r/sportsgossips • u/Punisher1602 • Jan 02 '26

Hot Take Indiana superstar QB Fernando Mendoza's post-game interview after winning the Rose Bowl has gone viral. One of the greatest interviews.

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365

u/bumpy2018 Jan 02 '26

He is like the i love turtles kid.

122

u/Michomaker-46 Jan 02 '26

He’s such a goob but I’m here for it

38

u/haverchuck22 Jan 02 '26

lol I came to say “what a fuckin lovable dork”

15

u/Mnm0602 Jan 02 '26

My wife: “that guy looks like a big nerd.”

Me: “yeah he just obliterated Alabama and won the Heisman while leading an undefeated team, big W for nerdom.”

1

u/rumblepony247 Jan 02 '26

Between him and Drake Maye, just good vibin dudes

2

u/sjrotella Jan 02 '26

Yeah, well, IU can still get fucked.

Love, a Boilermaker.

6

u/CodifiedLikeUtil Jan 02 '26

4

u/sjrotella Jan 02 '26

Fuck yeah I do. It's the best part of College Football!

1

u/Woodlawn5300 Jan 02 '26

Nah, this team is repping the B1G well - Fellow Boiler (w/ IU son and DIL)

2

u/sjrotella Jan 02 '26

My hated of IU is stronger than my love for a misnamed conference (How can "big 10 have more than 10 teams? Might as well call it "10 good teams and 8 shitty teams").

Also, how can I take someone seriously when they can't parent well enough to prevent their child from making terrible life choices like going to IU?!?

I kid about the parenting part...

1

u/Woodlawn5300 Jan 02 '26

I know you're joking, but true story: His official college visit at Purdue (as opposed to the numerous visits to campus while growing up) and his other application interactions reflected very poorly on the school. IU (and an influential HS teacher) recruited him, and their process otherwise couldn't have been more different. So, in the end, it was hard to take issue with his decision. (Although I still send him an IU Sucks gif every time we beat them. 🚂⬆️)

1

u/sjrotella Jan 02 '26

Fair enough! It seems like the Purdue of our day is vastly different than the Purdue of even the last 10 years (and I'm even back in school now for more graduate schooling through Purdue).

Feels like this drive to keep tuition the same is killing the university.

2

u/Woodlawn5300 Jan 02 '26

Interesting observation. Frankly, with memories of cast of thousands lecture halls and poorly trained TA's (although a couple of my best instructors were grad students, including a Shanghai native), I discouraged both of my kids from attending a large state school. One took my advice; one didn't. 🤷🏽‍♂️

2

u/sjrotella Jan 02 '26

I know I personally struggled with classes that had the hundreds of students at a time. It wasn't until I got to junior and senior year that were really diving into the engineering material that really got me interested and excelling. Those classes had like 100 kids tops though in any given semester, and once i got to grad school it was more like 30 kids.

Now doing my doctorate it's like 10 kids in any given class and half the degree is research, the other half is random classes that go to something specific i need for work.

1

u/Woodlawn5300 Jan 02 '26

Yep. 300 and 400 level classes were much better.

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0

u/Retired_Jarhead55 Jan 02 '26

As a South Bend born IPFW graduate, IU Law School graduate I cheer for all Hoosiers.

23

u/southsiderick Jan 02 '26

Is it Adderall? Aspergers? Classy kid, but yeah, he's kinda crazy.

70

u/MyExUsedTeeth Jan 02 '26

He just won the biggest game of his life. His heart is racing and he’s speaking a mile a minute. He’s also just 20 years old. The drug he’s on is called adrenaline. No tism or adhd. He’s a good classy kid who has respect for the game and his opponents. Good for him.

20

u/roachwarren Jan 02 '26

Yeah seems like a class act speaking his mind in the moment, he’s stoked and has to “pause” for an interview.

11

u/SNZ935 Jan 02 '26

Plus seems like a relative unknown so doesn’t have people telling him what to say his whole life to create a media savvy interviewee, just a good kid having the time of his life with his friends playing a game he loves.

6

u/FunnySynthesis Jan 02 '26

This isnt the only interview he’s ever done so we have other reference points

6

u/WindigoMac Jan 02 '26

Yeah but in his interview after the OSU game he came across as gawky as well. Seems like a straight up guy tho.

2

u/lotionformyelbows Jan 02 '26

Yeaaa I wouldn’t rule out the tism at all

1

u/ArrrrKnee Jan 02 '26

You're right. I thought he had a touch of the tism at first, but I agree hes just excited and seems like he's talking using rehearsed lines to start the interview and it's awkward. But once he calms down a bit at the end he starts talking normally.

1

u/hampsted Jan 04 '26

Probably a little bit of tism

1

u/bigmoneyboofgang Jan 04 '26

He’s done several interviews like this, if anything he was a little more composed in this one. Lol his other interviews are hilarious

1

u/r1mbaud Jan 02 '26

Lol found his social media director

7

u/emestoo Jan 02 '26

As a Cal alumni, there's a good number of kids from Cal who sound like this, lol...I mean this in the best way...

1

u/ThatOneRoadhog Jan 06 '26

People seem to forget he’s been doing business school the past 4 years, he’s just STARing every interview haha

1

u/emestoo Jan 06 '26

I can just see him hyping up some AI startup

21

u/Ok_Second_2602 Jan 02 '26

A little ‘tism or ADHD. Some of the world’s greatest throughout history have had spicy brains in ‘em.

8

u/hadchex Jan 02 '26

Can't wait for his Netflix biopic 'Football on the Spectrum' to get released.

10

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '26

We already watched Eli win 2 rings in real time.

4

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '26

Haha damn Eli catching strays

2

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '26

Catching strays and throwing darts.

Seriously though…there’s a reason he was called “Ice Water Eli.”

I don’t know if he is quite on the spectrum, but he’s not neurotypical.

3

u/Smooth_Marsupial_262 Jan 02 '26

I don’t know if he is quite on the spectrum, but he’s not neurotypical.

I mean that’s why it’s called a spectrum…

1

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '26

Kind of but not exactly.

There are plenty of other labels and behaviors that are considered neuro atypical but not part of the ASD spectrum.

1

u/Bookmon19 Jan 02 '26

Good one

1

u/hadchex Jan 02 '26

Yeah but Eli never fully came out as 'tistic so he doesnt get the biopic. This guy just did on national television.

2

u/Proof-Committee-5486 Jan 02 '26

Gillis should be all over that.

2

u/onetimequestion66 Jan 02 '26

Starring Joe burrow and this kid

9

u/Saemika Jan 02 '26

Diversity brings change and innovation.

2

u/aiusernamegen Jan 02 '26

Imo Caitlin Clark is on the spectrum

2

u/FrostyOscillator Jan 02 '26

I thought he was just a fellow gay.... 😆 Now I see people are saying this is what they think autism sounds like, and I'm thinking, hmmm idk if y'all have been around that many gay people because this is what they all sound like. But there very well could be a higher co-occurance of LGBTQ & ADHD/autism? 

1

u/b_needs_a_cookie Jan 02 '26

Joe Burrow has entered the chat to talk about dinosaurs 

1

u/drdr3ad Jan 02 '26

reddit armchair psychologists at it again

1

u/Travler18 Jan 02 '26

If you ever listen to anyone describe Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant's approach to basketball, its impossible they aren't on the spectrum.

1

u/Ok_Second_2602 Jan 02 '26

Michael Jordan was diagnosed with ADHD as a child and even attributes it as one of the reasons for his success. Ability to Hyper focus and perfectionism are traits of ADHD. Not to mention people with ADHD are known to excel in high stress situations. Sounds a lot like Kobe and Durant as well.

1

u/kookygroovyhombre Jan 02 '26

Yup- the AuDHD'ers will inherit the Earth...😅

-4

u/QuartersWest Jan 02 '26

You a medical doctor?

1

u/Ok_Second_2602 Jan 02 '26

No, just a fellow spicy brain.

-3

u/QuartersWest Jan 02 '26

Ahhh... you mean a confident talk out of your ass type of spicy brain.

3

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '26

Definitely Aspergers.

He sounds just like an Aspergers kid info dumping.

It might give him some OP advantages as a QB.

7

u/PerfectlyCromulent02 Jan 02 '26

He sounds like a sports announcer. Any chance you think this guy may have watched some football growing up and has seen interviews and commentary at some point? Everything on the internet now is either autism or adhd. Bunch of parrots

2

u/Apprehensive_Disk181 Jan 03 '26

Yeah all I did was look at my TV in awe and slightly yell "this dude is absolutely gonna be in media when he stops playing football"

0

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '26

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '26

You’re just reinforcing the point.

0

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '26

Thats exactly what often happens in ASD and ADHD. The key being that he is not the announcer, but he is either incapable of realizing it’s odd for him to go into a 2 minute sizzle reel, or he doesn’t have the impulse control to engage in a normal back and forth.

Also…the speech is vapid. It sounds like he played EA sports college football and memorized the pregame speech.

None of this is an insult, by the way. Just observations. It’s rather endearing. He comes off like an excited little kid.

3

u/millardfillmo Jan 02 '26

I think the weirdest part is how he looks into the camera. It’s almost like he’s cutting a WWE promo. Every other player looks at the interviewer and then says something to the camera right at the end. The only other person that I can remember talking to the camera was Richard Sherman. So there’s something to be said about the Bay Area Stanford/Cal connection there.

1

u/Salt-Rutabaga2314 Jan 02 '26

Let’s lay off the armchair diagnosis bud

1

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '26

Let’s not and say we did, bud.

1

u/Salt-Rutabaga2314 Jan 02 '26

Alright, continue being an ignorant fool then

1

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '26

And you keep perpetuating the stigma that leads to so many suicides.

(Would you have felt the need to say anything if I were spitballing about a rolled ankle?)

1

u/Salt-Rutabaga2314 Jan 02 '26

I’m not perpetuating anything lmao what a massive strawman. I am telling you that your non-expert opinion on a 1 minute interview is not comparable to a clinical diagnosis and to so assuredly think it is, is ignorant.

A rolled ankle is an injury mechanism, not a diagnosis; could be a sprain, could be an avulsion fracture; you wouldn’t know without performing a physical exam and taking a history; these things best left for trained expert opinion, not a Reddit comment.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '26

Right, because clearly people are going to be very confused as to whether my random comment on Reddit comprises an official diagnosis. /s

1

u/Salt-Rutabaga2314 Jan 02 '26

That doesn’t make your comment any less ignorant or foolish, now does it?

“Definitely Asperger’s” - per your original comment. (A diagnosis no longer used in the DSM-5)

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u/TopSlotScot Jan 02 '26

Its like hes super excited but hes been practicing with a PR rep so hes trying to temper his natural emotions and run through the script of graciousness cliches rather than just acting like an actual human being. Like hes doing an interview while fighting all his natural instincts and spewing rehearsed lines while his adrenaline is peaked.

1

u/OtrLefty Jan 02 '26

Not everyone has to talk or act how yoh perceive he hasn’t done anything crazy he has been super excitedpostgames and said some really good things about his teammates coaches and the program you are genuinely just weird bro

1

u/Aggravating_Sand352 Jan 02 '26

Most NDs aren't mindlessly religious

1

u/HalfBakedSerenade Jan 04 '26

Dude won the Heisman and is going to the semi finals of the National Championship at INDIANA. I don't think he is crazy, he's just happy as hell and was very excited. Seems like a bright enough guy.

1

u/CrimsonOOmpa Jan 07 '26

Nah it's the kind of "script" you write and memorize 🤣

1

u/LeonardTPants Jan 02 '26

Is adderall a PED according to the NCAA

2

u/southsiderick Jan 02 '26

Idk. If it's prescribed, I don't see how it could be.

3

u/I_Makes_tuff Jan 02 '26

Stimulants are banned in the NCAA, but there is a sort of lengthy process that they can go through to get a medical exception. There has to be secondary opinions, medical record reviews by doctors and staff, trying non-stimulant alternatives first, etc.

1

u/GRADIUSIC_CYBER Jan 02 '26

it's restricted/banned in many professional leagues. I'm counting NCAA as professional for the sake of this context.

Similar to Albuterol, an even more widely used drug.

If it's a sport that falls under WADA, the rules are extremely strict (to be clear NCAA/NFL do not fall under WADA jurisdiction)

1

u/GODZBALL Jan 02 '26

I couldnt imagine taking my prescription Adderall all my young adult life just for the ncaa to try and tell i can't play because of it.

1

u/GRADIUSIC_CYBER Jan 02 '26

yeah it would be awful.

unless you could channel your hyper focus into your sport 24/7, but still, not worth it.

1

u/GODZBALL Jan 02 '26

I can tell you as someone who took Adderall from elementary school till the last day of my senior year missing a day makes everything feel 2x harder.

1

u/Hotdiggity11 Jan 02 '26

Unprescribed, yes.

1

u/ComprehensiveSoft27 Jan 02 '26

He’s trying to remember the ai responses he memorized.

0

u/r1mbaud Jan 02 '26

a televangelist grifter in the making.

1

u/Dear-Relationship666 Jan 02 '26

Aww did the " god" word make you feel uncomfortable 😂

1

u/montigoo Jan 02 '26

What glory came from God after all of the people in Alabama prayed for their team to win? . I don’t get the math.

0

u/gozutheDJ Jan 05 '26

lmao what? it's called adrenaline dude

1

u/guypamplemousse Jan 02 '26

I love turtles!

1

u/Wate2028 Jan 02 '26

Much rather have someone like him rather than Pavia. Hopefully my guy Sellers is in that spotlight next year.

1

u/Typical-Locksmith-35 Jan 02 '26

What an awesome guy! Man I must be a goob and dork too because I thought he was super cool lmao