‘Outstanding Winner’ – More History for Mendoza With Manning Award
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Peyton Manning’s advice hit hard for Fernando Mendoza when delivered a couple of years ago at the Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana. It still resonates as the now former Indiana quarterback prepares for NFL opportunity with yet another honor -- the Manning Award -- on his resume.
Mendoza, then a University of California quarterback, says he was a camp counselor doing a play-action drill while under center, something he hadn’t done since middle school. He says he threw a perfect pass on a difficult throw. He felt good about it. Then Peyton Manning, the former Indianapolis Colts superstar quarterback and NFL Hall of Famer, came over.
“He ripped into me,” Mendoza says. “He said that was the wrong foot work.”
In college, that might not matter. In the NFL, where the passing windows are smaller and close faster, it could be the difference between a completion and an interception, between winning and losing.
“It’s the details,” Mendoza says. “It’s easy to get caught up in I can make a good throw and miss the fine details. That’s what makes the Mannings great. He coached me phenomenally on how small the margin is and how calculating and efficient you have to be to be successful.”
Mendoza took Manning's words to heart with a spectacular season in leading IU to an unprecedented 16-0 record and its first-ever national football title, highlighted by impressive playoff victories over Alabama, Oregon, and Miami. It earned him the Manning Award, which recognizes the nation’s best quarterback based on postseason play. Mendoza is the first Big Ten quarterback to win the award. He’d earlier won the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, the Walker Camp Player of the Year, the Davey O’Brien Award, and more.
“It’s such an honor,” Mendoza says. “Winning the Heisman Trophy and the national championship was great. The Manning Award is the cherry on top of that.”
He describes his time at the Manning camp -- during which he got to interact with Archie, Peyton, Eli and Cooper Manning -- “one of the greatest experiences of my life.”
Archie Manning, a standout quarterback at Ole Miss and then for 14 years in the NFL, calls Mendoza an “outstanding winner.”
In the playoffs, Mendoza was near-perfect against Alabama and Oregon, going a combined 31-for-36 for 369 yards, eight touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also rushed for 44 yards.
Mendoza wasn’t as statistically dominant against Miami (16-for-27, 186 yards, one rushing touchdown), reflective of the Hurricanes’ NFL-caliber talent and game plan that centered on hitting him hard and often until he broke.
Mendoza didn’t break, but broke Miami with a play-for-the-ages fourth-quarter touchdown run that, like receiver Omar Cooper Jr.’s game-winning, back-of-the-end zone touchdown catch at Penn State, will remain forever etched in Hoosier lore.
“We had a great group of quarterbacks in college football this year,” Archie Manning says, “and I’d like to tell you this was (a close vote), but it wasn’t. Fernando had one of the great seasons that any collegiate quarterback has ever had. It was climaxed by a great national championship win, undefeated season, and the Heisman Trophy.”
Under head coach Curt Cignetti, offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer this season, Mendoza completed 72.0 percent of his passes for a program-record 41 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed for seven touchdowns.
Mendoza credits advice from Peyton Manning on an off-season film work plan as the foundation for preparation that Cignetti has called the best he’s ever seen.
“It was what Peyton’s structure was off the field -- how he looked at all the interceptions he threw, and almost threw, how he looked at all the touchdowns he threw, and almost threw,” Mendoza says. “I took that directly.
“I’m known as an efficient passer, but early in my career, I wasn’t. I had a huge turnover problem with interceptions and fumbles. That was a great turning point in finding that solution.”
Mendoza says he continues to learn from the Mannings. He recently watched an Eli Manning podcast that focused on how he transitioned into the NFL.
“He talked about some of the troubles he had that led him to be a Super Bowl-winning quarterback (for the New York Giants).”
Since the Jan. 19 national championship game, Mendoza says he’s been focused on surrounding himself “with the right team on the football side, the representation side, the financial side” while getting ready for April’s NFL Draft.
“It’s all cylinders to make sure you have the system to focus on football and become the best quarterback for your (future) team and teammates.”
He calls this the “information gathering stage” while getting insight from the Manning brothers and others so that he can be “the most effective to best serve my (future) teammates.”
Mendoza says he will attend the upcoming NFL Combine in Indianapolis, but he won’t participate in drills. He will also be at the IU Pro Day, calling it a “last hurrah with my teammates.”
He calls the couple of weeks since the national championship game -- which included appearances on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the Today Show and Good Morning America, as well a meet-and-greet session at Bloomington’s Dick’s Sporting Goods – a “whirlwind.”
“It’s been a blessing and pleasure. As a team, we had our heads down and our noses to the grindstone during a fantastic playoff run. Now, the dust has settled. Some of the guys have gone to draft prep. It’s a time to reflect and appreciate what the season was.
Mendoza projects as the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. Archie Manning says Mendoza has a bright NFL future.
“It’s a big step to the NFL. It’s a faster game. Players are bigger and stronger.
“In getting to know Fernando and recognizing his work ethic and what he wants to do, I think he will make a great transition. He’ll work hard this spring. He’ll do what he’s supposed to do. The draft will take of itself. He’ll go to a team and will do great.
“You can see why we’re so excited to recognize him (with the Manning Award). We’ve seen what kind of player and person he is. He’ll be great in pro football.”
Mendoza says his IU experience makes it possible.
“It’s all given me a taste of major success. I’m addicted. I’ll chase that feeling again with my new team. I’ll try to replicate that success on the next level.”