Alberto Mendoza ‘ready to compete’ as he follows in brother Fernando’s footsteps
When they were young boys, Fernando and Alberto Mendoza were always competing.
Sometimes, as can happen with siblings close in age, it ended in a fight.
“We got into some physical fights, you know like brothers, (we’ve) probably thrown a couple punches back and forth and then gone crying to mom,” Alberto Mendoza said.
At the end of the day, both Fernando and Alberto always had each other’s backs.
Fernando overcame the naysayers on his way to becoming a Heisman Trophy winner and the key cog of the Indiana Hoosiers’ unbeaten run to the CFP National Championship Game and dream matchup against his hometown Miami Hurricanes on Monday night.
Alberto hasn’t begrudged the attention his brother has received this season.
In fact, he’s his older brother’s biggest cheerleader on and off the field.
“It’s been incredible to share all of these experiences, the Rose Bowl, the Peach Bowl, and sitting in that (quarterbacks) room and sharing all of that together,” Alberto said. “Going through the ups and downs of the season and working through them together has been pretty special and not many people can do it with their brother, especially playing the same position.
“I want to see him succeed at everything, winning the Heisman and achieving everything he has and reach heights we can’t imagine and hopefully, when I get my opportunity I can do even more.”
Oh, but that competitiveness hasn’t diminished one bit in Alberto.
It’s why Alberto is patiently waiting for his own chance to shine on the brightest stage whether it ends up being at Indiana or elsewhere.
The Hoosiers recently brought in transfer quarterback Josh Hoover from TCU on a lucrative NIL deal, prompting many to wonder about Mendoza’s plans for next season.
On Saturday as reporters stood several rows deep surrounding his brother Fernando’s podium at the CFP National Championship Media Day in Miami Beach, Alberto sat on a bench near several teammates surrounded by his throng of media.
With a smile on his face reminiscent of the same one Fernando has shown throughout most of this memorable season, Alberto answered everything asked of him, including several - sometimes offbeat - questions about his older brother.
“No, he’s not a secret slob, he never left the dishes out or things like that,” Alberto said when a reporter asked Fernando “does anything at all wrong.”
But Alberto didn’t evade the most relevant question people want to know.
“Yes, I’m staying (at Indiana),” he said.
Reporter: “You’re going to compete?”
Alberto: “Yeah, I’m going to compete.”
Alberto, like his brother, is used to silencing the doubters. He’s also followed - and even exceeded - his brother’s accomplishments before.
After Fernando departed to college at Cal, Alberto took over as starting quarterback at their alma mater, Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. Alberto went on to lead the Explorers to back-to-back state championships.
One of those title runs ended with a memorable in overtime to beat Apopka High, in which Alberto caught the winning touchdown on a trick play reminiscent of the “Philly Special” the Philadelphia Eagles successfully executed during their Super Bowl LII win over New England.
The next season, Alberto passed for 149 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 138 yards and another touchdown to lead an impressive 38-19 win over Jacksonville Mandarin (ironically, University of Miami quarterback Carson Beck’s alma mater).
Alberto originally was committed to James Madison University but then followed Curt Cignetti and his staff to Indiana. Fernando transferred to the Hoosiers this season.
Both brothers wore the No. 15 at Columbus.
At Indiana, Alberto wears No. 16, the next in line after Fernando’s No. 15.
Those who coached them at Columbus praised both players’ skills equally, but noted that their personalities are a little different.
“Fernando was always the good cop to my bad cop in practice,” Columbus football coach Dave Dunn said. “Alberto plays with a fire in his belly, like he’s going for blood.”
“When you look at Fernando and Alberto, they inherited their father’s competitive nature and focus,” said Columbus’ Ambassador of Alumni Affairs John Lynskey, who coached the Mendozas’ father, Fernando Sr. at Columbus in the 1980s. “They’re quarterbacks, not offensive lineman like their father, but they inherited that same intensity.”
Alberto has already shown off his dual threat ability at Indiana in spots when he’s spelled his brother in the second half of games this season.
Alberto, a redshirt freshman, who appeared in only one game last season, has played in eight games this season.
He’s completed 18 of 24 passes for 286 yards, five touchdowns and one interception while rushing for 190 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts.
Against Maryland on Nov. 1, Alberto showed off his speed when he broke loose for a 53-yard run.
Alberto said his most memorable moment came during his first appearance this season when he threw his first collegiate touchdown pass to Charlie Becker against Kennesaw State.
And who was the most excited person on Indiana’s sideline when he did that? Fernando.
“He was super happy for me this year,” Alberto said. “It was super, super special, and we were just so happy, and we had a great time. So it was awesome.”
