What was once a compelling family connection now carries the clarity of firsthand memory.
After it was first revealed that Fernando Mendoza comes from deep South Florida roots intertwined with Mario Cristobal, Cristobal added vivid context today, speaking openly about the years he spent playing alongside Mendoza’s father in Dade County football.
Cristobal didn’t need time to think. The details came immediately.
“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.”
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He walked through it like it was still fresh. Miami Beach. Coral Gables. Carlos Huerta lining up the kick.
“We played number one Southridge in the state championship,” Cristobal said. “They had a couple Hurricanes on there, Robert Bailey and Herbert James. We punted. Robert Bailey fumbled the punt. He’ll deny it, but he did. We recovered. Huerta kicked the field goal and we beat the number one team in the state.”
Cristobal framed the moment as more than a win. It was a snapshot of a South Florida era defined by talent, toughness and community. He recalled the following week’s loss to Carol City, coached by Walt Frazier, and a roster filled with players who would go on to shape the region long after football ended.
“Just an awesome time for Dade County football,” Cristobal said. “Just awesome memories.”
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When asked today whether he and Fernando Mendoza Sr. Stayed in touch, Cristobal was candid.
“I mean not really,” he said. “But when you go to Columbus, that brotherhood is extremely strong. 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.”
That respect now carries added context. Mendoza Sr. Is a doctor specializing in emergency medicine and serves as a medical director within the Nicklaus Children’s Health System, a role that has made him a trusted figure well beyond the football field in South Florida.
What began as a lineage detail has now become a living story. Next Monday night, Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers will meet Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes under the lights at Hard Rock Stadium for the national championship. It is the kind of full-circle moment college football does better than any sport.
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