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Behind The Bond Between A Heisman-Winning Quarterback And His Catholic Priest
On the sideline for the Indiana Hoosiers at Monday night’s national championship game you’ll find coaches, players…and a Catholic priest.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is on a historic run as Indiana heads into the College Football Playoff National Championship, and he’s sharing the experience alongside his pastor, who has mentored him through the madness of this college football season.
“Fernando and a group of guys during the season would come in before games to pray,” Father Patrick Hyde told The Daily Wire. “We would give them a blessing and just chat with them.”
Mendoza has been described as Tim Tebow 2.0, the total package for a college quarterback. Hyde describes him as authentic.
“He’s a joyful person and I always, at least as a Catholic priest, go back to the scriptures where Jesus says, ‘I have said these things to you so that you might have my joy and your joy might be complete,’ and it’s a reminder to us that joy is something to be shared,” Hyde said. “As Christians the first joy we have is knowing Jesus, and we should desire to share that with other people.”
Hyde has witnessed Mendoza’s success for Indiana up close this season, attending every home game, the Big Ten Championship, Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl, and now the National Championship.
Credit: Father Patrick Hyde
“It’s a good reminder for all of us that we honor God by using the gifts and the talents we have,” Hyde said.
A priest may seem like an unlikely cheerleader, but Hyde has been able to establish a close relationship with Mendoza, who rarely misses church. When Mendoza transferred to Indiana, he made it a priority to join the St. Paul Catholic Center on Indiana’s campus.
“He was just another face in the crowd, but he’s tall so you recognized him,” Hyde said.
Then after a game early in the season, Hyde’s 7-year-old nephew wanted to be Indiana’s rising star. Through Hyde’s campus connections his nephew got to meet Mendoza and other Hoosier players.
“After the game ended, Fernando and Charlie Becker, one of the wide receivers, came right back out to formally introduce themselves to us. We’ve gotten to know them really on a personal level since then,” Hyde said.
Mendoza’s impact on the Catholic community hasn’t gone unnoticed. He makes his faith known in post-game interviews, and backs it up by having Bible study with his teammates. Since Mendoza joined St. Paul in Bloomington, Hyde said the number of students in Bible studies has grown form 50 to 500 and more than 1,200 students attend Sunday Mass.
Credit: The Daily Wire
“Last year we had about 30 people who became Catholic. This year we have about 120 people who have expressed an interest in becoming Catholic. In one year we’ve seen a quadrupling, and that’s not the work of us, that’s the work of the spirit,” Hyde said.
Hyde along with Father Ben Keller, who is the also on staff at Indiana’s campus parish, have experienced Indiana football like never before this season: on the field, getting to celebrate the wins with the players they minister.
Post-game on the gridiron is as chaotic as it comes off on television, but Hyde somehow was able to find Mendoza after the semi-final win over Oregon.
“We were kinda just standing back on the sideline, just kinda moseying and it was like the parting of the Red Sea,” Hyde said. “All the sudden it was Fernando looking at me and Father Ben and Fernando just said ‘Father! That just really touched my heart, he was so happy to see us.”
Mendoza has shared other monumental moments with his church family. After winning the Heisman, college football’s most coveted award, in December, he brought the trophy to St. Paul’s for Father Hyde and other members of the staff to see. Hyde said Fernando told the church staff “you all are a major reason why this happened.”
What Indiana Football has done this season has been described by many as a miracle. Three years ago Indiana became the first Division 1 program to reach 700 losses. The Hoosiers were the worst team in football. But head coach Curt Cignetti has turned the team into the heavy favorite to win the title.
“The opportunity to see our team compete at this moment and to compete for a national championship, I think it’s an inspiration. Especially Fernando’s own story of being a low-regarded high school quarterback to winning the Heisman Trophy. It’s just a reminder for all of us that if we have those gifts, if we keep doing the right work and do things the right way, that the Lord is never outdone in generosity.”
Credit: Father Patrick Hyde
Hyde has documented his game days. The pictures of Mendoza posting at church with his Heisman Trophy, or Father Hyde celebrating a touch down are welcomed posts for the Priest’s nearly 20,000 followers on X.
He never expected to do media interviews, or have people come up to him after seeing him at a game, but Father Hyde is calling it a blessing.
“When was was the last time we saw an athlete who was achieving success with his or her team bring the media in on the relationship with their pastor, right?” Hyde said. “It’s a great opportunity to share the good news of what’s going on Indiana’s campus, but to also share the good news of Jesus.”
The Hoosier-loving Priest is ready to watch Mendoza and Indiana take on the University of Miami. Hyde said on a personal level he wants to bring the championship trophy back to Bloomington calling a victory ” a wonderful last chapter to this season.”
He will do his usual game-day routine and pray for the safety of the players on both teams. Hyde said he will pray for Indiana to play to the best of their abilities. But most importantly his prayer is for the team to give all the glory to God.
“My hope is that Fernando’s witness is an inspiration to people to put your faith first, to give God a try,” Hyde said. “To get up and to go back to church if you’ve been away and to just trust that the Lord will help move you forward, but the Lord will also give you the strength day to day to do the right things that will make your life even better if you entrust your lives and your hearts to His providential care.”
Indiana and Miami kick off Monday night at 7:30 ET.
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