While Miami and Indiana are gearing up for the fight of their lives, a weird crossover is set to take place at the Hard Rock Stadium. Cristobal will find a friend from home cheering for his son and the coach’s rival: Fernando Mendoza. Despite the oddity of it all, the Miami head coach still holds him in high regard.

Cristobal and Mendoza Sr. played together at Christopher Columbus High School as offensive linemen. Pat McAfee reminded the Miami coach of those good old days with a photo of that O-line on his show. Cristobal couldn’t help but give a shout-out to his former teammate.

“That’s a great, great team right there,” he told McAfee. “Great offensive line. Fernando Mendoza Sr. was a great player.”

Cristobal, Mendoza, and Miami O-line coach Alex Mirabal were part of an O-line that was the identity of the Columbus offense. The photo McAfee showed was from 1986, and that was the year the Explorers won a Class 5A regional title. Mendoza Sr. was tabbed by Miami Herald as the “top offensive lineman” after that season. They were guided by veteran Miami coach Danny Lavelle.

“They’re the kind of kids that you get out of bed in the morning to coach and teach,” he told USA Today of the three former Columbus O-linemen. “They were freaking perfect.”

Mario Cristobal went on to play football as a Hurricane, with Mirabal and another Columbus teammate, Carlos Huerta. Mendoza, however, switched to rowing when he went to Brown. He eventually moved into medicine, specializing in pediatric emergency medicine.

On January 19, Cristobal and Mendoza Sr. will meet each other after a long, long time. It will be the picture-perfect homecoming for the latter’s family, as they watch their son try to bring Indiana its first National Championship. When he and Mendoza Sr. lined up together in the I formation in 1986 for Columbus, who knew they would be on opposing sides all this time later?

Cristobal and Mendoza Sr. haven’t been much in contact, the former revealed on January 13. But that time spent together in high school was enough for the coach to continue respecting him after they went their separate ways.

“Certainly, he was an excellent football player and has become such a prominent member of the community down here in the medical field,” Cristobal said. “And certainly all the respect in the world for him and his family.”

The coach’s former teammate’s son is easily the best the country has seen this past year. The younger Mendoza has the Heisman trophy as proof of the fact. Cristobal’s respect also extends to the star QB, who will try to defeat the team he longed to be a part of.

“Dominated just about every game,” Mario Cristobal said of Mendoza Jr.

Fernando Mendoza may have found stardom as a Hoosier, but he was raised a Hurricane. Wearing the orange and green was the “dream” for him, he told ESPN’s Nicole Auerbach. Unfortunately, the elite quarterback never got an offer from Miami coming out of high school. He eventually had to settle for California, all the way on the opposite coast. Cristobal had only just been hired as Miami’s head coach when Mendoza signed.

But Cristobal saw what the Hurricanes missed out on and got to work when the QB entered the portal. Miami began recruiting him, but Curt Cignetti ended up stealing him away. As the QB comes home to play against his father’s friend, Cristobal full well knows what he will face in Mendoza.

“The Heisman was earned and well-deserved,” the Miami head coach said on January 14. “The type of season that Fernando has had, really, they dominated just about every game. And anytime a game was close, he was a big reason why the outcome is or was what it was because of his level of play.”

Top Stories

Andy Reid Announces Double Firing Decision as Patrick Mahomes Outlines Ideal Chiefs OC

Russell Wilson Announces New Citizenship Plans Away From America as Giants QB Makes Career Decision

‘It Stinks’: Jordan Spieth Accuses Friends of Unfair Treatment During ‘Sponsor Exemption’ Storm

Tiger Woods’ Lavish Gift for 300 Guests During 50th Birthday Bash Makes Jaws Drop: ‘Will be Worth a Lot One Day’

Does John Harbaugh’s Hiring Spell Bad News for Cam Skattebo After Misusing Derrick Henry at Ravens?

Travis Kelce Announces New Career Move Away From Chiefs After Confirming Retirement Stance

In the National Championship game, the past will be forgotten by both Mendoza Sr. and Cristobal as they hope to upset each other. Miami is trying to win its first national championship since 2001, while Mendoza and Indiana will try to script history. Including him, there will be four former Columbus players that the school will be proud of.