Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal gets to face Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza in the College Football Playoff championship game
Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal and Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza share a special bond.
Not only are the facing each other in the College Football Playoff title game next week, they are linked in another way. Mendoza's father, Fernando IV, played high school football with Cristobal in South Florida.
They both played at Columbus High School.
"We went 6-4," Cristobal said. "We won the district championship in a three-way tiebreaker. They used to have a Kansas City tiebreaker down here in Dade County where you put the ball on the 10-yard line and flip a coin. It was us, Miami Beach, Coral Gables. Carlos Huerta, great Miami kicker, kicked the winning kick. We won the district title. We played number one Southridge in the state championship. They had a couple Hurricanes on there, Robert Bailey and Herbert James."
Cristobal said it was good to relive the memories of those days. It's even more special considering he gets to face off against the younger Mendoza on the biggest of stages.
"And then we lost the next week in sectionals to Carol City, who was coached by Walt Frazier, one of the best of all time ever to do it," Cristobal said. "Players like Rudy Barber, who was a teammate here. Couple guys -- Cedric (indiscernible), may he rest in peace; Tim Paulk, Godfrey Myles -- just an awesome time for Dade County football. Just awesome memories."
Cristobal said he's hasn't spoken to the elder Mendoza but will have always the memories of playing together. He spoke of the brotherhood of the Columbus football program.
"I mean not really," Cristobal said on if he's spoken to older Mendoza. " I think when you go to Columbus, that brotherhood is extremely strong. You know, I mean, everywhere you go, especially in town you run in -- but we have crossed paths before. Certainly he was an excellent football player and has become such a prominent member of the community down here in the medical field. And certainly all the respect in the world for him and his family."
The Hurricanes are going for their first championship since the 2001 season. They last played for a title in 2003 when they lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy this season, has the Hoosiers on the national radar for the first time in school history. His play has helped turn Indiana, mostly known for its basketball tradition, into a competitive football power.
Shandel Richardson is the publisher of MiamiRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com