Fernando Mendoza decides on Indiana
The former Cal QB ends up with his brother on a college football playoff contender.
One of the more frustrating sagas in recent Cal football history is finally at an end. Fernando Mendoza is on his way to Indiana. Pete Thamel has the initial report.
The Cal quarterback who endeared himself to a wide portion of the fanbase with his earnestness, his passion, and his genuine enthusiasm to be a Golden Bear moved on this offseason after a disappointing 6-6 campaign. Mendoza will be remembered for his gutty performances against Auburn, Wake Forest, Washington State, Miami, UCLA and of course his two Big Game wins. But ultimately, we are in the new world of college football, and Mendoza sought a new home with a team on the rise, a coach at the peak of his powers, and a top five offense in the sport.
He ended up with the Hoosiers, fresh off a 11-2 season that saw them make the 12-team college football playoff. He will reunite with his brother Alberto Mendoza (also a quarterback), and is the presumptive favorite to win the job with Kurtis Rourke departing and Tayven Jackson transferring. Now that he gets to work with AP Coach of the Year Curt Cignetti, Mendoza should have a good shot to elevate his rising quarterback stock in a way that would’ve been tougher at Cal.
Cal will now have to find themselves a quarterback in the transfer portal. It’s possible that Chandler Rogers (who saw action this year and started at SMU) could apply for an additional year of eligibility, as a new NCAA ruling allows any player who played in JUCO an additional year of eligibility (Rogers attended Blinn). CJ Harris (who started the Los Angeles Bowl) has two years of eligibility remaining, and EJ Caminong should have preserved his redshirt. But I’d guess the Bears will want another quarterback with significant experience in this race as well, given none of those three quarterbacks had a distinguishing moment in 2024.
Thanks for the memories Fernando. But they are memories now. Onto the next one.
From Scott Ostler's column in the S.F. Chronicle (12/22/2024):
"Poet Laureate Award, to former Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Upon entering the transfer portal and opting out of Cal’s bowl game, Mendoza delivered a lovely, flowery thank-you message to Cal, via social media. Sincere, no doubt, but here’s a word of advice to all you collegiate portal travelers: When you skip town, skip the poetry. The teammates and fans you leave behind don’t want to hear it."
Guys, please chill. He’s a kid. And he’s made his choice. Let’s respect it and move on. Don’t blame him. Blame the system.