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After leading his team to a fourth-quarterback comeback win over rival Stanford, Cal Bears quarterback Fernando Mendoza had a message for his teammates and the nation. But now it appears that he’s walked back that message, leaving Cal high and dry in the process.
“That was an amazing comeback. It’s a testament to how tough we are as a team,” Mendoza said on the field in a postgame interview. “I love my boys. It’s amazing. I’m so proud of everyone on this team. We’re 6-6, we’re bowl-bound and we retained the Axe. Go Bears forever. Let’s go.”
“THAT WAS AN AMAZING COMEBACK … I LOVE MY BOYS … GO BEARS FOREVER!”
Fernando Mendoza overcome with emotion after his game-winning drive vs. Stanford 🥹@CalFootball | @qb_fernando pic.twitter.com/yYZvGQDhPY
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) November 24, 2024
Asked why he was so emotional about the victory, Mendoza said ““We worked so hard — we worked so hard for this, he said. “As an offense, we’ve done everything that we possibly could have done this summer. Being down, having a close game, this has to be the most special moment in my life today.”
But special moments are temporary. As is Mendoza’s bond with his teammates, apparently.
Shortly after the season ended, Mendoza entered his name into the transfer portal. On Tuesday, he committed to the Indiana Hoosiers. Mendoza chose Indiana over offers from Miami and Georgia, among others. He joins his younger brother Alberto on the Hoosiers’ roster and is expected to step into the starting spot vacated by the graduating Kurtis Rourke.
Ultimately, the decision to transfer is deeply personal. Mendoza is doing what he feels is best for himself and those around him. But it does look a little bit silly when just one month ago you were talking about your loyalty to Cal and the bond you’ve built with you teammates.
Obviously, both of those factors were not enough to keep you in Berkeley. But hey, if Mendoza balls out in Bloomington and gets the Hoosiers back to the playoffs he’ll have the last laugh.