates him. We all saw the shot he took on the first play of the game and to get up off the ground and rise. The ability to take that and still put his body on the line continuously for the team. He is absolutely the Heisman. He’s absolutely the best quarterback in the country and there’s no doubt in my mind. He’s absolutely the toughest quarterback in the country with no doubt in my mind. He is our rock and he’s the reason we have so much success on Saturdays. I’m happy for him. He’s put in so much work to be able to shine in moments like that. He deserves it all for sure.''

Linebacker Aiden Fisher, the Hoosiers' leader on defense, has seen it all from Mendoza this year, too. He's never been more impressed by a quarterback, and he's glad they share the same locker room.

"I was sitting next to him in the postgame interview (at Iowa), and he said he would die on the field to play this game. People laugh and chuckle about it, but he is dead serious,'' Fisher said. "He will do anything it takes to win, he cares so much about his team and his teammates, and whatever it takes to win, he’s going to do it. Maybe that’s taking a big hit to reach for a first down on third down; he’s going to do that.

"He’s been such a great leader and so selfless. He’s been a seamless fit since he got here, and I think that’s why he sacrifices everything to win.''

Coogan has seen Mendoza grow as a leader from Day 1. Respect is not given in college locker rooms, it's earned. And Coogan has watched Mendoza earn every bit of it, and watched him grow as a leader, from the start last spring right through the win over No. 1 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday.

"I think it’s a build. You have to gain trust by your actions, you aren’t going to gain trust just by saying it. You’ve got to gain trust by actions,'' Coogan said. "What you do on the field, what you do in the meeting rooms, what you do in the locker room, that’s where he really took the biggest stride.

"He is an ultimate professional, and an ultimate, wonderful teammate, in all three phases. He prepares like no one I've ever seen, he works his butt off like no one I've ever seen, and he is just an awesome locker room guy on top of that.''

Mendoza's toughness resonates with his teammates, too. He bounces right back up after big hits, and bounces back after the rare mistakes.

His teammates really appreciate that about the Miami native.

"If you had to pinpoint a moment in the season, I would say that hit against Iowa, when he got knocked out of bounds at the end of the third quarter, I think that was a huge moment for a rallying moment for this team,'' Coogan said. "Just to rally around our quarterback, and he really showed us. We knew it, but he showed us again with his actions that he’ll do anything, he’ll really do anything for us.

"He'll put his body on the line just for a chance to have success. So, that was probably a huge rallying moment, just looking back and having some perspective there.''

Fisher says the simple eye test should matter with Mendoza and the Heisman. He's a winner, a leader — and the quarterback of the only unbeaten team in the country.

"You just start with his film. The throws that he makes, they just wow you every time,'' Fisher said. "The job that he’s been able to do this year is nothing short of remarkable. When you talk about the Heisman and the best football player in the country, winning football games has to matter. He’s won more than anybody in the country and there’s only one undefeated team left.

“When you look at his resume for this award, there’s going to be a lot of games that come down to the fourth quarter and clutch drives to win football games, and he’s come through every time.For me, that’s my Heisman. He should be America’s Heisman. He’s the best football player in the country and I don’t think it’s close.

"From here, he’s done such a phenomenal job of being a leader for us. He’s somebody we depend on and we can count on him every time. He’s fantastic and everything he does. Saturday when they announce it, I hope they make the right decision.''

Mendoza For Heisman? It's Unanimous Among His Indiana Teammates

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