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Fernando Mendoza announces final White House decision during Raiders minicamp originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Indiana Hoosiers put together college football's best season in 132 years.
With a perfect 16-0 record, Curt Cignetti's team earned the school's first-ever national championship behind Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. What would typically be a cause for celebration at the White House now is transfer portal players moving on, and NFL rookies scattered in different directions.
Mendoza, who is already in Las Vegas for rookie minicamp, has bought into what's happening with the Raiders. For the first time in his career, the top NFL Draft pick is soaking up an advanced playbook. He's not taking the opportunity lightly and isn't going to take on a distraction.
For Mendoza, going to the White House and meeting with Donald Trump would be just that right now. Thus, why he won't be heading back to Washington, DC to accompany his old teammates. He explained his position with reporters on Saturday.
"I'm on the bottom of the totem pole here. I gotta prove myself," Mendoza said. "As a rookie, I don't think that's a good look."
Mendoza has been the talk of this year's draft class. The Hoosiers Heisman has carried himself way beyond his years and has taken some extraordinary steps to get here. Even before he was officially taken by the Raiders, Mendoza was working on the West Coast offense with Brian Griese. This will be vitally important down the line under Klint Kubiak, who has worked with Griese. Both come from Mike Shanahan's coaching tree and have perfected the scheme for years.
More: Shedeur Sanders graduates from Colorado despite never going to class
Maybe Mendoza will get back to the White House one day with the Raiders. If so, the feat would break a four-decade-long streak without a championship.
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