As in films with a happy ending, the kind that were popular in the last century, only to be supplanted a couple of decades later by hopeless stories. The college that never, ever won, triumphs for the first time. And he does it very well. Undefeated throughout the season. Not only that. Its quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, of Cuban origins, has just defeated the university that never wanted him, evidently not valuing him enough, Miami, which he thought could be his natural home having grown up right there. What a sweet taste a victory has against those who have never considered you and in the city where as a child you dreamed of a night just like this.
What strange turns life takes. Or fate, depends on whether you believe in fate or not. In any case, Fernando’s journey really resembles the script of a film that leaves you happy and satisfied when you leave the screening room. The last, derided and mocked, who become the first. And their best player, who longed to be able to wear the Miami jersey that dragged the Cinderella of college football to victory over the Florida team. All true.
If that wasn’t enough, the hero of this truthful film has the face and manner of a very good boy and of a conscientious and loving son with his parents and especially with his mother, who has been affected by sclerosis for years. It’s hard not to be moved when the quarterback runs to hug her at the end of the game and bends down towards the wheelchair to whisper something to her and kiss her. Handsome.
And we’re not done with the emotions. Do you know how Indiana and Mendoza won? With a play that, personally, reminded me of the great John Elway’s helicopter-style flight to win the 32nd Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos.
That’s right, in the key moment of the match Fernando went on his own and with a race that seemed destined to end soon he broke a couple of tackles and literally took off over the heads of the opposing defenders for a decisive touchdown and the joy of the photographers who took a fantastic shot.
The iconic image of a success that stands for redemption. And that opens the doors of the NFL to Fernando. Probably he will end up at the glorious Raiders, who have been without victories for too long and without a real leader, Mendoza will have his big chance.
The Heisman Trophy winner’s touchdown was the cherry on top of Indiana’s 27-21 victory over Miami for a triumph that, to put it bluntly, seemed drastically impossible to college football pundits until recently. To be clear, in almost 140 years Indiana college football had only known defeats.
“Let me tell you: we won the national title at Indiana University! It can be done!” exclaimed Italian-born coach Curt Cignetti, who took over a program with a national record of 713 losses and turned it into a sensational success in less than two years.
In that touchdown run by Fernando there is a lot, there is everything. Fourth down and 4 yards to go, Mendoza flies for a touchdown. “Oh yes, I had to blow up,” he says at the end of a match where he was hit badly by the Miami defense who made no concessions and perhaps even went further by splitting his lip and making his arm bleed. “But I would give my life for my team”, he repeats to the hundreds of microphones chasing him at the end of the match.
The CFP trophy now heads to the unlikeliest of places: Bloomington, Indiana, home to the college that famously boasts the largest number of living alumni (805,000), including billionaire Mark Cuban; several thousand filled the Miami stadium and turned a ticket to the final into a spend of $4,000 or more.
Indiana finished 16-0, using the extra games afforded by the expansion of the playoffs to 12 teams to match the perfect-season win total last achieved by Yale in 1894. President Donald Trump was in the stands for what he said “turned out to be a great game” after a slow start.
But that leap into the promised land of the touchdown is now the poster child for last becoming first. Oh no, this time it’s not a film. Ask Fernando Mendoza…
